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 Wednesday, June 19, 2013
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Music Impresario Ralph Mercado in Stable Condition |
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AURORA FLORES
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006 |
Ralph Mercado at the Ana Araiz Memorial Jam, November 5, 2001. Photo: Martin Cohen/ CongaHead
 usic impresario Ralph Mercado is in good and stable condition after undergoing surgery. The Mercado family extended their thanks to friends and fans alike for their well wishes and prayers for his rapid recovery.
“As a family, we could feel the universal prayers and positive sentiments from friends around the world wishing my father a quick recovery,” stated Debra Mercado. “This was a very intense time for the family but we are now relieved and joyful that he has pulled through and is doing well. We are grateful for all of the good wishes.”
The Mercado family extended their warm holiday greetings to all concerned about the health of Ralph Mercado in a recent statement but expressed a need for privacy during this healing period. The family would issue a public statement regarding any developments as they arise and would issue a full press release shortly. They were not accepting calls at the moment but welcomed good wishes and prayers for their iconic family member.
From mambo to salsa, Ralph Mercado’s name is engraved on the world of Latin music. For more than 30 years, Mercado has led the industry in staging spectacular musical events worldwide as well as building an enviable Latin music roster of talent and acts, a recording and publishing label, a video and film production arm and a catalog of award winning international hits that has changed the industry in the past 15 years.
A pioneer in events and entertainment in the Latin music scene, Ralph Mercado redirected his energy toward his 20 year-old company that specializes in dynamic concert presentations, “Ralph Mercado Presents.”
Following the sale of RMM Records to Universal Music in June 2001, Mercado turned to his passion of producing and staging Latin music events worldwide. Catapulting the company with an inaugural Fania All-Star Concert reunion, Mercado took the birth of “salsa” at the legendary 1970s Cheetah Nightclub full circle in a 30-year anniversary tribute to the former Fania Label president, Jerry Masucci.
Always entrepreneurial, Mercado maintains the nouveau Latino restaurant, LQ (Latin Quarter) in midtown New York, as well as RMM Filmworks, the company behind the acclaimed documentary on the history of Latin Music, “Yo Soy del Son A La Salsa.” He also maintains his publishing companies, Caribbean Wave and Crossing Borders, affiliated with ASCAP & BMI, providing music for feature films, television, soap operas and more.
The recipient of countless awards and proclamations, Ralph Mercado was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Tribute by Billboard Magazine in 1999 and a proclamation from the Mayor of the City of New York in 2005.
Born in 1941, Mercado was organizing parties and dances as president of a neighborhood social club while still a teenager.
By the mid-60s, Mercado tried his hand at R&B and soul music shows with his company, Showstoppers. He presented R&B acts such as the late James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Stylistics, the Chi-lites and others. He was one of the key figures in fusing salsa with soul music, coupling figures like Eddie Palmieri with Jr. Walker and promoting these shows throughout the East Coast.
From Brooklyn, Mercado ventured into Manhattan helping to create the Fania All-Stars while promoting dances at the Cheetah Nightclub and presenting Latin jazz at the Red Garter and later at the Village Gate and other downtown venues.
Mercado’s flair for blending salsa and other styles was insatiable. He went on to partner with Jack Hook, (longtime manager of Mongo Santamaria) where they both managed the late Tito Puente and maintained the “Salsa Meets Jazz Series” at the Village Gate and the “Latin Jazz Jam” as part of the JVC Jazz Festival.
Mercado was the first promoter to bring salsa music to Africa, South America, the Orient and Israel. He was also one of the first to bring Latin music concerts to such prestigious venues as Radio City Music Hall with Julio Iglesias’ New York performance; Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall; the Beacon Theater and Madison Square Garden. In 1976 Mayor Beam presented Mercado with a proclamation establishing the September concerts, currently in its 31st year, as the “Official New York Salsa Day.”
Mercado’s background efforts made the Fania All-Stars the most influential salsa group of its time while refining the concepts of promotion, performance and touring that would become the industry standard.
Mercado’s knack for finding and developing budding talent chiseled the careers of such Latino vocalists as Marc Anthony, La India, Domingo Quiñones, Tony Vega, Tito Nieves and others. A good part of the entrepreneurial spirit of today’s young promoters is owed to Mercado as well.
With a keen sense for knowing what the market needs, Mercado’s success has been defined through his many relationships with radio personalities, press outlets, distributors and others who make up the infrastructure of the Latin music industry. Through his many positions, including member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Mercado has contributed to the growth of the Latin Music Grammy Awards and the global recognition of Caribbean and Afro-Latino music.
In his later years he has been promoting artists such as Ricky Martin, Juan Luis Guerra, Juan Gabriel, Marco Antonio Solis, Carlos Vives and the rock group Juanes. And most recently, as a testament to having his finger on the pulse of Latin music and his cutting-edge versatility, he has been instrumental in moving the new wave of reggaeton shows throughout New York City.
AURORA FLORES is a musician, writer, producer and activist who leads the New York City-based band, Zon del Barrio.
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Events Calendar |
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June 2013 |
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