Roberto Roena
Roberto Roena (born January 16, 1938 in Mayaguez / Puerto Rico ) is a Puerto Rican salsa musician, percussionist, musical director of several orchestras and dancers. Roberto Roena became known as a founding member of the group El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and later achieved the title of best salsa band in Puerto Rico with the band Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound. He was also a member of the salsa group Fania All-Stars , w.
Career
Roena performed at Mambo and Cha-Cha-Cha dance events with his brother Cuqui. Appearances on the TV show “La Taberna India” on WKAQ-TV in San Juan followed . Roberto Roena was discovered by Rafael Cortijo and played in his band Cortijo y Su Combo. After singer Ismael Rivera was arrested for drug possession, the group was disbanded. Some former band members formed El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. Roberto Roena stayed with this band until 1969, but left them because of differences with Andy Montañez . In 1969 Roena formed his own combo Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound, which he named after NASA's Apollo 11 mission . They had success with songs like "Y Tu Loco Loco", "Traición", "Que Se Sepa" and "Herencia Rumbero". Roberto Roena also had an engagement with Fania All-Stars. In 1970 Roena had a co-production with the African king of makossa Manu Dibango . The soul group Blood, Sweat & Tears recorded typical arrangements with trumpets , trombones and a saxophone by Roberto Roena in some of their songs . The first hits recorded on CD by Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound were "Tú loco loco y yo tranquilo", "El escapulario" and "El sordo". His last album so far is Sr. Bongo from 2006.
Discography Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound
- Se Pone Bueno (1966)
- Apollo Sound 1 (1969)
- Apollo Sound 2 (1970)
- Apollo Sound 3 (1971)
- Apollo Sound 4 (1972)
- Apollo Sound 5 (1973)
- Pá Fuera (1974)
- Apollo Sound 6 (1974)
- Apollo Sound 7 (1976)
- Apollo Sound 8 (1977)
- Apollo Sound 9 (1978)
- El Progreso (1978)
- Que Suerte He tenido de Nacer (1980)
- Looking Out For Número Uno (1980)
- Gold (1980)
- Super Apollo 47:50 (1982)
- Afuera y Contento (1985)
- Regreso (1987)
- New Decade (1990)
- Roena: Legends of Salsa (1994)
- El Pueblo Pide Que Toque (1994)
- En Vivo desde Bellas Artes (1995)
- Mí Música (1997)
- Sr. Bongo (2006)
Notes and individual references
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Roena, Roberto |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Puerto Rican salsa musician, percussionist, musical director of several orchestras and dancers |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 16, 1938 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Mayaguez , Puerto Rico |