Toque Profundo
Encyclopedia
Toque Profundo, sometimes referred to as Toque, or TP, is a rock group from the Dominican Republic, the most successful of the local Dominican bands to date in the late 80s and 90s. Most of the songs were related to their native country, and some songs, like "El Jevito" and "Mi País", involved social criticism and issues within Dominican culture.
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In 1992 they released the 1st independent album named "Sueños y Pesadillas Del 3er Mundo" (Dreams and Nightmares of The 3rd World). This was the first CD ever at that time to be released independently by their own financial means.
The CD immediately became a classic and best seller in Dominican rock history. Songs like "El Bolero Del Biónico", "Amigo", and "Mandela" were hits on local Dominican radio stations shortly after the album’s release.
That same year they were nominated as "Best Rock Group" in the Cassandra Awards, a similar Dominican version of the Grammy Awards. They also were involved in the international event "Rock Sobre Las Piedras" which took place at Altos de Chavón
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Towards 1993 the young group was chosen by Dominicans to represent them in the international event "Festival De Benidorm" in Spain
with the song "Dios Salve Al Viajero"(God Save The Traveler). In 1996 they released their 2nd independent album named "Moneda" (Spanish for ‘coins’, also refers to money). Bigger success resulted from this second album. Songs Like "Llorar", the long-awaited "Dios Salve Al Viajero" and "Ramona"(a playful take on Eric Clapton’s classic unplugged rendition of “Layla”), all became top #1 hits on radio. This album is considered a classic within Dominican rock culture and, at the same time, sparked the “local rock bands” evolution.
In 1999 they released The 3rd Album "Cría Cuervos" (sort of like “Breed Crows”), which became their most successful album of their career at that date. Tracks like "Botas Negras", "Liberate", and "Noche Sin Luna" also became top #1 singles. "Noche Sin Luna" later became the longest-enduring song to remain in the top #1 list on Dominican radio. "Cría Cuervos", like the two preceding albums, was an independent album showing the musical growth of the band and their ever-growing fan base in their native country and in Latin America.
Further recordings led up to the release of their 4th album, titled "Magia", in 2002. International critical acclaim has often reputed it to be their best composed, best prepared album. This album was different from its predecessors in the fact that it expanded the musical aspect and explored the band’s maturity and potential to compose and record music. Influences from other cultures were included in this recording, which gave it the best rating among the four albums of their career. This album throws in dashes of punk, afro, alternative, and guitar-based fusions, completely breaking all barriers established on previously released albums. The singles "El Viaje" and "Angel Ciego" also manage to climb the top position on radio stations in the country for several weeks.
These efforts included a showcase in Sirius Satellite Radio, an interview in Music Choice, and several concerts in upper Manhattan.
After that mini-tour, the band ceased to be the powerhouse rock band it once was, never releasing a new track and only playing their old material. Band members started their personal projects and only play together to sell the nostalgics of better times in Dominican rock history. The band is supposedly on a long hiatus, although it's not officially clear as to whether or not the band is declared defunct.
In December 2009, Toque Profundo celebrated their 20th year anniversary in Hard Rock Cafe Santo Domingo and a few weeks later released a new single named "El Experimento" which quickly climbed up the charts of Dominican rock stations. El Experimento marked their first release of material after the last album Magia. Concerts were held in Santo Domingo and also in New York City.
History
It all started in 1989 when Toque Profundo participated in the popular event "Las Olimpiadas del Rock" (Rock Olympics). The original lineup was: Tony Almont (vocals), Leo Susana (guitars), Osvaldo Peña (bass), Lorenzo Zayas-Bazan (keyboards) and Maximo Gomez (drums). They were the best out of 15 participating bands in the event, edging out favorites "Arcangel" by a very small margin in a legendary duel. The band slowly gained experience and acceptance from the small Dominican rock listeners in Santo DomingoSanto Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
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In 1992 they released the 1st independent album named "Sueños y Pesadillas Del 3er Mundo" (Dreams and Nightmares of The 3rd World). This was the first CD ever at that time to be released independently by their own financial means.
The CD immediately became a classic and best seller in Dominican rock history. Songs like "El Bolero Del Biónico", "Amigo", and "Mandela" were hits on local Dominican radio stations shortly after the album’s release.
That same year they were nominated as "Best Rock Group" in the Cassandra Awards, a similar Dominican version of the Grammy Awards. They also were involved in the international event "Rock Sobre Las Piedras" which took place at Altos de Chavón
Altos de Chavón
The biggest attraction in La Romana, Dominican Republic, is Altos de Chavón, a re-creation of a medieval European village conceived from the imagination of Roberto Copa, a former Paramount Studios set designer, and Charles Bluhdorn....
.
Towards 1993 the young group was chosen by Dominicans to represent them in the international event "Festival De Benidorm" in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with the song "Dios Salve Al Viajero"(God Save The Traveler). In 1996 they released their 2nd independent album named "Moneda" (Spanish for ‘coins’, also refers to money). Bigger success resulted from this second album. Songs Like "Llorar", the long-awaited "Dios Salve Al Viajero" and "Ramona"(a playful take on Eric Clapton’s classic unplugged rendition of “Layla”), all became top #1 hits on radio. This album is considered a classic within Dominican rock culture and, at the same time, sparked the “local rock bands” evolution.
In 1999 they released The 3rd Album "Cría Cuervos" (sort of like “Breed Crows”), which became their most successful album of their career at that date. Tracks like "Botas Negras", "Liberate", and "Noche Sin Luna" also became top #1 singles. "Noche Sin Luna" later became the longest-enduring song to remain in the top #1 list on Dominican radio. "Cría Cuervos", like the two preceding albums, was an independent album showing the musical growth of the band and their ever-growing fan base in their native country and in Latin America.
Further recordings led up to the release of their 4th album, titled "Magia", in 2002. International critical acclaim has often reputed it to be their best composed, best prepared album. This album was different from its predecessors in the fact that it expanded the musical aspect and explored the band’s maturity and potential to compose and record music. Influences from other cultures were included in this recording, which gave it the best rating among the four albums of their career. This album throws in dashes of punk, afro, alternative, and guitar-based fusions, completely breaking all barriers established on previously released albums. The singles "El Viaje" and "Angel Ciego" also manage to climb the top position on radio stations in the country for several weeks.
Current Times
In mid 2003, rumors of possible disbanding of Toque Profundo were rampant but never became official. Due to the Dominican Republic's critical economic situation TP was forced to cease concerts, and each member found themselves trying to find ways to expand their musical horizons. Around this time some members formed several project bands, and guitarist Clemente Portillo left the country to the United States to promote TP's work in New York CityNew 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...
These efforts included a showcase in Sirius Satellite Radio, an interview in Music Choice, and several concerts in upper Manhattan.
After that mini-tour, the band ceased to be the powerhouse rock band it once was, never releasing a new track and only playing their old material. Band members started their personal projects and only play together to sell the nostalgics of better times in Dominican rock history. The band is supposedly on a long hiatus, although it's not officially clear as to whether or not the band is declared defunct.
In December 2009, Toque Profundo celebrated their 20th year anniversary in Hard Rock Cafe Santo Domingo and a few weeks later released a new single named "El Experimento" which quickly climbed up the charts of Dominican rock stations. El Experimento marked their first release of material after the last album Magia. Concerts were held in Santo Domingo and also in New York City.
Members
- Tomás Álvarez - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(Since 1990) - Tony Almont - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(Since 1989) - Joel Lazala - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(Since 1992) - Clemente Portillo - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(Since 1995; Hiatus since May 2003 until March 2005)
Past members
- Ernesto Báez
- Máximo Gómez
- Lorenzo Zayas Bazan
- Leo Susana
- Ariel Sánchez
- Osvaldo Peña (El Sobi)
Albums
- Sueños Y Pesadillas Del 3er MundoSueños Y Pesadillas Del 3er MundoSueños Y Pesadillas Del 3er Mundo is the debut album of The Dominican rock group, Toque Profundo. The album was released independently with only the band's members financial help. The album helped them become tops In the mainstream rock of the Dominican Republic and was a total success...
, 19921992 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s.... - MonedaMonedaMoneda is the second album released by the Dominican Rock group Toque Profundo. Like the first album it too was independently recorded. Numerous Songs of this album Topped #1 in Radio Stations of the Dominican Republic...
, 19961996 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact... - Cría CuervoCría CuervoCria Cuervo is the third successful album made by Toque Profundo, released independently like their previous two albums.-Track listing:# Levántate# Fantasma Azul# Libérame# Cría Cuervos# Noche Sin Luna# Infidelidad Triangular# Tu Sombra...
, 1999 - Magia, 2002