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"It's a celebration of St. John the Baptist." Tommy Rosas explains Dia de San Juan, which is also the name of his salsa and bachata festival. "It's celebrated in most Latin countries. It's been most important in Puerto Rico for the last hundred years." I had to look him up, St. John, the message of Sunday school having grown somewhat dim over the years. Most bible historians, I learn, agree that it was John who baptized Jesus.
"When we migrated to the States, we brought the Dia de San Juan celebration with us." Rosas says it is observed throughout the state of California. "Some people call it Puerto Rico day. It's celebrated in San Jose, Long Beach, and here in San Diego." But, he says it's not just a Puerto Rican thing.
"You know how like how everybody's Irish for a day on St. Patrick's Day? Here, everybody's Puerto Rican for a day."
Rosas says he has been promoting Latin music festivals and concerts for a better than 20 years. It's all about music in his culture. "We love to listen to music from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed."
"This year, I decided to pay tribute to Tito Puente by bringing in his son, Tito Puente Jr." He's the festival headliner. "He's continuing the legacy." Tito Puente Sr, born in 1923 in Spanish Harlem, New York, was called the King of the Timbales. For 50 years, he was a mambo and Latin jazz powerhouse. He died in June, 2000.
"Tito Puente Jr. has the same qualities as his father."
Rosas also elected to incorporate a Latin song form known as bachata into the festival lineup. "It's a Dominican dance form that incorporates guitar. The band I'm bringing in? Pily and Bachata Real, from Los Angeles? They incorporate a violin with the guitar. They call it the California sound."
San Diego salsa bands appearing at the festival include Orquesta La Cura, Gene Perry y su Orquesta Afro Rumba, and Grupo Bomba Liberte. Rosas said the festival drew 2,700 last year. "This year, we're expecting closer to 3,500." In the '90s, he says the festival drew upwards of 7,000 fans. "It's a sign of the times."
With deejays and dancers between band sets, a big part of the all-day fest is food. I ask him for a recommendation. "Most people in San Diego have had Mexican food, right? We'll have Mexican food at the festival, but you should really try some Puerto Rican food." He talks about something called pasteles: "It's made with green banana, stuffed with marinated pork, chickpeas, and olives wrapped in a banana leaf."
After the fest, Rosas says he has dreams of putting together a Latin version of the old Street Scene. He dreams of five stages downtown. "But something that big," he says, "will take big financial backing and a lot of planning. San Diego is not so big on festivals. They require a lot of permits."
Dia De San Juan: Sunday, June 24, Four Points Sheraton, 10a.m. - 6 p.m.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/20/26559/
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/20/26560/
"It's a celebration of St. John the Baptist." Tommy Rosas explains Dia de San Juan, which is also the name of his salsa and bachata festival. "It's celebrated in most Latin countries. It's been most important in Puerto Rico for the last hundred years." I had to look him up, St. John, the message of Sunday school having grown somewhat dim over the years. Most bible historians, I learn, agree that it was John who baptized Jesus.
"When we migrated to the States, we brought the Dia de San Juan celebration with us." Rosas says it is observed throughout the state of California. "Some people call it Puerto Rico day. It's celebrated in San Jose, Long Beach, and here in San Diego." But, he says it's not just a Puerto Rican thing.
"You know how like how everybody's Irish for a day on St. Patrick's Day? Here, everybody's Puerto Rican for a day."
Rosas says he has been promoting Latin music festivals and concerts for a better than 20 years. It's all about music in his culture. "We love to listen to music from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed."
"This year, I decided to pay tribute to Tito Puente by bringing in his son, Tito Puente Jr." He's the festival headliner. "He's continuing the legacy." Tito Puente Sr, born in 1923 in Spanish Harlem, New York, was called the King of the Timbales. For 50 years, he was a mambo and Latin jazz powerhouse. He died in June, 2000.
"Tito Puente Jr. has the same qualities as his father."
Rosas also elected to incorporate a Latin song form known as bachata into the festival lineup. "It's a Dominican dance form that incorporates guitar. The band I'm bringing in? Pily and Bachata Real, from Los Angeles? They incorporate a violin with the guitar. They call it the California sound."
San Diego salsa bands appearing at the festival include Orquesta La Cura, Gene Perry y su Orquesta Afro Rumba, and Grupo Bomba Liberte. Rosas said the festival drew 2,700 last year. "This year, we're expecting closer to 3,500." In the '90s, he says the festival drew upwards of 7,000 fans. "It's a sign of the times."
With deejays and dancers between band sets, a big part of the all-day fest is food. I ask him for a recommendation. "Most people in San Diego have had Mexican food, right? We'll have Mexican food at the festival, but you should really try some Puerto Rican food." He talks about something called pasteles: "It's made with green banana, stuffed with marinated pork, chickpeas, and olives wrapped in a banana leaf."
After the fest, Rosas says he has dreams of putting together a Latin version of the old Street Scene. He dreams of five stages downtown. "But something that big," he says, "will take big financial backing and a lot of planning. San Diego is not so big on festivals. They require a lot of permits."
Dia De San Juan: Sunday, June 24, Four Points Sheraton, 10a.m. - 6 p.m.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/20/26559/
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2012/jun/20/26560/