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 WHY
THEY CALL HIM “MR. SALSA”
In 1978, the prestigious GQ (Gentlemen’s Quarterly)
magazine published a profile of Izzy Sanabria in which
it stated:
Known as "Mr. Salsa" because he almost single-handedly popularized the term "Salsa" (during the
1970s) which the world now recognizes as the name
for New York’s Latin Music.
Sanabria is something of a Puerto Rican Toulouse Lautrec as well. His bold
colorful posters plastered throughout the walls of New York documented and
immortalized Salsa’s (subculture) events in much the same way Lautrec’s
posters immortalized the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Izzy's album cover designs
and illustrations also set new standards of quality in Latin music packaging
and provided the world with its first visual imagery of Salsa.
In 1973, Sanabria branched out AS host of a Latino
version of the “Soul Train" TV show, appropriately
called “Salsa" on New York's Channel 41. That same
year, combining all his talents, he started publishing
Latin NY magazine. Written in English, it became the
single most influential magazine in the Latin community and the ultimate word on Salsa music world-wide.
From 1973 until 1985, Latin NY reflected the vibrant energies of an emerging
new Latino subculture with
its own unique fashions, music, dances and lifestyles.A generation that grew into adulthood influenced and inspired by the
contents of Latin NY.
In 1975, Izzy presented The Latin NY Music Awards
(the first Salsa Awards) which brought international
attention and recognition to the music and its creators.
These awards were not only important for the Latino
and music community, but they also forced NARRAS to
create and include a Separate Latin Music Category in
the Grammy Awards competition.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR
SALSA, LATIN NY MAGAZINE and Mr. SALSA
The Awards received greater mainstream press
coverage than was ever given to any Latin music event.
This coverage aroused a tremendous curiosity and interest in Salsa
especially from members of the international press. In turn, they exposed
Salsa to the world an set off the world-wide salsa Explosion.
Journalists from throughout Europe (Holland, France, Germany, England,
Italy, etc.) and as far away as Japan, came to interview Sanabria, Salsa's
most visible and articulate spokesman and to document this new Latino
phenomena of high energy rhythmic music.
This world-wide attention established Latin NY as the primary source for
information on Salsa and Sanabria
a central figure as Salsa’s spokesman, earning him
the title of “Mr. Salsa". It also provided Sanabria with opportunities to
further develop his talents and skills. Consequently, he acquired direct
experience in literally all the media arts; as performer and artist, in
front and behind the camera, and including radio, television and print
production.
A MULTI-TALENTED ARTIST
Sanabria is a multi-talented artist who regards the world as his canvas.
Besides being an artist, writer, actor, dancer, photographer, publisher,
philosopher
and visionary, he is also a versatile stand-up comedian. Sanabria’s brand of
bi-lingual humor have made him one of the community’s favorite master of
ceremonies.
As the official emcee of the Fania All-Stars (the world’s greatest exponents
of Salsa), Izzy has traveled throughout South America, Europe and as far as
Africa and Japan always adding little bits of humor to his presentations. In
Japan, to everyone’s surprise, he actually emceed in perfect Japanese (by
using Spanish phonetics).
Sanabria has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls
such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music
Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and at the Hollywood Palladium.. Izzy has also
appeared in several films, stage productions and numerous television shows.
Izzy Sanabria is a multi-talented individualist that played a major role in
promoting New York’s Latino music and culture during the 1970s. He has been
often quoted and recognized for his efforts by numerous mainstream
publications, including: The New York Times, The Village Voice, New York
Daily News, Show Business and Gentlemen’s Quarterly.
For his numerous and, valuable contributions to Latin music, on April 5,
2000, Izzy Sanabria received a long overdue recognition from his peers, when
he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
Bio & picture contents courtesy of
SalsaMagazine.com
To see some of Mr. Salsa's famous
historical poster designs.
Izzy Posters
Read about the 30th Anniversary (1975)
of the event that kicked off the world-wide Explosion
Salsa Explosion
Links about Mr. Salsa:
Interview: TheReturn of Izzy Sanabria: A Funny Thing Happened
On ...
Read
Izzy Sanabria´s Salsa definition and the
"cuban vs boricua (Puerto Rican) Salsa" controversy at
SALSAMAGAZINE.COM
Out
of Breath.Com
sptimes.com/2004/05
Izzy Tidbits
Israel "Izzy"
Sanabria
NICKNAME: Mr. Salsa.
AGE: 65.
FAMILY: Wife, Judith Rosado, son Marc, daughters Barbara-Jinnette, and
Jacqueline.
BIRTHPLACE: Mayaguez,
Puerto Rico.
COUNTERCULTURAL MOMENT: "I went to Woodstock in '69 with a white hippie girl
that had a guitar on her back and went barefoot."
PRIZE POSSESSION: A tambura, an Indian sitar-like instrument, that rests on
a pedestal in his living room. He paid $350 for it in 1971.
NUMBER OF ALBUM COVERS HE'S DESIGNED: About 1,000.
SOME OF HIS FAVORITES:
Willie Colon's La Gran Fuga,
Ray Barretto's Que Viva
La Musica.
**************************
PORQUE LO
LLAMAN, MR SALSA?
Izzy Sanabria se conoce como Mr. Salsa, porque casi sin ayuda de nadie,
popularizo este termino para la musica latina de Nueva York durante la
decada de los 70s. Como un artista grafico, Izzy encamino nuevos estandares
para las portadas de discos y los carteles promocionales.
Utilizando su fondo de arte y aptitud para escribir, en 1973 él empezo a
publicar la Revista Latin NY. Escrito en ingles, pronto llego a ser la
revista mas influyente entre los jovenes latinos y la autoridad definitiva
en la musica de Salsa a nivel mundial. Ese mismo año, Izzy se extendio como
anfitrion del show de television llamada apropiadamente “Salsa" en el Canal
41 de Nueva York.
En 1975, él comenzo los primeros premios de Salsa (Latin NY Music Awards)
que fueron no solo importantes para la comunidad latina y de la musica, pero
gracias a ellos se logro la inclusiún de una categorÌa separada para la
musica latina en la competencia de premios de los
Grammy Awards.
Como si todo esto no fuese suficiente, Izzy es uno de los comediantes
puertorriqueños mas versatiles. El ha actuado en muchos clubs de comedia en
Nueva York, en universidades y en las afueras de la ciudad. Tambien se
caracterizo por ayudar y aconsejar los jovenes comendiantes latino (muchos
de los cuales han tenido muchisimo mas exito que el).
Como el maestro de ceremonias oficial de las Estrellas de Fania (los
exponentes de la Salsa mas grande del mundo), Izzy ha viajado través de Sur
América, Europa y tan lejos como Africa y el Japon, siempre agregando su
gran sentido del humor en sus presentaciones. El ha actuado
en algunas de las salas de conciertos mas prestigiosas del mundo como el
Carnegie Hall de Nueva York, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall,
Avery Fischer Hall y en el Hollywood Palladium. Izzy ha aparecido también en
varias pelÌculas, producciones de teatro y en numerosos shows de television.
Izzy Sanabria es un individualista multi talentoso y su labor ha tomado
un papel muy importante y significante en cuanto a la promocion de la
musica latina de Nueva York y su cultura durante la decada de los años
70. El a menudo ha sido citado y reconocido por sus esfuerzos en
numerosas publicaciones americanas (mas reconocidas), incluyendo los
periodicos, The New York Times, The Village Voice, The NY Daily News, NY
Post, Show Business y revistas como, Billboard, Times, Newsweek y
Gentleman's Quarterly entre otros.
Por sus numerosas y valiosas contribuciones a la musica latina, el 5 de
Abril del 2000, Izzy Sanabria finalmente recibio un (meresido y
atrasado) reconocimiento de sus colegas, cuando él fue instalado en el
Internacional Latin Music Hall of Fame (Vestíbulo de Fama en la Musica
latina).
Bio & se imagina la cortesía del contenido
de SALSAMAGAZINE.COM |
Izzy Posters
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