OSCAR DE LEON "El Leon D' La Salsa" (The
Salsa Lion)
A
skill at improvisation is combined with a highly-textured
vocal tone by Venezuela-born Oscar D'Leon. A top-ranked
performer in his homeland, D'Leon has continued
to solidify his following throughout the world.
A joy for entertaining has been a constant thread
throughout D'Leon's career. In a 1996 interview
with the Chicago Tribune, D'Leon said, "My
message is not about ecology or politics, but, it's
simply that people have a good time and remember
me as someone who loves them".
Mix Oscar d' Leon en vivo -
Madison Square Garden New York
Born
in the Caracas neighborhood of Etamin, D'Leon was influenced
by Cuban musicians including Beny More and La Sonora Mantacera
and by New York-based Latin performers including Eddie
Palmieri and Willie Colon. He taught himself to play bass
by listening and playing along to records. "I am
not a maestro like they say, " he explained.
Oscar De Leon -"Lloraras"
"I
try to make my instrument sound coherent." D'Leon
balanced his early career as a vocalist with full-time
employment as a taxi driver and factory worker. Forming
a band, La Dimension Latina, in 1973, he recorded his
first hit, "Pensando en Ti," shortly afterwards.
Oscar de Leon - Padre e Hijo
"Dad and Son"
Three
years later, he formed a second group, Salsa Mayer. D'Leon,
who's known affectionately as "El Leon de La Salsa
(The Lion of Salsa)", Oscar D'León has worked
together with stars like Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Jose
Alberto "El Canario", Arturo Sandoval, Luís
Enrique, Los Billos Caracas Boys and Dyango.
Oscar D´Leon - Que se
sienta
. In
addition to touring and recording with a nineteen piece
band featuring five saxophones, four trombones and four
trumpets, D'Leon toured with a fifteen piece group in
1996. And after a slew of releases in the late '90s, D'Leon
returned in the new millennium with Doble Play. ~ Craig
Harris, All Music Guide
Oscar d' Leon - Festival del
Callao (Peru) "melao de cana"