Musica Tipica, Typical Dominican Music, Bachata

Bachata,or Música de Amargue/Music of Bitterness Also known as musica de guardia / soldier's music and musica baja/ lowlife This music originally was music created by the lowest of the low adrift in Santo Domingo. It was played in the cabarets and whorehouse's of the capital where these people frequented. Its forms, instrumentation and so on are originally derived from country music, but it developed as a result of the displacement of rural people to the cities. The early Bachata -- La Sufrida, is all about this rootlessness, loss, drunkenness, whoring, etc. It was even banned from radio play because it was full of double entendre, and in general dealt with low-lifes, so they censored it. The rich, affluent, and city people would not listen to this type of music. If they did they would not admit to it.

It is considered to be Dominican Blues. Most of the lyrics are about lost love and sad events. Thanks to Juan Luis Guerra who turned the music around by sweetening and polishing up the genre. Also, now with many of the new groups that have appeared on the scene in the past few years Bachata has changed and has become more main stream. It is now more accepted by all.

This band has helped to make Bachata more acceptable to the masses. Aventura is Anthony Santos (lead singer and featured composer), Leny Santos (musical producer and guitarist), Max Santos (bassist and rap artist) and Henry Santos Jeter (singer and composer).

contributed by Macocael

Monchy y Alexandra Monchy ( Ramon Rijo born September 19, 1977) and Alexandra (Alexandra Cabrera de la Cruz Born October 19, 1978 ),Dominican born and singing together as a group for about five years. They have the ability to keep the authentic Folkloric rhythms of the original romantic bachata and have melded in other rhythmic influences such as Antillean, Rock and Arabian music. Web Site Hits include: Yo Sin Ti Y Tu Sin Mi (2004), Dos Locos (2002), Hoja en Blanco (2001).

Frank Reyes web site

To see the video Princesa at You Tube(opens in new window)

Zacarias Ferreira "The Voice of Tenderness" The first Bachata music I ever owned was Zacarias Ferreira. I bought a cassette in the street off of some man. When a Dominican friend saw it he called it "tinka, tinka music", I had never heard it before so I had no idea what he was talking about. I took it back to USA and listened to it with my dictionary trying to understand the lyrics, which didn't work very well. I loved it. So Zacarias Ferreira will always have a special place in my heart. Janette Keys Web site

Joe Veras was born on May 1,1964 in Cevicos, a municipality of Cotui in the Dominican Republic. He is the fourth of thirteen children born to Mr. Soto Veras and Mrs. Maria del Carmen Batista. He involved himself in music at an early age starting in ecclesiastic choirs in his village - Cotui. He pursued a university degree in Santo Domingo, then chose to pursue an artistic career. A music project led to a contract with Darlenis Records Company. He recorded his first production, Con Amor, in 1993. His debut was well received by bachata afficionados.

Joe Veras signed a contract with Hipolito Records in 1995 and recorded Con Mas Amor and Asi es la Vida. These productions spread throughout the country and internationally and won him the Casandra Award in 1997. In New York he received a platinum award for selling more than 300,000 copies of Con Mas Amor. He gained further notoriety in the Dominican Republic, winning local awards called premios globos.

Joe Veras then signed a contract with J&N Records and the hit song Por Tu Amor became one of the leaders in popularity followed by Carta de Verano.

For over a decade, Joe Veras has exercised leadership as a composer, musical arranger and bachata artist. So far he has managed to record seven soulful productions for his fans: Con Amor, Con Mas Amor, Asi es la Vida, Aceptame como Soy, Reencuentro, Simplemente and Desde mi Alma.

With the launch of his eighth production, Carta de Verano, he earned further acceptance both on a national and international level, and became one of the most popular Bachata singers of our country. Carta de Verano has eleven songs; Intentalo Tu is the song that is being promoted both nationally and internationally. Currently, Carta de Verano is one of the highest selling CDs under the tropical music category "bachata" and one of the highest selling bachata albums in Latin America. In 2003.

This style of music can be heard in most of the Colmados of the country. It is a couples style dance where one is held close. It is an easy dance that has a classic tap of the foot action. A 4 step with the 4th being a little tap. Each person has their own little style they add to the dance move. It is an enjoyable dance and can be quite romantic. Along with the music being more accepted by all the dance has become quite popular. It is a good time to dance to even if you don't really know how. I suggest giving it a try.

Pictures of Aventura in concert 2005. Thanks US Latino

Zacarias Ferreira in concert 5-05. Thanks US Latino for the picture.

Frank Reyes in concert 2-06. Thanks US Latino for the picture.

Raulin Rodriguez was born June 16, 1970 in Montecristi Dominican Republic. He started playing the guitar at a young age but really never had musical training. He thanks his grandfather for giving him the knowledge and desire to peruse his musical talents. He started playing in the group Agrupación de Antony Santos. Then he formed his own group called Raulín Rodríguez, El Cacique del Amargue in which his sister, Casilda Rodriguez, was part of, in 1992.

Raulin Rodriguez in concert 8-04. Thanks US Latino for the picture.

Antony Santos (“El Mayimbe de la Bachata”) was born in a province in the northwest of the Dominican Republic. From very young age he showed a great love for music. He was inspired by the diverse romantic singers that his parents listened to on Dominican radio. This music he listened to influenced him as a young person who dreamt about being a great artist. Antony learned to play the guitar when he was young and he played his melodies and used his romantic voice to entertain all who would listen wherever he happened to be. Later he

decided to start a musical group that immediately became a true sensation in the Dominican Republic because of the subject of his songs. He writes about what he knows, his songs are his interpretation and reflections of the feelings of the men and women of the town in which he grew up in. Little by little Antony Santos came to be one of the more popular artists of Bachata. He is one of the artists with the highest record sales of the country and the most requested for presentations on the national and international level. Because of his great presence and his artistic ability Antony has come to be called “El Mayimbe de la Bachata”. Antony is one of the great greats of the modern Bachata. Helping to open the doors for making Bachata become so popular Latin American.

Antony Santos in concert

Joe Veras " Por Tu Amor" music video

Joe Veras performed at the Miss Canada Pageant in Toronto and opened the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo. He went on to win his second Casandra Award for Bachatero of the Year. He has shared his love for music and romance in the form of bachata in Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Tortola Island, St. Croix, St.Thomas, St. Martin, Aruba, Curacao, Martinique, Canada and the United States. Joe Veras is greatly admired and respected by his fans all over the world. He is a man with a soft voice and a unique style, a poet of grand emotion.

Thanks Joe Veras "El Hombre de Tu Vida and his staff for sending us this information/Translated by Lesley D.

Andy Andy at the Casandra Awards 2006. They won best Video of the year for their song Qué Ironía

Thanks US Latino for the picture

July 13, 2006 Congratulations Aventura!!

They won an award for Artista Tropical Favorito in the Premios Juventud Awards for their song Un Beso.

Aventura’s Anthony "Romeo" Santos performed with Thalia the song No, No, No. We have the video for your watching and listening enjoyment here, in our Musica Tipica page.

Aventura live video | Aventura - La Boda video | Aventura - Un Beso video | Aventura - Hermanita video | Web site

Here are some links to Aventura videos and website (opens in new window)

ROMAN "C" - "Dimelo Bajito"(nominated best bachata song in 2005) This video was made in Colonial Zone. Check the scenery, it is beautiful. Thank you Horacio Ontiveros (director) for telling me about this video.

Anthony Santos "Lloro" Video recorded at Sosua Car Wash 1/28/2006

Here is a link to another Antony Santos Video

picture/image of Joe Veras live 11/2005 thanks US Latino

Alex Bueno in Concert 11/05 Thanks US Latino

Alex Bueno was born in San José De Las Matas in Dominican Republic. When he was a boy he started playing the guitar and sang in public meetings, in school and the church choir. In 1978 Wilfredo Vargas organized the Festival De La Voz where all the youth of the country could participate. When Alex performed he showed he had the talent to succeed with his performance and his powerful voice he won the contest. Gerardo Veras invited Alex to join his orquestra the "Santo Domingo's All Star". His performance stood out as to get the attention of Fernando Villalona and he was invited to join his band. In 1982 Alex Bueno and his friends Andrés De Jesús, Julie Pie, Jhonny Tulanga, Bilomar "La Conga", Manuel "La Guirra", and others, started their own group called Alex Bueno & La Orquesta Liberación. Two years later he went off on his own to peruse his solo act. In 1991 he joined J&N Records and made the album

"Ternuras" which in 1992 broke all record sales of that time. He combined his singing with a little comedy in his lyrics. In 1998 he made the bachata album "Bachata A Su Tiempo" when bachata was not widely popular. This album was the largest bachata album in USA and took bachata to a place where noone before was able to take it. His second bachata album names "Corazón Duro" out sold the previous album and he won the Premios Lo Nuestro 2000 for Best Traditional Album. After the 2 bachata albums he recorded a romantic music album and a merengue album then another bachata album. He did another bachata album "Pídeme",

picture/image alex bueno in concert 11_05

To see the Video "El Hombre Soy Yo"

Alex Bueno along with arranger Maestro Ramón Orlando then made a collectors disc of all his best songs called "20 Años Después" (Volumen 1 y 2). He now is working on a bachata disc produced by Martires y Robin. It is said that this disc will surpass all the past recordings Alex Bueno has done. Keep up the records and giving us music we love!