Tony Vega
with
Nestor Louis
As a salsa fan, I've been listening to this guy for over 15 years. I've listened to him with The Willie Rosario, The Eddie Palmieri, and The Louie Ramirez Orchestras, in records, CDs and live performances. So, I couldn't pass up the opportunity as a journalist (at least that is how I'm addressed these days) to meet and interview Tony Vega during his recent New York tour.
Actually my interest in interviewing Tony was born in 1992 when I saw him perform at the Jacob Javits Center during "The Feria Latina". I was sort of intrigued by the way he would, in a very romantic way, seduce the microphone by taking it off its stand to sing to the audience. Not focusing on any particular fan, but focusing on the dark abyss that is seen from the stage. In my mind I was saying to myself "who does this guy think he is...Julio Iglesias?!". But before I realized it, once the main body of "Lo Mio Es Amor" (one of Omar Alfanno's greatest composition) was over, this veteran sonero got down and dirty. He placed the microphone back on the stand, adjusted his suit jacket, clapped his hands, joined his two front men coro singers, and started dancing. Not only was the choreographed routine fantastic, but his soneos were nothing less than admirable at the same time. Tony Vega grabbed the microphone & the stand and sang in to them with such aggressiveness that if there was a rapping contest, Tony would be a close second or third place contestant to Chuck D of Public Enemy and KRS One.
That was four years ago, and today Tony Vega still is an incredible performer, as I recently found out at El Flamingo in NYC. "I would love to take all the credit for my success but the fact is that I, thank God, rely on a great ensemble of musicians. They're high caliber musicians! They are the guys that are featured on my albums. I could go into any recording studio with everyone of them and put out a product of great quality. So, what you hear on the recording is exactly, plus a little bit more, what you're going to hear live. That's the spin my guys in the band and I want to give to our fans. The ladies already know the Tony Vega lyrics. Lyrics that describe romance and real life situations. Lyrics that help women and men say 'baby this is what's up!' But at the same time we bring to the table the aggressiveness of mambo and that of the soneos. We've been noticing that 'salsa monga', as romantic salsa was once called, is quickly becoming a thing of the past. That's why I've made this production a bit more aggressive than the ones before, without abandoning the romance that is already expected from me."
And he is not kidding! The passion that glides on the surface of his songs is lifted by the accurate force that is generated by his orchestra. "This is something that is not acquired overnight. This is something special that has been harvested through my years doing coro for Ralphy Leavitt y La Selecta, singing lead with 'el afinque' of Willie Rosario. Doing the 'down to the roots' lead with Eddie Palmieri, and the New York swing thing with the late Louie Ramirez - May God rest his soul in peace. All these experiences helped me shape and define my sound. The combination of all those years gave birth to my sound, The Tony Vega sound". If I were to define his sound, I would say that he is correct. Tony Vega has wonderfully captured all of the major elements that defined those great bands plus one more. Lyrical content and the ability to bring those lyrics to life by pumping feelings in to them.
And the formula (if you can call it that) works fine. Although his previous two productions were a bit too mellow in comparison to his latest, they were both huge sellers. Imagine: his previous production "Si Me Miras A Los Ojos" sold over 165,000 copies without promoting it outside of Puerto Rico and "Aparentemente" opened the floodgates to international recognition. "I care for my work. I spend a lot of time working on my records. It took me a little more than 18 months to complete my latest production simply titled 'Tony Vega'. I choose the material very carefully in conjunction with my producer/musical director Humberto Ramirez; and in each outing we try to improve on the work done on the previous production. I don't like to record or include fillers in my albums - you know, those songs that people record and add nothing to a production other than space wasted. Every song I choose and record is recorded with the expectation of becoming a hit of its own. These are the factors that determine success."
As a punk kid I remember watching Tony Vega & Gilberto Santa Rosa doing their thing under the Willie Rosario leadership. "Oh my God, that's an era that I would give my life to live again! I learned a lot with Willie. He used to sit down with us, to coach us and to talk with us. I remember he told us that 'there is never a need to be dressed in a Georgio Armani, or Calvin Klein, or Hugo Boss suits when performing on stage...however you must always be neat'. Always treat your audience with the utmost respect. Unfortunately, there are many colleagues out there that are notorious for disrespecting an audience, and that saddens me. It makes me sick in my stomach. This is a profession, the same as it is being a doctor or a lawyer. People pay money in exchange for a performance and that includes neatness and decency. They obviously did not have the training that I had with Willie Rosario and for that I owe him many thanks. Wherever I go, I thank him. I include many of the songs I recorded with him in my act. And that to me is an honor".
To see Tony Vega on stage is to see someone in the league of Camilo Sesto, Dyango or Jose Jose, the only difference is the salsa band. And this is not to be taken lightly, Tony is very suave on stage. Tailored suit, hair slicked back a la Andy Garcia meets Pat Riley, with a red rose pinned on his lapel. And although he is a die hard salsero who has been known to start a party with the audience way before he gets on stage, Tony has an appreciation for boleros and ballads. "I love romance, and I would love to sing boleros, if only I could sing them right. I consider myself (and other people too) the hangman of boleros. I am a frustrated balladeer. But nevertheless I love the genre. I think that you can never do enough to tell a woman that you love her. We get caught up in so much role playing that our true nature is compromised. When I listen to ballads, I sort of enroll myself in some kind of detox center for my feelings. I remember I picked up a Braulio record because I loved his songs, I loved his themes. It was during the salsa romantica explosion that I decided 'I am going to do a Braulio song in salsa'. That is until I read the acknowledgment notes in one of his CDs that said 'to my colleagues in the tropical genre: Please abstain from recording my songs until after I finish promoting them.' I found that statement to be so human, so real and so funny; that I respected him and his work even more. He gave me some of his old songs like "Me Gusta Que Seas Celosa", "Deseo", "Fui La Carnada"...We became good friends. In fact, if you take a look at the credits written in his 20th anniversary CD, he thanks me. And not for nothing but in my new album, Braulio's song "Una Amable Aventura" is the one that I hold dearest. Not that the other songs are not worth my time - it's just that, that one is very special to me. Braulio Garcia & Omar Alfanno, are gentlemen that write real songs. And with this I do not intend to offend any other songwriter, especially those from my island. I listen to everybody's songs. At home, I have a huge arsenal of tapes with songs written by guys on a street corner with 40 shoots of rum, and I listen to them all because you never know where the next hit song is coming from."
Life is good to Tony, and according to him now more than ever. The fame, the money mean nothing to him. "What's the point of having those things and not having the time to enjoy them all? I remember many evenings and nights where the most I've said to my wife is hi and bye. Worst yet I remember many days where I did not see my children! Listen I have a beautiful living room and believe me when I tell you that I just recently discovered that fact. I was so busy hustling with my gigs - she was so busy managing Jailene that it was virtually impossible to meet. Now we have both realized that all of this means nothing if we cannot enjoy ourselves and our time. We have two beautiful children and a huge living room (laughs)! We sat down for two hours chatting away in our living room - 'can you believe where we're sitting?' my wife said. It was such a pleasant experience to answer that question. I enjoy my family.
Life is very simple, God designed it that way. It is us who have made it difficult and crazy. Look, it is not a surprise that we are surrounded with diseases and all types of addictions, it's humanity's destiny unless we do something to change it. Titi Soto, may God keep his soul, wrote a song for me a couple of years ago titled 'Uno Mismo'. That song was the theme song in many graduations in my lovely island of Puerto Rico during the year it came out, it was heart-wrenching. Drug addicts that after hearing that song came up to me and said that 'thanks to that song I've been off of drugs.' I've never been into drugs, I do not have any illegitimate children, I have never cheated on my wife of 20 years, but I cannot ignore the fact that we are constantly involved in the battle of good versus evil."
I never expected this from Tony. Can you imagine! A guy that sings salsa with a twist of adultery and infidelity is a devoted Christian?! As he is speaking from the heart about this matter, I cannot help but to think to myself "Gee! is Tony Vega starting to sound like those people I usually run away from on Saturday mornings? Do I want to show this side of Tony Vega? Do I want to continue this interview?! Will our readers and I be able to handle this revelation without being somewhat biased or prejudiced?" And while all these thoughts are racing through my head, Tony in a very calm yet very secure way continued talking. "Instead of thanking me, I rather have those whom I've helped through my songs thank The Lord, after all He delivered the deed". Tony Vega in a very reverend-esque way, without being overly preachy told me that on March 17, 1996 he became a born again Christian and he is not alone. "Cuto Soto, Johnny El Bravo, Domingo Quiñonez, Alex D' Castro, Piro Allen, Omar Alfanno, Amuni Nacer, Jailene Cintron, Andy Guzman, Raffy Torres are artists and musicians that are active members doing The Lord's work. Omar is, as we speak, writing a song for me that is going to be featured in an upcoming Christian album."
With a filled schedule that includes numerous tours that will take him all over the world, and with various upcoming projects that will keep him busy for months, you can't help but wonder how he balances the music world's less-than-holy environment of the club scene with God's work? "Believe me when I tell you that it's difficult. With temptation lurking in the shadows of the environment where we work it is difficult. I remember when my good friend Alex D' Castro asked the pastor at our congregation, how should he deal with the fact that he is singing material that is profane? The pastor's answer was simple - 'Alex that is your job. You do your job until God gives you the call.' There is always time for The Lord, and thanks to Him I am working. I will work until He tells me to stop."
Tony Vega filled his lungs with air, and as if it was his last attempt to lift a heavy load of weights he channeled all his energy to his mouth and said the following: "To all of those people, teenagers, older men and women, to all of those individuals that are confused....Love life. Live life, do it all natural with no preservatives or additives. And if you live it with Christ you're set, you will receive the biggest blessing of your life. Run away from the fear of losing something if you are with God. God does not take away anything, he gives. He gives peace."
Uhmm, suddenly I have a sudden urge to listen to Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz.
© 1995 - 99 Nestor A. Louis
nestor@palosalsero.com
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