DLG
Encyclopedia
DLG is a salsa band that mixes salsa
, reggae
, reggaeton
, and hip-hop
. The group was brought together in New York
by producer Sergio George
(who also signed them to his record company Sir George Records) and included Huey Dunbar
, Fragancia, and James "Da Barba" de Jesus.
and Sistah Souljah. Their first appearance took place in April 1996 when they performed alongside Sergio George, who took up keyboard.
decided to break away from DLG to pursue a solo career. This essentially led to the breakup of the entire group.
in 2000. In addition, YaYa was on the first season of Sean P. Diddy Combs show Making the Band
3 in 2005 on MTV. Her manager contacted Sergio who reviewed her work and photos via myspace.com. They set up an interview in Florida
with Sergio, and James "Da Barba".
The new DLG, with Miss YaYa and James Da Barba, is nominated for a 2009 Grammy in the "Best Tropical Album" category, and a 2009 Premio Lo Nuestro award for "Best Tropical Group."
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
, reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
, and hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
. The group was brought together in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by producer Sergio George
Sergio George
Sergio George is a pianist and record producer, known for working with many famous performers of salsa music, although he has worked in other genres as well...
(who also signed them to his record company Sir George Records) and included Huey Dunbar
Huey Dunbar
Huey Dunbar, , is the former singer of Dark Latin Groove. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and a Jamaican father, he was exposed to music since his earliest years due to his parents' musical careers...
, Fragancia, and James "Da Barba" de Jesus.
Beginnings
Looking for vocalists, Sergio George discovered within the salsa club scenes both Huey Dunbar and James "Da Barba" de Jesus. De Jesus had previously been a backup singer for both Tito NievesTito Nieves
Humberto "Tito" Nieves became one of the leading Salsa singers of the 1980s and the early 1990s....
and Sistah Souljah. Their first appearance took place in April 1996 when they performed alongside Sergio George, who took up keyboard.
Breakup
After their third album in 2000, lead singer Huey DunbarHuey Dunbar
Huey Dunbar, , is the former singer of Dark Latin Groove. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and a Jamaican father, he was exposed to music since his earliest years due to his parents' musical careers...
decided to break away from DLG to pursue a solo career. This essentially led to the breakup of the entire group.
Rebirth
In 2007, DLG producer Sergio George announced that the group would resurface again. Dunbar rejected George's invitation to return to the group. Sergio's search for a new vocalist led him to "Miss YaYa", whose real name is Yahaira Vargas. She had previously participated in an American-Idol-like contest called 'Gigantes del Manaña' on the variety show Sabado GiganteSábado Gigante
Sábado Gigante is a Spanish-language television show that is Univision's longest-running program and the longest-running variety TV show in the world. Sábado Gigante is an eclectic and frenetic mix of various contests, human-interest stories, and live entertainment...
in 2000. In addition, YaYa was on the first season of Sean P. Diddy Combs show Making the Band
Making the Band
Making the Band is an ABC/MTV reality television series that exists in separate iterations, each iteration focusing on a specific music act. It spawned musical acts O-Town, Da Band, Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang...
3 in 2005 on MTV. Her manager contacted Sergio who reviewed her work and photos via myspace.com. They set up an interview in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
with Sergio, and James "Da Barba".
The new DLG, with Miss YaYa and James Da Barba, is nominated for a 2009 Grammy in the "Best Tropical Album" category, and a 2009 Premio Lo Nuestro award for "Best Tropical Group."
Albums
- 1996: Dark Latin Groove
- 1997: Swing On
- 1999: Gotcha!Gotcha! (album)Gotcha! is DLG's third album. It includes well known singles such as Volvere. It is the last album to feature Huey Dunbar as the lead singer.-Track listing:#Volvere #Eres Mi Vida #Got A Hook On You #Acuyuye #Angeles#A Veces Me Pregunto...
- 2000: Grandes Exitos
- 2008: Renacer
Compilations
- 2000: Greatest Hits
- 2003: Serie Azul Tropical
- 2004: Lo Esencial DLG
- 2005: 20 Éxitos Originales: Dark Latin Groove