RANDY PLAZA
'AND La Legacia de la Salsa'

¿Que Pasa? - speaks to band lider Randy Plaza of “Legacia De La Salsa” and finds out more about his experience and ambitions
in the World's Latin scene.

by Roxana Skyte

¿Que Pasa?: ¿QUE PASA? How did the members of the Randy Plaza Orchestra meet? Randy Plaza: Hi my name is Radames AKA Randy Plaza; this is my first production of “Legacia De La Salsa”. I am the producer, songwriter, publisher and independent label for R Plaza Records, Inc. It all started as an experiment, the idea to think as a fan and feeling the need of doing something different for music, wishing to bring to life what salsa is missing now a day. I wanted to create something different than the same monotone, “more of the same” stuff you are force to hear every day.

I think that today the tropical genre of salsa has lost a lot of grounds and it is still losing a lot of grounds in the market. Everyone is in it for themselves and for whatever money they can get. They do not care for the passion of music, nor to play for joy, but to play for personal interest. They do not even feel the need to teach the younger generation the importance of keeping our tradition alive and to learn their roots.

This is when I decided to learn, search and instruct myself a little bit more inside music before stepping in it completely. I spent a lot of time listening to all those classic salsa bands, which have inspired me in this creation and which have helped me decide which musical arrangers, singers, musicians, sound engineer I wanted as part of my recording team. Once I learned what I wanted to do I started contacting everybody, from the singers I always had admired to musical arrangers from the old school who had done great recording albums in the past. Finally we all got together and were able to work on this project. It took a lot of planning and a lot of team work to come up with the final project but it was all worth it.

¿QUE PASA? Which Latin bands have influenced the band the most?

¿QUE PASA? How difficult (or easy!) is it to write and perform your own material? Randy Plaza: Well, I have been writing songs for many years and I always dreamed of hearing some of my favorites singers record my songs. Never knowing that later on I would be the one doing it and at my own personal taste. It was not easy for me. I am always looking to bring out the best of the best, best arrangements, best performance, best message in my songs, best sound, best artist appearance, etc.

¿QUE PASA? When and where did the orchestra get its first major break?

Randy Plaza: We are still working to get this production out in the market worldwide. This CD has been in the market for only 3 ½ month since released and it has not been easy for me as an independent label. We had a presentation planned to take place on July 21, 2007 in New York, this presentation would have been the “Debut of Legacía de la Salsa”. The original lineup of Legacia De La Salsa included Master Sonero Humberto “Tito” Gómez, and as consequence of his untimely death, the presentation was cancelled and the debut of Legacía de la Salsa was put on hold.

¿QUE PASA? Are there plans for the Randy Plaza Orchestra to perform outside of the USA?

Randy Plaza: Yes, we have plans to play for anyone who enjoys our music and anyone interested in leading this salsa concept to a higher level, in the USA, Europe, South and Central America, etc.

¿QUE PASA? Are your audiences mostly salsa dancers and can the members of the band dance

Randy Plaza: No, we have a mix audience, the ones who love to dance and know how to dance and the ones that identify themselves by just listening to the lyrics. Some band members know how to dance others do not, and there are others who know the metrics from working with previous well known bands.

¿QUE PASA? Which do you enjoy the most: touring live or recording albums, and why? Salsa?

Randy Plaza: I enjoy them both; recording is a lot more complicated, time consuming and frustrating at times. On the other hand touring makes you feel alive, you actually feel and appreciate the support of your entire fans. Why salsa? I chose salsa because I had the right tools at the right moment. I would also love to record other genres, which I already have planed.

¿QUE PASA? Has the AT Orchestra already reached its pinnacle, or is there a burning ambition that has yet to be realized? Randy Plaza: No, not for far, we still have a lot to do and a lot to accomplish. This is just the beginning. We need to show people, and the new generation who these artist are, what they did, who they played with and that many of their songs are still playing daily all over the world, in radio stations, TV, night clubs, etc.

Fans only remember the name of the bands and the songs, but very rare do they remember the name of the person who sings it.

¿QUE PASA? What has been the single most exciting experience for the orchestra since its Inception?

Randy Plaza: I will have to say just having these three fine artist, well known singers, come together as one in this recording, after so many years in silence, showing what they know best, which is singing.

¿QUE PASA? What’s next in the pipeline for the AT Orchestra?

Randy Plaza: We are just waiting for the right people, the right connection, and the right move to take this project over the top, and be able to record classic productions like this one by giving the fans the best of us. This is the first of three salsa recordings we have planed for the future.

© Interview by Lin Skyte, 12 September, 2009

For Randy Plaza CD review please got to CD review page

For futher information on concerts or to order a CD, check out myspace.com/legaciadelasalsa
facebook.com/legaciadelasalsa
email: salsalegacy@gmail.com

Randy Plaza
917-586-8305

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