The Dimensión Latina is one of the most famous and representative

salsa music Salsa music is a style of Latin American music. Because most of the basic musical components predate the labeling of salsa, there have been many controversies regarding its origin. Most songs considered as salsa are primarily based on son montun ...

and Latin bands from

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

, and one of the notable names in the early history of salsa in the American continent. It was founded on March 15, 1972, in

Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...

, Venezuela, by six young musicians: Jose "Joseíto" Rodríguez (musical director and

timbales Timbales () or pailas are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing. They are shallower than single-headed tom-toms and usually tuned much higher, especially for their size.Orovio, Helio 1981. ''Diccionario de la música cubana: biográfico ...

player), the pianist Enrique "Culebra" Iriarte, the

trombonist The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate ...

s César "Albóndiga" Monges and José Antonio "Rojitas" Rojas, the

congas The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest) ...

player Elio Pacheco and a vocalist that would soon become one of the most popular and influential singers and musicians in the history of Latin music in the American continent: the singer and bass player

Oscar D'León Oscar Emilio León Somoza (born July 11, 1943), known as Oscar D'León, and affectionately called ''The Pharaoh of Salsa'', ''The Lion of Salsa'', and the ''World's Sonero'', is a Venezuelan musician best known for his work with salsa music. He ...

. Two years after its foundation, singer Wladimir Lozano joined the group. Bearer of a singularly sweet voice, naturally talented for singing

bolero Bolero is a genre of song which originated in eastern Cuba in the late 19th century as part of the trova tradition. Unrelated to the older Spanish dance of the same name, bolero is characterized by sophisticated lyrics dealing with love. It has ...

s, Wladimir formed with

one of the most memorable duets in Latin music, before Wladimir departed in 1978. The singers Argenis Carrullo, Rodrigo Mendoza and

Andy Montañez Andrés Montañez Rodríguez (born May 7, 1942), better known as Andy Montañez, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Early life Montañez is a native of the ''Tras Talleres'' area of Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is known by the nic ...

were also notable members of Dimensión Latina. In its long musical career, Dimensión Latina has earned numerous awards and trophies. Its fame and influence, characterized by the innovation and high quality of their powerful and elaborate choruses and unique arrangements, quickly handed over the Venezuelan border, earning success in its debut in New York in the "Salsa International" Festival in the

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

(1977), and becoming one of the most popular salsa bands in Central and South America, as well as in many cities in the United States and Europe. Among the national and international awards that Dimensión Latina has received are: in Venezuela: Six "Meridiano de Oro", two "Guaicaipuro de Oro", three "Musa de Oriente", three " Mara de Oro" and one " Mara de Platino". In Colombia: two "Congo de Oro". In Panamá: one "Buho de Oro". It is estimated that Dimensión Latina has sold about 30 million discs, and counts more than 3000 live presentations during its long and productive history.

Discography

* 1972 : ''El Clan de Victor y Dimensión Latina'' (Oscar) * 1973 : ''Triunfadores'' (Oscar) * 1974 : ''En La Dimensión Latina'' (Oscar & Wladimir) * 1975 : ''Dimensión Latina 75'' (Oscar & Wladimir) * 1976 : ''Dimensión Latina 76'' (Oscar & Wladimir) * 1977 : ''Dimensión Latina en Nueva York'' (Oscar & Wladimir), Dimensión Latina 77 (Wladimir), Los generales de la salsa (Andy & Wladimir & Rodrigo Mendoza), Dimensión Latina 78 (780 Kilos de Salsa) (Andy & Wladimir & Rodrigo Mendoza) * 1978 : ''Dimensión Latina 79'' (Andy & Rodrigo Mendoza), Tremenda Dimensión (Andy & Rodrigo Mendoza), Inconquistable (Andy & Rodrigo Mendoza) * 1979 : ''Dimensión Latina, Combinación Latina No 4'' (Andy & Carlos Jesús Guillen) * 1980 : ''Para Siempre'' (Andy & Rodrigo Mendoza), El Número Uno con la Número Uno (Andy) * 1981 : ''Cuerda para rato'' (Argenis Carruyo & Edgar Rodriguez) * 1982 : ''10 años repartiendo sals'' (Edgar Rodriguez & Freddy Nieto) * 1984 : ''Producto de Exportación'' (Wladimir)

References

Sources

Oscardleon.com
* ttps://www.amazon.co.uk/vinculo-salsa-Juan-Carlos-Baez/dp/9806004485 Book: ''El vinculo es la salsa'' - By Juan Carlos Baezbr>Book: ''Situating Salsa - Global Markets and Local Meanings in Latin Popular Music'' - By Lise WaxerBook: ''The City of Musical Memory'' - By Lise WaxerBook: ''The Rough Guide to Cuban Music'' - By Philip SweeneyBook: ''World Music: The Rough Guide'' - By Frederick Dorian and othersOscar d'Leon - El sonero del mundo - SalsaFrance.comBBC - Radio 3 - World - Guide to World Music: Venezuela
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimension Latina Salsa music groups Venezuelan musical groups