Tickets to Silvestre Dangond and El Gran Combo at bergenPAC on Sale Friday
By: Tyler Peterson May. 09, 2016
Silvestre Dangond
Join bergenPAC in welcoming Silvestre Dangond for a Colombian Independence Weekend Celebration.
Silvestre Dangond, born in Urumita, Colombia, is the son of former singer William Joseph "El Palomo" Dangond Baquero, who in the mid-seventies, would duo with Andres "El Turco" Gil. His mother, Dellys Corrales Rojas, was from a musical family, and passed on to Silvestre the charisma that radiates through his ever-climbing career.
A composer and Timbales player, Dangond is considered one of the mainstream representatives of the "new wave" of vallenato musicians. Dangond collaborated with Juancho De la Espriella to form one of the most successful vallenato groups in this genre thanks to the acceptance of their hit song La colegiala. Since then, their music has become a great success both in and outside Colombia, especially within the Latin American community in the United States.
Dangond joined with his cousin Lucas Dangond, a young accordion prodigy and gained recognition at festivals throughout the Atlantic Coast, particularly their participation in the Festival Vallenato in 2009, when he was crowned Youth King, and received the Virrey Award in the professional category in 2012.
With a successful 10 year artistic career, Dangond continues to triumph, with his newly launched album "Sigo Invicto" in November 2014, strengthening his image in international markets and once again breaking records in sales.
El Gran Combo
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican Salsa music orchestra. It is the king of the classic Salsa rhythm and a source of pride for all Puerto Ricans. "El Gran Combo has a reputation as a powerful live band, and its extraordinary choreography inspires spontaneous dance fever.
El Gran Combo has been a giant of the salsa genre for more than 50 years, shaping the Puerto Rican sound and serving as an unmistakable reference point for all singers, musicians, dancers and lovers of Latin music. During that time it has helped popularize salsa across the globe, releasing more than 40 albums, landing numerous Latin Grammy awards and creating dozens of timeless classics that have become standard tunes for the genre.
Largely defiant in the face of musical fads that come and go, the band has stayed faithful to its Puerto Rican roots and a distinctive sound featuring loud and proud horns, lock-tight grooves and playful vocals with a delicious swing. The group is also known as the University of Salsa for its many 'graduates' who have gone on to become genre legends like their musical alma mater.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, it is Puerto Rico's most successful musical group, and is considered "the most popular Salsa group that has ever existed." Led by pianist and musical director Rafael Ithier (born: Rafael Ithier Eddie Perez) the 13-piece salsa group continues to inspire dancers with its horn-punctuated Latin rhythms and lush vocal harmonies, five decades after their inception.
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