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Henry Knowles (United States)
Henry Knowles, known as the #1 Salsa DJ around the world, is the DJ's disc jockey, spinning that tension-building beat and filling dancers with animo. With la clave in his heart and the music in his veins, he carries his passion for Latin culture and music in his work. This very special disc jockey's mixing abilities are unmatched and respected worldwide. His breadth of knowledge about Salsa music and its history, his music library, and ability to read his audience while creating un ambiente caliente have made Henry the Salsa community's most beloved disc jockey.
Henry tours the world, organizes his own events and has been working with the most important names in the Latin music industry promoting, as well as managing, some of the best salsa performers and salsa bands. His background includes working with promotions for major recording labels, such as BMG, WEA, RMM, for artist such as; Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Christina Aguilera and has also worked with representation of artist such as; Marc Anthony, Ruben Blades, Spanish Harlem Orchestra and others.
As the first official disc jockey for the Bacardi World Salsa Congress and the first world salsa congresses to ever be held around the world...Henry is the consummate professional with more than 20 years of experience catering to the serious Salsero. He has created remixes and compilations for the RMM recording label, including the popular Bacardi Salsa Congress compilation, which is still sold in record stores around the world.
Born in New York City's 'Spanish Harlem' and of Puerto Rican descent, Henry's love for the music that makes his blood flow was born during the family parties in New York City and childhood summers in Puerto Rico. On this tropical island, and in New York City is where he found his soul - and learned to dance Salsa. A dancer, practically all his life - "My heart beats on clave" - he is known to hold his own and understands how to honor and inspire a Salsero on the dance floor.
Henry has worked as a disc jockey, master of ceremonies, sound engineer, video jockey and promoter in major nightclubs and venues around the world throughout his career span.
DJ Henry Knowles' career nearly translates into Salsa evangelism as he spreads the beat and his love for Salsa rhythms on a global scale. His extensive travels include appearances in over 30 countries and 100 cities throughout the United States, Canada, Caribbean, European Regions, Mediterranean, Mexico, Central and South America - even Asia.
He believes his travels are also an opportunity to share his skills, talents and experience with aspiring disc jockeys. Admired as the "DJs DJ", Henry often holds workshops wherever he happens to be, sharing with his comrades how he works the floor and the latest and most effective mixing techniques.
For over three years, Henry Knowles has promoted and hosted "Simply Salsa Mondays" at El Flamingo, currently recognized as New York City's hottest Salsa dance party. Live music is featured every Monday and is frequented by Salsa Lovers from all over the world. Some acts recently featured include names such as: Johnny Pacheco, Spanish Harlem Orch. with Ruben Blades, Larry Harlow, Azuquita, Johnny Colon & Soneros Del Barrio - to name a few. His goal is to maintain live music present in NYC and to introduce the music to the Salsa dancers.especially the newcomers.
More information: www.worldsalsadj.com
Edwin 'El Diablo' Aviles Valentin (Puerto Rico)
Edwin is one of Europe's most popular Salsa Disc Jockey's and has been at the forefront of the European Salsa Scene for
many years. He's been the top DJ at numerous Salsa clubs, Special Events and Concerts. Edwin promotes, organizes and
manages many of his own successful Salsa events throughout his career. He has also introduced thousands of people to
Salsa dancing providing Salsa lessons at basic and improver's level.
Edwin is not known as "El Diablo De La Salsa" for nothing! Edwin's strongest point is his excellent selection of music in the mix. He improvises spontaneously and never pre-plans his music. He has an incredibly extensive library of Latin music which he has collected throughout his lifetime and his knowledge of Latin music from the cradle is second to none! His ear for music enables him to play excellent music all the time! He has an uncanny ability to generate excitement in any crowd, feeling the dancers "pulse" and playing music accordingly, keeping the "Ambiente Caliente" (Hot atmosphere) on the dance floor at all times! Edwin is a musical expert and creates his own Salsa Remixes and special versions which no other Salsa DJ has, making not only his style of DJ'ing, but also his music unique in the Salsa world!
Michał 'Oso Blanco' Wawrzyński
Sławek 'Mala Suerte' Leszczyński (Poland)
From the beginning of his adventure with salsa in late 2002 he started to collect songs that
he felt gives most pleasure to salsa dancers. In years his collection has grown but he has used it
only for personal purposes. It all has changed in beginning of 2006 when asked to DJ at new salsa
party he reluctantly agreed. From that moment he started to spend more and more time searching
for new music and sieving his collection for the best songs. That time consuming task was hardly
eased thanks to his exceptional memory for catchy tunes and names of salsa artists.
In the beginning of his dj's carrier he has spinned in small clubs with poor dj's equipment and
not always working audio systems. That experience with humour he reflected choosing his artistic
nickname "Mala Suerte" :)
Guided be his taste as salsa dancer he tries to serve to dancers music that is both very danceable and not played by most salsa djs. He specialises in heavy Puertorican and New York salsa, especially from the gold age of salsa music in 60s and 70s of XX century, but does not ignore new and fresh salsa bands that has emerged in last few years.
His taste for salsa music as well as his knowlege of it has evolved with time. First collecting albums of well known salsa artist like: Ray Barretto, Willie Rosario, Tito Puente, Ismael Rivera, Bobby Valentin, Cheo Feliciano then he has broaden his horizon to artist less known to wider audience like: Impacto Crea, Johnny Zamot, Chivirico Davila, Federico, Alfredo Linares. Now he also posses albums of hundreds of bands known only to a handful of hard salsa vieja collectors in the world.
You will certainly enjoy nostalgic guajiras, rhythmic guaguancos and fast paced-energetic, percussion heavy descargas carefully selected by him.