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_6moons audio reviews: Juan Moreno's Tropical Splendor_ (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/juan/juan.html) The New York Institute for the Preservation and Development of Latin Music by: Juan Moreno-Velázquez --Concept Paper for Internal Discussion only-- This is an idea that I am sure has been thought off and pondered for years by many involved in the Latin music industry. In my particular case, as I was doing research for my recently released book on La Lupe, it was surprising to me how little information was available on her life, despite her fame and career achievements. Weekly conversations with music historian Joe Conzo, further convinced us both of the need to create an organization that would serve as a research institute, a place where future generations could study and understand our rich musical tradition, a place where verifiable professionals could conduct research into the history of Latin Music and its performers. One by one individuals concerned with this situation had come together and began a concerted discussion as to the possibilities of addressing this endeavor in a professional manner. Those discussions have led to the proposal at hand. What is available? Contrary to popular belief, the audio-visual information regarding our musical tradition is readily available. There are millions of photo images that depict its history, hundreds of thousands of newspaper, posters and magazine articles, as well as interviews where the voices of Tito Rodríguez, Tito Puente, Machito, Celia Cruz, Ismael Rivera and so many more of our great artists have been preserved. There are indeed a wide variety of recordings in paste, vinyl and CDs that document this tradition as well. There are miles of tape that encompass both musical recordings and films that have captured important periods of our musical tradition; Ernie Einsley´s collection is just one of those examples. His collection has valuable information collected over the last four decades. The state of these tapes, and its contents, however, is anyone’s guess. Collected for years without proper care, there is no idea of what can be extracted from this collection that can be preserved for the future. Non-the-less it is paramount to try. There is also a considerable amount of materials under the custody of some of our community organizations that have not yet even been catalogued due to lack of funding or organizational need and/or circumstance. The problem: The information is scattered and not readily available. It is in the possession of many fans, and memorabilia collectors who often times don’t know one another. Most important, there is no vehicle to make this information available to the public and, in time, these pieces of history end up in attics, where heirs who have no idea of the historical value of these items often times throw them out. Sometimes, if we are lucky, the items come for sale on eBay. In fact, it is a shame that in this day and age there is not a Latin Music dictionary available, were the names of our artists and their achievements are listed. We have left this endeavour to our memories, as the survivors of an era. Soon our memories will no longer be, and this could well mark the end of our musical tradition. Many of us complain that our music is no longer being played on the radio, as Tito Puente used to say... “Out of sight, out of mind”, this is a situation that needs to be addressed, and one problem that certainly can be resolved. The Solution: We are hereby proposing the creation of a not-for-profit institution, chartered under the 501(c) 3 designation, that will house these valuable historical items in a state-of-the art facility. We propose this organization be named The New York Institute for the Preservation and Development of Latin Music. There are millions of dollars in public funds and foundation moneys that have been ear marked for similar endeavours. These particular funds, however, are not, currently, been utilized by the Latino community. Our purpose: The New York Institute for the Preservation and Development of Latin Music’s main purpose is the preservation and documentation of all available material, acquired by purchasing collections, receiving donations of such material, or borrowing and digitizing these items for the enjoyment and information of future generations. The Institute --through our research component-- will document our musical history and tradition by expounding research papers, books and other publications that will ensure the survival and maintenance of our musical tradition and its performers. The first publication will be the Dictionary of Latin Music, where all the key participants in the creation, development and distribution of the genre that is universally known as salsa, past, present and future, are recorded. Another component of the Institute will produce radio and television programming that will be geared to the maintenance, documentation and development of this musical genre. In radio, we will program a 24/7 music and talk format to be distributed through the Internet as well as digital and public radio. This proposed radio station will ensure that the musical tradition in the works of Puente, Machito, Rodríguez, Barreto, the Palmieri’s, Willie Colón, and so many others will continue to be heard by the future generations. The Institute proposes to produce a television program that would educate --both the public and the media-- as well as elucidate-- on the wide variety of issues that affect Latin music and its exponents, as well as its distribution. This program will provide a forum of discussion and information that has sorely been lacking in the nation. This lack of information, and, in many cases, misinformation is one of the causes of the problem at hand. In full, the Institute will aim to supplement, as well as complement, the work of some community organizations that serve the Latino community by recognizing our common concerns and goals in the interest of developing and perpetuating this musical genre. A genre that, despite the problems that it faces for its survival, has impacted many different cultures around the world, especially in the United States of North America. The beginning: A meeting was held at Willie’s Steak House, located at 1832 Westchester Avenue, in The Bronx, on Thursday, June 3, 2004, at 5:30 p.m. The list of individuals that have been invited and/or consulted on this issue follows: Ray Barretto Musician Rubén Blades Musician Eddie Palmieri Musician Harry Sepulveda Music producer, collector Ralph Mercado Music producer René López Collector Das Vélez Attorney Manny Oquendo Musician Andy González Musician José Mangual, Jr. Musician Jimmy Sabater Musician Ron Puente Musician, community activist, and Tito Puente’s son Tito Rodríguez, Jr. Musician, son of Tito Rodríguez Mario Grillo, Jr. Musician, director of the Machito Orchestra, son of Machito Paquito D’Rivera Musician, Author Alfredo de la Fe Musician Nando Albericci Music personality, collector Gerson Borrero Journalist Joe Conzo Historian Larry Harlow Musician Willie Colón Musician Jimmy Delgado Musician José Magual, Jr- Musician Bob Sancho Music personality, producer Marta García Research, community activist Angelo Falcón, Ph.D. Director Institute for Puerto Rican Policy, research Rafael Hernández, Jr. Interamerican University of Puerto Rico Bobby Sanabria Musician Jimmy Bosch Musician Jules Coleman Law Professor Yale University, Special Consultant to the President of NYU, audiophile Alberto Barros Colombia, band leader, musical director Grupo Niche, Los Titanez Jaime Torres Torres Puerto Rico—entertainment journalist, Author Aurora Flores Publicist, Musician, journalist Víctor Gallo President Sonido Internacional, Fania Records Distributor Sergio Bofill Partner GB Records Juan Moreno-Velázquez Journalist, Author, Collector, Screenwriter Updates to follow on current activities: Donation of Fania’s productions both in Vinyl and CD’s, progress report on Incorporation, progress report on proposal to NEH, next meeting, conformation of Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Identifycation of Foundations with grants for similar projects. Contact with members of Congress (Nydia Velázquez, Joe Serrano and others). Contact: Juan Moreno Velázquez ([log in to unmask] (mailto:[log in to unmask]) 917 673 6962); Joe Conzo, curator.