Fania All Stars Forever – Polito Vega Concert Tribute.

New York Superstar radio personality Polito Vega, The King of Latin Radio” celebrated 45 years in the business with a sensational concert that will feature The Fania All Stars Forever at the Continental Arena.

The concert, produced by Mega 97.9 FM, Ralph Mercado, Félix Cabrera and John Sepulveda for Spanish Broadcasting System paid tribute to whom is, without a doubt, the most popular and prominent of a host of radio DJs that are directly responsible for making salsa a household word. Part of a cadre of radio personalities that manned the airwaves in the late sixties and early seventies that included names such as Felipe Luciano, “Sympony Sid”, Dick “Ricardo” Sugar, Paco Navarro, Roger Dawson, and Joe Gaines, amongst others, Polito has remained a constant voice in Latin Music to this day.

A survivor of the Golden Years of Latin Music, Polito has never let up maintaining his weekly show, “Salsa con Polito” as a mainstay in the preference of the New York radio audience, a tribute to his popularity amongst salsa fans. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Vega came to New York in 1959 looking for fame and fortune as an entertainer, and, in fact, starred with his won trio. Although not as a singer, he achieved his purpose becoming the voice of salsa and a true icon of his trade for over four decades.

As a disk jockey he started spinning the sounds of Latin music at the old WEVD. Later he moved on to WBNX where he remained until moving to SBS for the past 15 years.

Always the consumate professional, his shows not only provide a wealth of music, they provide a wealth of understanding of his trade. His enciclopedic knowledge of the history of the latin music tradition is legendary and his willingness to contribute to its propagation uncanny.

Without a doubt, a raving tribute to a life dedicated to the music and to the New York audience. Forty five years is a lifetime, and there is no greater achievement than dedicating a lifetime to your peers. Polito Vega, still going strong, is a true hall of famer, a true king in his trade. Without a doubt, the stick against which all disk jockeys will be meassured, both past and future. Without a doubt New York’s salsa is Polito!.

Youth sensation from Puerto Rico N’Klabe opened the event. Moving upwards in the Hit Parade, N’Klabe has gained fast popularity and recognition. Their style adds a youthful touch to the traditional salsa sounds.

The Fania All Stars Forever have, for over three decades, been the quintesential ensemble in the Latin music business. Led by musical director Johnny Pacheco the stars hit New York one more time in a celebration that is destined to be one for the ages. Roberto Roena, Bobby Valentín, Ray Barretto, Papo Lucca, Larry Harlow, Adalberto Santiago, Ismel Miranda, Junior González, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Alfredo de la Fe, Yomo Toro, Leopoldo Pineda, Ray Viera, Reinaldo Jorge, Jimmy Bosch, Héctor Casanova, Luichi Camacho, Joe Medina, Nicky Marrero, Eddie Montalvo, Héctor “Bomberito” Zarzuela, Piro Rodríguez, and Jorge Torres. The M.C. for this event will be non other than Mr. Salsa himself, Izzy Sanabria.

Oscar D’León, India, Tego Calderón and Rey Ruíz participated in the event and a slew of special guests where on had to join The Fania All Stars Forever on this very special evening where the King of Radio is honored. So, as Polito would say, “andando, andando, andando and get your tickets for this sensational musical event. Its “cambio, cambio, cambio”, one more time, when The Fania All Stars Forever do their Latin thing again!