Tropical Flavors of Puerto Rico!!

Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory with a landscape of green mountains, waterfalls and the tropical rainforest of El Yunque National Forest. It's known for its white-sand beaches and coral reefs, popular for snorkeling, diving, surfing and sailing. In San Juan, the capital and largest city, the Isla Verde area is known for its beach bars, nightclubs and casinos.

A Brief  Boricuan Musical History

Reggaeton Artist - Don Omar

The music of Puerto Rico has evolved as a heterogeneous and dynamic product of diverse cultural resources. The most conspicuous musical sources have been Spain and West Africa, although many aspects of Puerto Rican music reflect origins elsewhere in Europe and the Caribbean and, over the last century, from the U.S.A. Puerto Rican music culture today comprises a wide and rich variety of genres, ranging from indigenous genres like bomba y plena, aguinaldo and danza, to recent hybrids like reggaeton. 

Jose Feliciano

Marc Anthony

In the realm of classical music, the island hosts two main orchestras, the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Puerto Rico. The Casals Festival takes place annually in San Juan, drawing in classical musicians from around the world.

With respect to opera, the legendary Puerto Rican tenor Antonio Paoli was so celebrated, that he performed private recitals for Pope Pius X and the Czar of Russia Nicholas II. In 1907, Paoli was the first operatic artist in world history to record an entire opera - when he participated in a performance of Pagliacci by Ruggiero Leoncavallo in Milan, Italy.

Over the past fifty years, Puerto Rican artists such as Jorge Emmanuelli, Yomo Toro, Ramito, Jose Feliciano, Bobby Capo, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barreto, Dave Valentin, Omar Rodríguez-López, Hector Lavoe and Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez have thrilled audiences around the world.

Jennifer Lopez

THIS MONDAY, LATIN SOUNDZZ!! WILL HOST PUERTO RICO AS THE THEME COUNTRY OF THE WEEK!! DON'T MISS OUT THIS GREAT SHOW, AS WE FLY TO LA ISLA DEL ENCANTO, PUERTO RICO PAPA! DALE!! ONLY ON KSFS RADIO. 10 AM PACIFIC TIME. ALSO DONT FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES:

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Let the musical fusion inspire you...

What is Central America essentially?

Map of Central America

According to web encyclopedia Central America represents a stretch of land between North and South America. It is the only land "passage" connecting both continents. There are 7 countries within this landmark. Countries of Central America (from north to south):

- Guatemala

- Belize
- Honduras
- El Salvador
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama.

Some scholars do not consider Belize and Panama to be a part of Central America due to historical events. Panama was part of Colombia in the past, and Belize used to be the "British Honduras".

View of Downtown Panama City

Central American countries are similar to each other in many aspects such as shared love for musical styles like cumbia, salsa, merrengue, marimba and many others. At the same time, however, each country has its own unique characteristics when it comes to cuisine, folklore, historical background, geography, economy etc.

Panamanian indigenous music band

There are not only economic differences between countries, but also within countries. For example, each of the Central American countries has a small group of very rich individuals and a large group of very poor individuals. For the most part, all of Central America is regarded to be part of the "developing world", because middle class is non-existent, the health care system is not up to standards, and many people don't have access to basic education.

Salvadorian folkloric outfits 

Panama and Costa Rica are considered to be the most economically developed. On the other hand, Nicaragua is the least developed due to highest adult illiteracy rate and some other factors. Guatemala has the highest population out of the six countries, and Belize is the only country where the official language is English, not Spanish. Want to know more? Then listen to our show on November 23rd, as we will have some fun facts about each country! Let's talk about music now! Music of Central America is simply fascinating. From rich indigenous sounds of Mayan instruments to tropical fusions of cumbia, salsa, merrengue, reggae, reggaeton, garifuna, punta music & many more. We will talk about each musical style in more detail during next Monday episode. 

City of San Miguel in El Salvador

Amazing tropical forests, green mountainous regions, pristine waters and beaches, and delicious food. Central America is definitely a special place in the world. 

Pristine waters of Belize

Celeste River in Costa Rica

Speaking of food (mmm yummy...), I will share with you my favorite Central American dish during the episode. Listen to us LIVE this upcoming Monday on ksfsmedia.net/radio.

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Lotzz of love,
La Guerita

Feliz Dia De Los Muertos! (Day of The Dead)

Feliz Dia De Los Muertos - Novemeber 2nd.

Traditional Dia De Los Muertos Costumes

What is Dia De Los Muertos?
The day of the dead, a Mexican celebration, a day to celebrate, remember and prepare special foods in honor of those who have departed. On this day in Mexico, the streets near the cemeteries are filled with decorations of "papel picado" which is a special thin decorative paper, flowers, candy "calaveras"(skeletons and skulls), and "parades".

"papel picado" is cut in different shapes, colors and is decorated in public places.

It is believed that the spirit of the dead visit their families on October 31 and leave on November 2.
In order to celebrate, the families make altars and place "ofrendas" (offerings) of food such as "Pan De Muertos"(sweet bread baked in shapes of skulls and figures), candles, incense, yellow marigolds known as cempazuchitl (also spelled zempasuchil) and most importantly a photo of the departed soul is placed on the altar. 

"Pan De Muerto" placed on the "Altar"

It might sound somewhat morbid, but the Mexicans react to death with mourning along with happiness and joy. They look at death with the same fear as any other culture, but there is a difference. They reflect their fear by mocking and living alongside death. Living alongside death means that Mexicans have to learned to accept it within their lives. Death is apparent in everyday life. It is in art and even in children's toys. It is not respected as it is in other cultures. Children play "funeral" with toys that are made to represent coffins and undertakers. Death is laughed at in its face. Many euphemisms are used for death, "La Calaca"(the skeleton), "La Pelona"(baldy), "La Flaca"(skinny), and "La Huesada"(the bony). There are "refranes"(sayings), and poems that are popular with day of the dead. These sayings are cliches and lose meaning when translated. For example "La muerte es flaca y no puede conmigo" means "Death is skinny/weak and she can't carry me." Calaveras (skulls) are decorated with bright colors with the name of the departed inscribed on the head. Children carrying yellow marigolds enjoy the processions to the cemetery. At the cemetery, music is played and dances are made to honor the spirits. Death is a celebration in Mexico. Death is among them. 

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THIS COMING MONDAY WE GOT MEXICO!!! DON'T FORGET TO LISTEN

Talk to us LIVE during the episode!

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for your support.

Thank you for reading our blog, and listening to our show! :)

So far, we have had an amazing international audience!

Folks from Russia, Poland, Italy, Germany, Sweden, the UK, Philippines, USA, Mexico, France, Venezuela, Colombia and Ireland have been visiting our blog frequently, and listening to our live shows and/or podcasts on soundcloud.com/latinsoundzz.

We want to take this relationship with you guys even further, and make it more significant. 

Now, you can directly communicate with us during the show on Mondays at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time).

Right below the "radio icon" on ksfsmedia.net/radio, there is a CHAT ROLL. Yes! 

A chat roll, where you can easily log in (takes about 2 seconds), and talk to us! :)

You can write to us about anything you would like... we can do personal greetings for you, greet your family LIVE on air, answer your questions etc.

Tune in this upcoming Monday at 10 a.m (Pacific Time), just by going to the KSFS Radio website, and interact with us! 

Lotzz of love,

El Chuy & La Guerita