Ismael Miranda
Encyclopedia
Ismael Miranda a.k.a. El niño bonito de la Salsa (The pretty Boy of Salsa) (born February 20, 1950) is a composer
and a singer of salsa music
.
. As a child he always wanted to be a musician
. Miranda grew up in New York City
on East 13th Street in Manhattan
's East Village. His musical inclination led him to form two different juvenile groups, "The 4J's and Little Junior" and "The Class Mates" by the time he was eleven years old. He sang and played the conga
for the group and they were good enough to appear on Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon
. Miranda also grew up and played in his first bands with Jazz percussionist Orlando "Q" Rodriguez
and piano player Mark Diamond.
Larry Harlow, that he was hired as Larry's lead singer. That same year Miranda and Harlow co-authored "El Exigente" (The Demanding), set to the rhythm of the Latin Boogaloo
craze of the time.
, Asia
and Latin-America. In 1973 he formed his own band called "Revelacion" and recorded "Así se compone un son" under the Fania Record Label. With this song, Miranda entered the new salsa craze which was sweeping the nation. He was then baptized as "El Niño Bonito de la Salsa" (The Pretty Boy of Salsa). During the 1970s, he continued to have more "hits" with songs like "Lupe, Lupe", "Señor Sereno" and many others.
By 1988, Miranda had planned to retire instead however, he went on to establish his own record label "IM Records" and recorded several boleros
with Andy Montañez
.
composer Jose Alfredo Jimenez in the salsa version.
On September 27, 2003, Ismael Miranda performed at the famed Copacabana
nightclub in New York City
. He currently continues to perform and is now on a national tour.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and a singer of salsa music
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...
.
Early years
Miranda was born in Aguada, Puerto RicoAguada, Puerto Rico
Aguada is a municipality of Puerto Rico, located in the western coastal valley region bordering the Atlantic Ocean, west of Rincón, Aguadilla and Moca; and north of Anasco. It is part of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. As a child he always wanted to be a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. Miranda grew up in New York City
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...
on East 13th Street in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's East Village. His musical inclination led him to form two different juvenile groups, "The 4J's and Little Junior" and "The Class Mates" by the time he was eleven years old. He sang and played the conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
for the group and they were good enough to appear on Jerry Lewis' Muscular Dystrophy Telethon
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
. Miranda also grew up and played in his first bands with Jazz percussionist Orlando "Q" Rodriguez
Orlando "Q" Rodriguez
Orlando "Q" Rodriguez is an American rock and jazz percussionist based in New York City. He began his career as a teenager during the early 1960s, playing with Jackie McLean in Slugs nightclub in New York. Salsa singer Ismael Miranda sung in his first bands with Rodriguez and piano player Mark...
and piano player Mark Diamond.
First recording
In 1967, when Miranda was 17 years old, he made his recording debut with the song "Let's Ball" with Joey Pastrana and had his first "hit" with "Rumbon Melon". He created such a good impression on bandleaderBandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
Larry Harlow, that he was hired as Larry's lead singer. That same year Miranda and Harlow co-authored "El Exigente" (The Demanding), set to the rhythm of the Latin Boogaloo
Boogaloo
Boogaloo or bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was popular in the United States in the 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans, Puerto Ricans and other groups. The style was a fusion of popular African American R&B and soul with mambo and son montuno...
craze of the time.
The Fania All Stars
In 1969, Miranda joined the Fania All Stars and went with on tour to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Latin-America. In 1973 he formed his own band called "Revelacion" and recorded "Así se compone un son" under the Fania Record Label. With this song, Miranda entered the new salsa craze which was sweeping the nation. He was then baptized as "El Niño Bonito de la Salsa" (The Pretty Boy of Salsa). During the 1970s, he continued to have more "hits" with songs like "Lupe, Lupe", "Señor Sereno" and many others.
By 1988, Miranda had planned to retire instead however, he went on to establish his own record label "IM Records" and recorded several boleros
Music of Puerto Rico
The music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by the Spanish, African, Taíno Indians, France, and the United States, and has become very popular across the Caribbean and across the globe...
with Andy Montañez
Andy Montañez
Andrés Montañez , better known as Andy Montañez, is a salsa singer from Puerto Rico.-Early life:Montañez, like singer Daniel Santos and boxer Ossie Ocasio, is a native of the Tras Talleres area of Santurce San Juan. He is known by the nickname "El Godfather de la Salsa"...
.
Later years
The 2002 recording of one of Miranda's concerts received the recognition and acclaim of the National Foundation of Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. He also recorded a well-received CD, which contained songs composed by the renowned MexicanMexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
composer Jose Alfredo Jimenez in the salsa version.
On September 27, 2003, Ismael Miranda performed at the famed Copacabana
Copacabana (nightclub)
The Copacabana is a famous New York City nightclub. Many entertainers, among them Danny Thomas, Pat Cooper and the comedy team of Martin and Lewis, made their debuts at the Copacabana. The 1978 Barry Manilow song "Copacabana" is named after, and is about the nightclub. Part of the 2003 Yerba...
nightclub in New York City
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...
. He currently continues to perform and is now on a national tour.