Music in the Dominican Republic

Sexy, swaying, hot Latino sounds will be one of the first things you hear after landing at any of the airports here in the Dominican Republic. The origin of Merengue is literally right at your footsteps and both the music and dance will seep into your soul during your stay in the Dominican Republic.  It’s hard to ignore the pulsating rhythms of any of the island music and even harder still not to get up and dance….

A Brief Introduction
Merengue is the musical representation of the Dominican Republic and was created by Francisco Antonio Nico Lora in the 1920’s.  By the 1930’s it became favourable with Dictator Rafael Trujillo who insisted it became the national song and dance for the island. Merengue is the outward projection and modeled on the European Waltz.  Whilst Merengue music is the outward projection then certainly Bachata and other musical forms are more of the people’s music, with roots settled so deep in folklore and history that it is sang everywhere and in direct contrast to Merengue music. 

Originating from bars and brothels, Bachata was a silent protest to what Trujillo had tried to create with Merengue music, and the peoples’ way of a voicing their thoughts, hardships, complaints and aspirations in a not so confirmatory manner or one that was dictated to them!

As times progressed Salsa music was introduced from other Latin American Countries and has become extremely popular with all ages in the Dominican Republic.  Some people say that Salsa dancing is like making love, the professionals say that if you are not on the Woman’s rhythm, then no body is really having fun! Salsa dancing has many different styles and can be danced according to the beat of the music.  Often the best dancers dance to the “Clave” beat, the Clave is a five note rhythmic pattern of African origin, which is the key ingredient to Salsa Music! (If you don’t like dancing but like eating instead – check out our recipe section with some great Salsa’s for you to try!!) And like any other country in the world influences from abroad influence the musical changes and direction of the Dominican Republic too. 

With Hip Hop and Raggaeton (Spanish Rap Music) being a must listen to for the younger crowds just like rock and pop too.  Rap music with so many young Dominicans living in the United States has been a strong influence in the Latino Charts and also is becoming a culture way of living for some young Dominicans too here in the Dominican Republic.  Along with the rap culture and attitude, dress and behavior and mannerisms are now reflected in certain groups and barrios (neighborhoods) through out the country and like in other countries too it is faced with the same discriminations.

Electronic music is now becoming extremely popular in the young club scene in the Dominican Republic with its European roots drawing large crowds to all night shows and parties.  Many world famous DJ’s have and are playing in the DR music scene and recently Paul Oakenfold, DJ Tiesto and Chus & Ceballos have all played marathon gigs well into the dawn hours. 

At the heart of all Dominican people there are musical and cultural links which connect everyone regardless of stature, this is what Merengue and Bachata music has been doing for years.  And like anyone who is a parent reading this article and has told their kids to ‘turn off that racket’ then now it is the youngsters of the Dominican Republic with their introduction of Hip Hop, Electronic and Raggaeton beats to suffer the wrath of parental grief.  Thank God for I pods!!

MERENGUE SINGERS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

JUAN LUIS GUERRA is one of the most influential artists in the Dominican Republic and is a composer and singer who combines traditional musical styles with new and exciting twists.  His lyrics are poetic, witty and intelligent and on his other side his humour, Christianity and romantic songs make him time and time again an award winning artist.  One of his most famous songs is “Bachata Rosa” and last year he received the Silver Torch and Gold Torch awards at the 2006 Vina del Mar International Song Festival that was held in Chile.

JOSEITO MATEO – EL REY del MERENGUE, THE KING of MERENGUE is from the nation’s capital Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.  Born in 1920 his hit song El Negrito del Batey firmly established him in the 1950’s as a mega star of Merengue. Mateo is an icon in Dominican Merengue music and is renown thorough out all of Latin America, traveling abroad and appearing in concerts in the States where in 2006 he received a star in the Bronx Walk of Fame. Mateo says he will play Merengue till he drops – it is his life!

RUBY PEREZ won Best Merengue of the Year in 2006 at the Casandra Awards.  Born in 1956 in the Dominican Republic he began singing in the church choir after an accident left him unable to play his beloved baseball.  He studied and graduated with honors at the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica.  He has a famous catchphrase of “Me Voy” and is known all over the world for his wonderful music.  A talented and charming man indeed.

EDDY HERRERA is another great Dominican man born in Santiago 1964.  He learned to sing from a very young age, and later his music would encompass many different styles of Merengue, Bachata and Cumbia.  He is a very straight guy and keen sportsman and performer.  He has as well as recording many great songs also starred in films and performed on stage in West Side Story.  Winning many awards for his musical talent, Eddy Herrera is a firm favourite among many Dominicans here on the island.

BACHATA SINGERS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
LUIS VARGAS is a self started hard working singer and guitarist whom after meeting a local musician who taught him how to play guitar became involved in popular music here in the Dominican Republic.  After deciding to pursue a solo career, Luis Vargas actually produced his first single, he then went on to promote and sell it all by himself.  He eventually began to get air time with local Dominican radio stations playing his single and finally after putting his music through recording giants Sony International he released his now super famous Bachata song called Volvia el Dolor in 1997.
Vargas is also famous for singing in a sobbing baritone style similar to that of other Bachata singers like Luis Segura and Victor Estevez.
 
ANTONY SANTOS is currently the best paid Bachatero in the Dominican Republic.  After entering the music scene in the early 90’s he was really the only Bachata singer to reach a mainstream audience with his hit “Voy pa’lla”.  Antony Santos turned Bachata into a more romantic and soft sound which many people found more socially acceptable that the mainstream bawdy style more common to Bachata.  It seems to have worked as for his last concert he received an unprecedented US$90,000 for appearing in Puerto Rico.  Santos is also known as el Mayimbe.

FRANK REYES is known as Bachata’s Prince got his big breakthrough with Sony International in 1994.  He has also won the Casandra Award and has been nominated by Acroarte, the Dominican Republic’s art journalists association for best Bachata performer.

RAULIN RODRIGUEZ is one of the Dominican Republic’s most internationally well known Bachata singers with fans from Mexico and the United States.  In his Bachata career he has recorded under the Platano Records Label including his hit album in 2000 “Frente a Frente”.  

SALSA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JOSE ALBERTO “El CANARIO” is the consummate Salsero, he was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Puerto Rico and later New York.  His latest Salsa CD is titled “Then and Now’ and is a great collection for all Salsa lovers.  He plays the flute expertly and is well known through out the world in Salsa Clubs and wide spread through the Dominican Republic and Latin America.

MUSIC FESTIVALS in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
If you are lucky enough to be in the Dominican Republic and love music then check out these dates as you could be in for an amazing atmospheric time…

Puerto Plata Merengue Festival
The north coast of the Dominican Republic hosts a week long Merengue Festival on the Malecon or sea front in Puerto Plata.  Usually around the third week in October, the long sea front road will be shut off from motorists and you can watch local Merengue stars perform and dance.  Stands will be put up and this even usually attracts crowds of over 100,000 each year.

Santo Domingo Merengue Festival
A week long event held in Santo Domingo which is the capital of the Dominican Republic.  The festival is usually held around the last week in July/first week in August down on the sea front or Malecon.  A great showcase event with drinking, dancing and of course the major stars from the Merengue World will be joining in the fun.

Dominican Republic Jazz Festival
The jazz festival normally takes place around the end of October each year.  It is always staged at three different locations on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.  Cabarete, Sosua and Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata.  Attracting musical artists from around the globe this is a popular festival to attend.