Maybe you have never heard of FANIA. And this question sounds very strange to you: Why should you know FANIA. It’s just like the question: why should you know Eddie Torres? The short answer to that is: They have had a big influence on Salsa as we know it today.
Let’s start with
Who (or what) is FANIA
Fania is a ‘Latin Music label’ (sometimes even called ‘The Motown of Salsa’). And perhaps the most important one in the history of Salsa music.
FANIA was founded in New York by Jerry Masuci and Johnny Pacheco in 1964. Jerry was an Italian-American lawyer with a great love for Latin music. Johnny was born in the Dominican Republic and had extensive experience as a bandleader. These two were the perfect combination; a businessman and an ambitious, experienced musician. Together they
Created the Motown of Salsa.
FANIA was an important platform for the young and talented Latin musicians of that time.
But which musicians are we talking about
You have probably heard of: Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ray Barreto, Hector Lavoe. Just to name a few.
1967
The album ‘El Malo’ was the first proof that FANIA was going to have a big impact on Salsa music. This album is a combination of Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe. What was special (besides the music, of course) was that both Willie and Hector were teenagers when the album came out!
A year later
In 1968 the FANIA label was doing well and all the artists they worked with were getting more and more attention. That’s when the FANIA All Stars were born: Why not let all the talents work and perform together…
Live in Cheetah Club
Many consider this performance the beginning of the Salsa boom (the time when Salsa became very popular). The best Latin bands and artists under the FANIA label had come together to perform at the Cheetah Club: FANIA All Stars
There is more
They recorded this performance and made a film out of it: Our Latin Thing. A dream of every dancer (who has delved into the subject) is to be able to go back to this night: 26 August 1971!
The day FANIA (All Stars) became a Legend
On 23 August 1973 FANIA gave a performance at Yankee Stadium for more than 40,000 screaming fans, and with that broke records once again. Around this time they were already super popular and successful. After this day they had become LEGENDS. After this they also broke through internationally!
The ’70s
In the ’70s FANIA made salsa popular all over the world. They had contracts with the best musicians of that time. FANIA created a platform where these talents could work together and in that way give salsa a big boost.
The result
Creating a world in which talented young people could develop was the best thing that could have happened to Salsa music, culture and dance. The name ‘Salsa’ also stuck during this time (nobody knows exactly how; people say it came from a sponsored radio programme).
In any case
The FANIA label made sure that the Cuban genres in New York could grow into something new. By mixing Jazz and, for example, R&B with the Cuban rhythms, something special was born that we today call Salsa. It is also sometimes called the Salsa Revolution.
And in the ’70s FANIA made sure that these warm Caribbean rhythms travelled all over the world and became so popular.
So
Why should you know FANIA
FANIA is a label that made salsa music popular worldwide, which is why today in Europe we have more opportunities to dance.
If FANIA hadn’t done this, it might have happened later through another label. We will never know.
What do we advise you to do now?
Go and watch the film ‘Our Latin Thing’ so that you get to know FANIA a bit better.
The more you know about Salsa, the more feeling you will have while dancing, and that is exactly what dancing is about!
Do you know any other fun facts?
Then post your comment and share your knowledge with the rest of the readers!
Enjoy watching, and I’d say also have a look on Spotify for a FANIA compilation.
Watapana Dance Company
Facts and dates taken from the FANIA website
