Luis Vargas was one of the pioneers who gave a new twist to the traditional bachata that was only heard on certain radio stations and in places not very noticed by society.
First experiments with “guitar merengue” in the 80s and already in the 90s introduction of new instruments such as the electric guitar and multitrack recordings.
“My career began on March 19, 1982 in Montecristi, I recorded my first single, a 45 CD (45 Revolution Pasta Disc), with the only dream of a singer singing songs about love and suffering, but me never thought that I would be an artist of this kind, who would one day celebrate a long history of a successful career and see this great day to thank God for everything,” he said, who calls himself “The Supreme King of Bachata”.
Luis, who was forced by his father to enlist in the National Army when he was just 16, just wanted to sing, to interpret his lyrics with feeling, but he never thought that this dream could have such a comprehensive dimension as celebrating with a great concert in the past Saturday was the 40th Anniversary at the United Palace Theater in New York.
That night, with astonishment, he received his nephew Romeo Santos, as he walked on stage, incognito, disguised with a beret and a mask covering his face. His presence increased the excitement of the audience who enjoyed the festive surprise at the 40th anniversary concert. Well, Romeo said that when he received the invitation, he replied to Luis that he could not be there just to enjoy the concert and then surprise him.
The riot was imminent and Romeo and Luis put on a memorable performance with the song “Traicionera”. Romeo sang, danced, hugged Lenny, encouraged the audience and gave all of himself in some famously memorable minutes for those in attendance.
This was the last part of the concert and the moment when Luis Vargas threw himself on the floor as a sign of emotion and gratitude.
+ In its essence
The company Cerró Music Group chaired by Andrés Salcé and the artistic production of Edilenia Tactuk were unveiled in a performance where Luis Vargas never deviated from his essence and his routines on stage were part of this great show, his antics, jokes, Anecdotes and his dances showed the true artist as he is.
The show, lasting more than two hours, with about 30 songs and special guests, which, in addition to Romeo, also invited other stars of the bitter genre, such as Luis Segura “El Añoñaito”, who claims to be his namesake’s uncle; Alex Bueno, Lenny, former guitarist of the group Aventura, and other young performers of bachata and urban music.
Here also the video messages of Elvis Martínez “El Jefe” and El Chaval, guests who could not be present at the concert, were transmitted.
Lovers of the bitter genre, especially Dominicans, enjoyed a production in which Luis Vargas demonstrated his skill with “La Americana”, his inseparable guitar, which knows how to sound with particular talent and agility; He even plays with a bottle of whiskey, which he drinks throughout the concert.
Luis is not among those with immediate or long-term plans in his career, he revealed at a pre-concert press briefing, but he did announce that he will be presenting his “40th anniversary” in the Dominican Republic.
Also that the show would be filmed, which would be included in a future film about his life, directed by Jessy Terrero, in which he would tell from his beginnings in 1982 in Montecristi (in the north of the country) to four decades later a long career full of challenges, successes, betrayals and great satisfaction.
When the show starts Luis came on stage covered with the Dominican flagDressed all in black, he performs his best-known songs, including “The Pain Returned,” “I Break Up With You,” and “Bella Idiota.”
Then the presence of Luis Segura performs the hit “Pena” as a duo. The emotions and applause of the evening began.
Other songs continued to liven up the concert, such as “I Don’t Die in My Bed”, “The Corner Table”, “If You Leave Me”, “The Last Customer” and “I Know”.
At the start of the show, Luis took the stage covered in the Dominican flag, dressed in black, and performed his most iconic songs, including “Pain Returned,” “I Separate From You,” and “Bella Idiota.”
Then the presence of Luis Segura, who performed the hit “Pena” as a duo, triggered the great emotions and applause of the evening.
Other songs continued to liven up the concert, such as “I Don’t Die in My Bed”, “The Corner Table”, “If You Leave Me”, “The Last Customer” and “I Know”.
As Luis continued to sing and sip drinks, another well-received surprise was Alex Bueno insisting on sharing a glass of whisky, an invitation Alex Bueno declined on several occasions as he had been alcohol free for eight years.
“Eight years ago, God got me off the booze, without pills, without treatment he just listened to my prayers,” Alex Bueno testified.
Luis continued to play guitar and review hit after hit, including “I’m Doomed”, “Amigo”, “I Die Drinking”, “Heavily Wounded” and “Consejos de amor”.
One of the most popular bachatas was undoubtedly Loco de amor, in which he staged a guitar duel with former Aventura guitarist Lenny Santos.
The musicians showed their skill with the strings of the instrument, which made them speak of pure Bachatero bitterness.
The audience vibrated with emotion and applauded enthusiastically. Luis Vargas will undoubtedly remember this evening as one of the most emotional of his long career.