"Why?" |
As I write this, I find myself reflecting on my experiences and involvement in this Latin music industry for over twenty-six years. It''s been a great ride. Back in my teenage days, when I snuck into the Cheetah on a regular basis and witnessed the Fania All-Stars making history, or when I sat on my bed playing my second-hand bongos to Manny Oquendo & Libre''s "Donna Lee/A Gozar," I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined I''d end up participating the way I have.
One of my favorite moments came, in later years, when I asked Ray Barretto, who used to scold me whenever he''d catch me at the Cheetah, if he ever thought I''d end up having a radio program or writing for a magazine. "No," he replied, without hesitation. "No, I didn''t."
During these years, I''ve been a noncommercial Latin music radio host/producer, a commercial radio engineer/producer on a Spanish AM station, a writer for several internationally-circulated publications, and I''ve emceed all over town, and across the Atlantic. I''ve dealt with other radio deejays, club deejays and owners, promoters, publicists, and record companies. I''ve seen a lot. And I''ve made a lot of friends.
But, all these years later, I find myself asking the same questions. Why do so many continue to sabotage and undercut others in this business? Are we not all working for the same cause, to perpetuate and elevate this music? Is there not room enough for all of us? Is this type of behavior as rampant in, say Jazz, R&B, pop, rock, country, and other genres? And why, with a music that is so phenomenally energizing, healing, and beautiful, on so many levels--physical, emotional, and spiritual--plagued by such negativity within its ranks?
16th Century philosopher Montaigne''s words drift through my mind. We may sit on the highest thrones, he said, but we still sit on our own tails. Unfortunately, in this 21stCentury, I could still launch a magazine entitled "Bochinche," and have no difficulty filling its pages.
Like I said, I''ve seen a lot. I''ve seen club owners and promoters gyp artists, or not pay them at all–-leaving bandleaders holding the bag--because of bad weather, lack of attendance, poor planning, or other "circumstances." I myself, as an emcee, have been paid considerably less than my fee, because "it rained."
And I''ve watched hardworking colleagues go unpaid on a "bad night." I''ve heard tales of woe from musicians stranded abroad because promoters and managers defaulted on their obligations. And we''ve all heard of bandleaders who stiff club owners--or musicians who stiff their own leaders--because a better-paying gig happened to come up in the last minute.
And I''ve seen deejays work ten-hour shifts, standing on their feet all that time and spinning continuously, and not even being offered a glass of water. Or subbing at a venue, and being intentionally given the wrong CDs to play, causing them to look bad, and making it so they end up with less pay. And there are those who go around spreading lies and embellishing half-truths. And those who are "comped" at the door and welcomed warmly, who then circulate inside that club, and have the audacity to reach into their pockets and hand out fliers for events taking place on the same nights, sometimes at places located right around the corner.
I ask, would it not benefit the musicians and the music we love so much--and thereby, all of us--if we cooperated with each other and treated each other honorably, and stopped stomping on other people''s toes with combat boots and cleats? The Beatles'' "Come Together" and Rodney King''s famous words, "Can''t we all just get along?" start reverberating through my skull. (Not to mention, the O''Jays'' "Backstabbers.")
Last night, I spoke with a promoter who mentioned that his colleagues would ask him why he was so eager to help others attempting to start their own "Latin nights." Didn''t he consider them competitors?
"I don''t want to be the last one standing," he explained. "It''s to my benefit if more of us are involved. Then the whole scene becomes stronger."
And I''ll never forget when someone in the business ran up to me, scratching her head, asking why my late friend, promoter Tony Rodriguez, would vigorously publicize events at another venues, even though it wouldn''t benefit La Maganette, or him, personally. "Because," I answered, "Tony sees the bigger picture."
Hopefully, sometime soon, folks will begin to see the bigger picture. It will do a world of good for all of us, and the music we love so much. The bottom line is, there''s room for all of us. Always has been.
Vicki Solá, host/producer, Que Viva La Música, 89.1 WFDU-FM
and columnist, Latin Beat Magazine
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29 Nov 2009 - 10:03 by Editor |
Feature Story
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