Issac Delgado Issac Delgado (born Issac Felipe Delgado-Ramirez on September 11, 1962 in Marianao, Habana, Cuba) is one of the founders of the band NG La Banda and is a popular salsa and timba performer. Early life and family His father, Luis Delgado, was a tailor and his mother, Lina Ramirez, was an actress, dancer and singer in the Teatro Musical de La Habana. When he was ten years old he entered the Amadeo Roldan Conservatory where he studied violoncello, an instrument that did not interest him. At twelve he left the conservatory, and pursued the study of sports and football. He later graduated in sport education. At 18, Isaac joined the group “Proyecto” at the request of the pianist, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. This sparked his innate love for music. It was at this point that he decided to study vocal technique with one of the best vocal instructors in Cuba, Mariana De Gonish. He also enrolled in the school for professional musicians, “Ignacio Cervantes”. Professional life Issa Delgado began his professional career in 1983 when he joined Orquesta de Pancho Alonso. He travelled internationally with the orchestra and recorded a CD with them, his first commercial recording. In 1987 he became the vocalist for Galaxia who also recorded a CD. NG la Banda and the birth of timba In 1988, Delgado became the lead vocalist for the group NG La Banda. It was with this group that he found fame. NG was the band that launched the timba revolution, the first new popular Cuban music genre in decades. As NG’s lead vocalist, Delgado was at the cutting edge of Cuban dance music. His singing talents soon brought him to superstar status within the fast growing timba field. Delgado became one of timba’s best composers and a uniquely creative melodic improviser. In concert he often improvises words and melodies for periods of several minutes. He recorded three CDs with NG and was awarded the EGREM prize for 1990-1991. Solo career In 1991 Delgado put together his own band and recorded the CD, Dando La Hora under the artistic direction of Gonzalo Rubalcaba. This album received the 1992 EGREM Prize. His second CD, Con Ganas, again with Rubalcaba, received two EGREM prizes in 1993. Perhaps inspired by his work with Rubalcaba and the virtuosos of NG La Banda, Delgado has tended to stock his band with the most sophisticated jazz musicians available and to give them an exceptional amount of creative freedom. The result has been a long string of unique and fascinating groups. It’s almost easier to list the great Cuban pianists who haven’t played in Delgado’s band, but here’s a partial list of those who have: Tony Pérez, Javier “Caramelo” Massó, Iván “Melón” Lewis, Pepe Rivero, Yaniel “El Majá” Matos, Roberto Carlos “Cucurucho” Valdés, Rolando Luna, Tony Rodríguez and Issacito Delgado (Moore 2012: 93). In 1994 he received another EGREM award for his CD El chevere de la salsa y el caballero del son. His next album was El Ano Que Viene. He later travelled to the United States to perform in the Festival of Salsa in New York’s Madison Square Garden with Celia Cruz, El Canario, and Grupo Niche. In New York he recorded another album, Otra Ideal. In 1997 he performed at the festival, Guerra de la Salsa with La India, Rey Ruiz, and Tony Vega. At this point in his career, Delgado was recording with both New York salsa musicians and Cuban timba musicians. Some of his recorded material sounds like salsa, but with distinctive timba elements periodically emerging to the surface. While some timba fans may have been disappointed hearing Delgado in a tamer and more polished salsa sound, the singer continued to record songs with leading timba musicians. Consequently, much of his post-NG material contains some of the most innovative instrumental accompaniment within the context of Cuban-style dance music. The overall sound of Delgado’s recordings from this period sound far more like salsa than timba, However, little details in the arrangements reveal the handiwork of some of Cuba’s most important innovators. Delgado’s 1994 hit “La sandunguita” (composed by his bassist Alain Pérez) took unprecedented liberties with clave, that are considered “sacrilegious” to old school musicians (Peñalosa 2012: 246). While such innovations further aggravated the salsa—timba clave schism, there is no disagreement that “La sandunguita” swings. Delgado’s most famous group (1996‐1998) was with Alain Pérez on bass and Iván “Melón” Lewis on piano. Of particular note was the band’s ability to spontaneously change the arrangement during performances. They were able to produce changes spontaneously by using flexible rhythm section schemes allowing them to alter the form of an arrangement to fit the flow of each performance (Moore 2012: 91). When the entire rhythm section of this band moved to Spain, Delgado added Antonio “Pachá” Portuondo on timbales and Denis “Papacho” Savón on congas. He then convinced drummer Yoel Páez, bassist Joel Domínguez, and pianist Yaniel “El Majá” Matos to leave Paulito FG’s band to join him. The following piano guajeo (or piano tumbao), created by Lewis is from “No me mires a los ojos.” It is a prime example of one the most critical timba piano innovations—the idea that the piano tumbao be a “hook” by which the song can be identified and that contributes greatly to the song’s popularity. There are three places where the left hand adds an extra note between two right hand notes, a technique never used before in timba, which has become a major timba piano innovation. Melón was the first to use it as a central part of his style (Moore 2010 pt. 6.). Listen: “No me Mires a los ojos” by Issac Delgado. “No me mires a los ojos” guajeo (1995). Piano: Iván “Melón” Lewis. Lewis’s piano guajeo on Delgado’s “La temática” incorporates the technique of pattern displacement. A series of repeated octaves invoke a characteristic metric ambiguity (Moore 2010: pt. 4. 96-108). Videos: Emigrates from Cuba In 2006 Delgado walked across the U.S.-Mexico border into Laredo, Texas and defected, bringing with him only his family (his wife, Massiel Valdés, and his two daughters, Dalina and Alessia), talent and reputation. In May 2007 he released En primera plana. His album, Así soy was released in October 2008. Delgado moved to a condo in Miami, Florida after living in Tampa for a short period. In 2011 Delado released a maxi- single with La India in four different versions titled, “Que no se te olvide.” Discography No te compliques (NG La Banda) (1988) En la calle (NG la Banda) (1989) No se puede tapar el sol (NG la Banda) (1990) Dando la hora (1992) Con ganas (1993) El chévere de la salsa y el caballero de son (with Adalberto Álvarez) (1994) El año que viene (1995) Otra idea (1996) Exclusivo para cuba (1997) La primera noche (1998) La fórmula (2000) Grandes éxitos Versos en el cielo (2002) Prohibido (2004) En primera plana (2007) Así soy (2008) L.O.V.E. (2010) Supercubano (2011) Credits Year Album Artist I Love Salsa 2013 Primary Artist 2013 Desde Nueva Eddie 2012 York a Puerto Vocals Montalvo Rico Radio Latina 2012 DJ Roberto Primary Artist Party 2012 Simply Salsa 2012 Primary Artist [2012] I Love Bachata 2011 Primary Artist 2011 2011 Salsa Caliente Primary Artist Mezcla, Issac Primary 2011 Supercubano Delgado Artist, Producer Viva Havana: 2011 The Essential Primary Artist Voices of Cuba Year Album Artist Primary Issac Artist, 2010 L-O-V-E Delgado Producer, Vocals Mi Salsa Tiene Sandunga 2010 Primary Artist Colección: Esencia De Cuba Salsa Fever, 2010 Primary Artist Vol. 2 2009 100% Cuba Primary Artist 100% Salsa 2009 Primary Artist [Union Square] 2009 Cafe Cuba Primary Artist Salsa Club, 2009 Primary Artist Vol. 2 Simply Latin 2009 Primary Artist Party Composer, Primary Issac Artist, 2008 Asi Soy Delgado Unknown Contributor Role Gusto Latino 2008 Primary Artist 2008 2008 I Love Latin Primary Artist Salsa Fever 2008 Primary Artist [Wagram] Simply Salsa: 2008 Primary Artist Dance Class Year Album Artist Aubade, Vol. 2: 2007 Primary Artist Sensualidad 2007 Cuba Carnaval Primary Artist En Primera Issac 2007 Primary Artist Plana Delgado 2007 Latino 22 Primary Artist Latino Greatest 2007 Primary Artist Hits Los Nuevos 2007 Primary Artist Boleros 2007 Salsahits 2008 Primary Artist 2007 Simply Cuba Primary Artist Cuba’s Salsa 2006 Primary Artist Kings Cuban Legends: 2006 The Essential Primary Artist Voices of Cuba Grandes Exitos, Issac 2006 Primary Artist Vol. 1 Delgado Havana Masters Present: The 2006 Best of the Primary Artist Cuban Music Awards La Rumba Que No Clave y Guest Artist, 2006 Termina Guaguancó Vocals 2006 Latino, Vol. 13 Primary Artist The Gringo 2006 Primary Artist Guide to Salsa The Very Best 2006 Primary Artist of Cuba Year Album Artist Tributo a Lilí 2006 Guest Artist Martínez Juan Pablo 2005 A Life in Music Musician Torres Beginner’s Composer, 2005 Guide to Cuba Primary Artist Cuba Caliente! 2005 Primary Artist [Wagram] Issac 2005 Prohibido Primary Artist Delgado Azul: Floral 2004 Primary Artist Island Cafe Salsa: A Spicy Mix of 2004 Composer Hot Rhythms and Latin Spirit 2004 Hecho en Havana Primary Artist 2004 Oro: Salsa Primary Artist 2004 Salsacional Primary Artist Simply Salsa 2004 Composer [Box Set] Viva el Caribe, 2004 Primary Artist Vol. 2 [CD/DVD] Cuban Grammy 2003 Vocals Winners San Francisco Jazz Festival: 2003 Primary Artist CD Sampler, Vol. 6 Year Album Artist Direction, Liner Notes, Tributo a Celia 2003 Haila Musical Cruz Direction, Producer Concept, Executive Producer, Versos en el Issac 2003 Liner Notes, Cielo Delgado Primary Artist, Producer A Puerto Padre: Juan Tributo a Guest Artist, 2002 Manuel Emiliano Vocals Ceruto Salvador Aqui Estamos 2002 Composer los Que Estan Bajando Amadito 2002 Vocals Gervasio Valdés California 2002 Dreamin Primary Artist [Rerooted] Definitivamente Waldo 2002 Interpretation Jueves Leyva Mas Alla de la La Timba 2002 Liner Notes Habana Loca Salsa: Edition 2002 Primary Artist Speciale Super Exitos Composer, 2002 [Egrem] Primary Artist Year Album Artist Versos en el Issac 2002 Cielo [Japan Primary Artist Delgado CD] Caribe 2001: El Performer, 2001 Verano Ya Llego Primary Artist Composer, Last Word in 2001 Performer, Cuban Music Primary Artist Los Hombres Los Hombres Calientes: Calientes, Vol.