Tito Puente "Oye Cómo Va" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #NewYork #PuertoRico #ChaChaCha #Music #13thStreetPromotions #TitoPuente #OyeComoVa #1962 #OldiesSunday #SpanishHarlem #Oldies #OldSchool #HispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicAmerican

OLDIES SUNDAY: Tito Puente – Oye Cómo Va (1962)


We’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Monthon Oldies SundayHispanic Americans made significant contributions from entertainment, to sports, to pop culture, and we have highlighted a number of them. Today’s feature comes from Puerto Rican-American Musician Tito Puente with the track, “Oye Cómo Va“.

Composed by Tito Puente and released through Tico Records in 1962, “Oye Cómo Va” is a celebration of rhythm, as it features very little vocals. Carried by horn, percussion, piano, flutes, and string arrangements, the Cha-Cha-Chá track encouraged dancing, and plenty was done when this was released. The track was inspired by Cuban Composer Cachao’s Mambo track “Chanchullo” from 1957, and listeners could hear the similarities in the arrangement. “Oye Cómo Va” was featured on Puente’s 1962 album, “El Rey: Bravo“, and success for the track came soon after as it was covered by American Rock Band Santana (lead by Mexican-American Musician Carlos Santana) in 1971 to high chart placements, and a place in the Latin Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2001, and the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2002. The track was also covered by Joe Cuba, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, Kinky, Natalie Cole, and Chisato Moritaka.

Since the release of “Oye Cómo Va”, Tito Puente went on the enjoy a decades-long music career, dabbled in making TV appearances, collected awards and accolades, and shared his music with the world stage until his passing in 2000. “Oye Cómo Va” remains one of his most recognizable compositions, and a representation of the interconnectedness, transnationality, and hybridity of Latin Music in the US.

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Prince Royce "Corazon Sin Cara" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #DominicanRepublic #Bachata #Music #13thStreetPromotions #PrinceRoyce #CorazonSinCara #2010 #TopStop #LoveIsBlind #HeartWithoutAFace #Oldies #OldiesSunday #OldSchool #NewYork

OLDIES SUNDAY: @PrinceRoyce – Corazón Sin Cara (2010)


September 15 kicked off “Hispanic Heritage Month” in the United StatesHispanic Americans made significant contributions from entertainment, to sports, to pop culture, and we highlight a number of them on Oldies Sunday. Today, we check out Dominican American Singer Prince Royce and his single, “Corazón Sin Cara“.

Produced by Andrés Hidalgo, Sergio George, and Eduardo Aguilar, Prince Royce’s “Corazón Sin Cara” was released through Top Stop Music in 2010. The Bachata track, which is translated to “Heart Without A Face/Love Is Blind“, was aimed at Women who dealt with low self-esteem, reassuring that it’s not about what they need to wear or how they need to look to someone, as love and attraction to someone is for the most part attributed to their true self, the morals they possess, and there is someone who will see the best in them in every way. The materialistic part is ok, but not the be-all and end-all. The track quickly became a hit for Royce, enjoyed placements on the Billboard US Latin charts, and Latino charts in Venezuela, and between its release and early 2011 was the most requested Latin single on US Radio. The track was featured on Royce’s self-titled debut album, and went on to go Gold in Italy, and 26x Platinum in Latin America. He also released a “2.0” version of the track for Amazon in 2022.

Since the release of “Corazón Sin Cara”, Prince Royce enjoyed a successful career that secured various awards, selling Gold, Platinum, and Diamond records, dabbling in TV/Film, and became of the more successful Latin Artists. “Corazón Sin Cara” remains his signature song.

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OLDIES SUNDAY: @IvyQueenDiva – Quiero Bailar (2003)


September 15 marks the start of “Hispanic Heritage Month” in the United States. The month recognizes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans from entertainment, to sports, to pop culture. Today on Oldies Sunday, we highlight one of those contributors. Her name is Ivy Queen, known as the “Queen Of Reggaeton” who hails from Puerto Rico, and her track is called, “Quiero Bailar (I Want To Dance)“.

Produced by Iván Joy and Jeremy Harding and released through Universal Music Latino in 2003, Ivy Queen made a powerful move with “Quiero Bailar”. The song speaks of a Woman who dances with a Man, but he misinterprets her sensual moves as an invitation to sleep with her. She emphasizes that that isn’t the case, and she shouldn’t be looked on as a promiscuous Woman. She wants to have fun, and not be added to a Man’s list or roster. “Quiero Bailar” sampled Harding’s “Liquid Riddim“, which was released in 2001, and borrows a cadence from Missy Elliott’sAll N My Grill” from 1999 (which was also borrowed by Dancehall Artist Chino, who has a song called “Hold Yuh Man” on the Liquid Riddim). The Reggaeton release was first featured on the Reggaeton Compilations “The Majestic 2“, and “Kilates“, and enjoyed success on those projects before being included in the Platinum Edition of Ivy’s “Diva” album, which was released in 2004.

“Quiero Baliar” enjoyed success as it became the first Spanish-language track to go #1 on Miami’s WPOW Rhythmic Top 40 chart, scored Billboard chart placements, and became an anthem for Women’s Empowerment. “Quiero Bailar” was covered by Puerto Rican Rapper Dlaklle, Recording artist Abaya, Boricua Boys, was sampled by Ecuadorian Singer Sophy Mell, and Chilean Singer Paloma Mami, was remixed with Reggaeton Artist Karol G, and was re-recorded in 2019 with a Female-led team of Engineers in partnership with Spotify, and released on International Women’s Day.

Since the release of “Quiero Bailar”, Ivy Queen went on to release more music to much success, and is still active. She has influenced a number of Artists, and has made major contributions to Reggaeton, and the Hispanic American culture. “Quiero Bailar” remains one of her most recognized tracks.

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Messenjah "Rock You High" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Canada #Kitchener #Ontario #Reggae #13thStreetPromotions #Messenjah #RockYouHigh #1982 #Caribbean

OLDIES SUNDAY: Messenjah – Rock You High (1982)


Reggae Music has enjoyed a number of “firsts” over the decades, and there are times we forget about them. For today’s “Oldies Sunday” selection, we highlight one of them. Today, we head over to North America to check out Canadian Reggae Band Messenjah’sRock You High“.

Produced by Rupert “Ojiji” Harvey and released through Phonyx Records in 1982, Messenjah came to shake the nation with good music on “Rock You High”. Taking the music to a new stage at the time, Messenjah was the first Canadian Reggae Band to sign to a major label (Warner Music Canada a.k.a. WEA). The track got a lot of attention for the Band as it quickly became well known outside of Canada, and it became a part of their live shows over the years. The track was released through their Independently-released debut album of the same name, which went on to be a success.

Since the release of “Rock You High”, Messenjah went on to become one of Canada’s most popular and successful Reggae Bands. The Band went on to release more music, collect awards, toured for a number of years, and even being featured in the movie “Cocktail” starring a then up and coming Actor named Tom Cruise. Messenjah disband in the late 1990s, but reunited with some members in 2014 for a Bob Marley tribute concert in Toronto. “Rock You High” remains one of their most popular releases.

Thank You Messenjah For This Hit!

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Mr. Easy "Drive Me Crazy" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #NewYork #Dancehall #Music #13thStreetPromotions #MrEasy #DrivesMeCrazy #SheDrivesMeCrazy #BuyOutRiddim #TonyKelly #TonyCDKelly #2002 #KLicious #Oldies #OldiesSunday #OldSchool #Caribbean

OLDIES SUNDAY: Mr. Easy – Drive Me Crazy (2001)


There are hits, and then there are smash hit singles. Sometimes we don’t know how to differentiate the two, but time has a way of showing us. This Artist can say he has a smash hit single, as it has transcended decades, and still feels like a new song. Today’s “Oldies Sunday” selection comes from Dancehall/Reggae Singer Mr. Easy, and his track, “Drive Me Crazy“.

Produced by Tony “CD” Kelly on the “Buy Out Riddim” and released through the K-Licious label in 2001, Mr. Easy is in a dilemma in “Drive Me Crazy”. He shares the stress, and the feeling of being bamboozled as the Woman who he has been investing his time in, is not the person who he think she is, but she is pregnant with his child. The song is a reality for many who think they have an ideal partner, but once the veil is lifted, they see a whole different person. Despite his troubles, Mr. Easy found success with “Drive Me Crazy”, and it was one of the more popular singles off of the “Buy Out Riddim” when it was released. Ultimately, it became his signature single, and was later remixed by Recording Artist Kevin Lyttle in 2004, and sampled by Haitian Compas Band T-Vice in 2008.

Since the release of “Drive Me Crazy”, Mr. Easy went on to enjoy a successful career that found him scoring local and International careers. He still tours, helps to develop upcoming Artists, and still gives people good vibes when he performs “Drive Me Crazy”.

Thank You Mr. Easy For This Classic Tune!

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Roy Shirley "Hold Them" on 13thStreetPromotions.com #Jamaica #Rocksteady #Music #13thStreetPromotions #RoyShirley #HoldThem #JoeGibbs #1967 #Oldies #OldiesSunday #OldSchool #Caribbean

OLDIES SUNDAY: Roy Shirley – Hold Them (1967)


As the Summer season winds down in its final few weeks, we wanted to keep listeners grooving until the end, and we hope to accomplish that with our “Oldies Sunday” selection. Today, we go back to the 1960s with Roy Shirley’sHold Them“.

Produced by Joe Gibbs and Lee “Scratch” Perry for his then Amalgamated Records and released in 1967, Roy Shirley was having a party in “Hold Them”. Considered the first Rocksteady single, “Hold Them” was made to get the people moving, and make anywhere a dance floor. Backed by energetic production, the track quickly became a hit locally and Internationally, and topping the music charts for 6 months in Jamaica, but it almost never happened. During the recording stages, Shirley tried to record the song in Ska style, but it wasn’t clicking. He tried to record it with Slim Smith (a friend and bandmate in the group “The Uniques) and Ken Boothe, but during the failure of that route he was suggested to do it by himself in his own style by Musician/Singer Gladstone “Gladdy” Anderson. The song was rejected by a number of Producers at first, but recording it with Joe Gibbs was a move in a positive direction, and the rest was history.

Since the release of “Hold Them”, Roy Shirley went on to release more music, and perform in various parts of the world. Shirley passed away in 2008, leaving behind a legacy that connects with many today. “Hold Them” remains one of his biggest songs.

Thank You Roy Shirley For this Classic! Sleep Well.

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