Ramón Marcos Rodríguez Valentín, better known in the local and international salsa world as “El Cacique”, is sleeping a little easier these days, but yes, without giving himself a second of self-confidence.
The famous announcer and programmer of the Puerto Rican salsa station Z-93 knows that there are weeks away from reaching the big goal, the date of the most important event of the salsa genre worldwide, “El Día Nacional de la Zalsa”, the March of the Workers has decreased, but the responsibility of directing and fine-tuning the details of the assembly of the event remains an important issue to address.
The salsa show, which will come to life on Sunday, March 19th at its traditional venue in San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, celebrates its 39th edition in a grand and special way, where the “Niño Bonito” honored is style ” de la Salsa, Ismael Miranda, who will receive the Star Award of the event. Some other winners of this award presented by Z-93 were Gilberto Santa Rosa, Rafael Ithier, Papo Lucca, Eddie Palmieri, Victor Manuel and Rubén Blades.
In addition, the career of the orchestra La Típica 73 and the 100 years of maestro Tito Puente are honored.
Over 20 artists will be active on the La Z stage from the start of the event around 11am to the end around 9pm
“There have been months of preparation to present a major event that the Puerto Rico salsa audience and our visitors, international salsa singers, can fully enjoy,” El Cacique said in an interview with Primera Hora im Museum de la Salsa de Puerto Rico in Caimito, chaired and directed by salsa collector Robert Padilla.
Located in the center and accompanied on his right by the also famous announcer of Z-93, Néstor Galán, known as “El Búho Loco”, and on his left by the also famous announcer of the same station, Luis Hiraldo Montalvo. El Hachero”, Rodríguez Valentín claimed that the support of his two collaborators was an important point in putting together the great activity. “We’re a great production team and they have a lot of experience,” he said.
“Today it is up to Cacique to take the baton. He is our programmer and has a lot of responsibility for the event,” said Galán, whose first name is Néstor Julio Rodríguez. “But he has our full support and support. It’s going to be a very special day, the biggest for salsa singers in the world, and at Z-93 we want people to enjoy, enjoy and hesitate, listen to good music and have fun with family,” said Galán, who attended in the past 38 editions of the “National Day of Zalsa”.
For its part, “El Hachero” emphasized that the format of the early years of this event is already back on track.
“The pandemic has disturbed us a little and in 2021 the event did not take place but we are already on the date it is and we have great salsa artists for this edition and the award winners are personalities of great respect”, said Hiraldo, who began attending these events since 2002, when Rubén Blades was honored.
Regarding Miranda’s award, “El Hachero” made it clear that the Aguada-based salsa singer’s career deserved it. “Great man and very humble. Singer and composer and his music travels and traveled the world. His career speaks for itself,” he said.
“El Cacique” told of artists of Indian caliber, José Alberto El Canario, Adalberto Santiago, “Pichie” Pérez, Charlie Aponte, Pirulo, Tito Puente Junior, Isidro Infante, Johnny “Dandy” Rodríguez, Alex D’Castro, Tito Allen, Yolanda Rivera, Luis Figueroa, Maelo Ruiz and others expected to be announced in the coming days will delight the audience.
“We worked on concepts for this event: the concept of Tito Puente and his legacy, his music; the concept of an orchestra like La Típica 73, and then our big tribute to Miranda. We always count on the artists receiving prizes during their lifetime and being present at the event,” says El Cacique.
“Obviously, it’s a bit difficult to balance that artists’ agenda. You have to make phone calls, see each person’s availability, schedules, etc., it’s all done months in advance,” said El Cacique, who clarified that all invited artists charge fees for their participation.
Both Néstor Galán and “El Hachero”, who together with “El Cacique” will be the masters of ceremonies and animators throughout the activity, work hand in hand in creating the agenda, schedules and presentation of the artists. The three announcers did not fail to mention the late Z-93 programmer Pedro Arroyo who was the visionary of the event.
“Some of our leaders also participate in our work team, but the three of us know our stuff very well and any idea from Néstor or “El Hachero” is always welcome. They have the experience and they know and understand the demands of the public,” said Rodríguez Valentín.
The dancers, the audience, the La Z supporters, these are in fact the target groups of the organizers of the event: Zeta 93 FM, La Música and Mega TV when it comes to organizing a “national Zalsa day”.
“It becomes meeting places for friends, graduate classes, dance schools. There are couples who met here, got married and even have their children and bring them with them. A true family event,” said El Búho Loco.
At the 2014 event, a record nearly 36,000 people paid to attend the event. “But between the community workers, from La Z, the people outside dancing, etc., I think there were about 40,000. An impressive number,” Galán said.
Last December, Z-93 made $10 tickets as a Christmas present; now, until March 6th, they are $20 and $30 thereafter.
“SBS did a tremendous amount of publicity for this event in the United States. We’re expecting a full house and the sale is going great. Tickets can be purchased through PRTicket.com. We’ve also given away some tickets to the public for our La Z programs, but for the price of the ticket, they can actually enjoy a great show,” El Cacique said.