Izzy Sanabria
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Izzy Sanabria In 1978, the presigious GQ (Gentlemen’s Quarterly) magazine published a profile of Izzy Sanabria in which it stated: Known as “Mr. Salsa” because he almost single- handedly popularized the term “Salsa” (during the 1970s) which the world now recognizes as the name for New York’s Latin Music.Sanabria is something of a Puerto Rican Toulouse Lautrec as well. His bold colorful posters plastered throughout the walls of New York documented and immortalized Salsa’s (subculture) events in much the same way Lautrec’s posters immortalized the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Izzy’s album cover designs and illustrations also set new standards of quality in Latin music packaging and provided the world with its first visual imagery of Salsa.In 1973, Sanabria branched out AS host of a Latino version of the “Soul Train” TV Show, appropriately called “Salsa” on New Yorks Channel 41. That same year, by combining all his talents, he started publishing Latin NY magazine. Written in English, it became the single most influential magazine in the Latin commu-nity and the ultimate word on Salsa music world- wide. From 1973 until 1985, Latin NY reflected the vibrant energies of an emerging new Latino subculture withits own unique fashions, music, dances and lifestyles. A generation that grew into adulthood influenced and inspired by the contents of Latin NY. In 1975, Izzy presented The Latin NY Music Awards (the first Salsa Awards) which brought internationalattention and recognition to the music and its creators. These awards were not only important for the Latino and music community, but they also forced NARRAS to create and include a Separate Latin Music Category in the Grammy Awards competition. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR SALSA, LATIN NY MAGAZINE and Mr. SALSA The Awards received greater mainstream press coverage than was ever given to any Latin music event. This coverage aroused a tremendous curiosity and interest in Salsa especially from members of the international press. In turn, they exposed Salsa to the world an set off the world-wide salsa Explosion. Journalists from throughout Europe (Italy Holland, France, Germany, England, etc.) and as far away as Japan, came to interview Sanabria, Salsa’s most visible and articulate spokesman and to document this new Latino phenomena of high energy rhythmic music. This world-wide attention established Latin NY as the primary source for information on Salsa and Sanabria a central figure as Salsa’s spokesman, earning him the title of “Mr. Salsa”. It also provided Sanabria with opportunities to further develop his talents and skills. Consequently, he acquired direct experience in literally all the media arts; as performer and artist, in front and behind the camera, and including radio, television and print production. A MULTI-TALENTED ARTIST Sanabria is a multi-talented artist who regards the world as his canvas. Besides being an artist, writer, actor, dancer, photographer, publisher, philosopher and visionary, he is also a versatile stand-up comedian. Sanabria’s brand of bi-lingual humor have made him one of the community’s favorite master of ceremonies. As the official emcee of the Fania All-Stars (the world’s greatest exponents of Salsa), Izzy has traveled throughout South America, Europe and as far as Africa and Japan always adding little bits of humor to his presentations. In Japan, to everyone’s surprise, he actually emceed in perfect Japanese (by using Spanish phonetics).Sanabria has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and at the Hollywood Palladium.. Izzy has also appeared in several films, stage productions and numerous television shows.Izzy Sanabria is a multi-talented individualist that played a major role in promoting New York’s Latino music and culture during the 1970s. He has been often quoted and recognized for his efforts by numerous mainstream publications, including: The New York Times, The Village Voice, New York Daily News, Show Business and Gentlemen’s Quarterly. For his numerous and, valuable contributions to Latin music, on April 5, 2000, Izzy Sanabria received a long overdue recognition from his peers, when he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. Why they call him “Mr. Salsa“ MR. SALSA – IZZY SANABRIA . Biography / Biografia Graphic Artist, Writer, Actor, Emcee- Artista Gráfico, Escritor, Actor, ComedianOfficial Master of Ceremonies & ComediateMaestro de Ceremonias Oficial y Original Member Miembro Original of The FANIA ALL STARS since 1971 de Las Estrellas de Fania desde el 1971 _______________________________________WHY ______________________________________PORQUE THEY CALL HIM “MR. SALSA” LO LLAMAN, MR SALSA?Izzy Sanabria se conoce In 1978, the presigious GQ (Gentlemen’s como Mr. Salsa, porque casi sin ayuda de Quarterly) magazine published a profile of nadie, popularizo este termino para la Izzy Sanabria in which it stated: Known as musica latina de Nueva York durante la “Mr. Salsa” because he almost single- decada de los 70s. Como un artista grafico, handedly popularized the term “Salsa” Izzy encamino nuevos estandares para las (during the 1970s) which the world now portadas de discos y los carteles recognizes as the name for New York’s promocionales.Utilizando su fondo de arte y Latin Music.Sanabria is something of a aptitud para escribir, en 1973 él empezo a Puerto Rican Toulouse Lautrec as well. His publicar la Revista Latin NY. Escrito en bold colorful posters plastered throughout ingles, pronto llego a ser la revista mas the walls of New York documented and influyente entre los jovenes latinos y la immortalized Salsa’s (subculture) events autoridad definitiva en la musica de Salsa a in much the same way Lautrec’s posters nivel mundial. Ese mismo año, Izzy se immortalized the Moulin Rouge in Paris. extendio como anfitrion del show de Izzy’s album cover designs and television llamada apropiadamente “Salsa” en illustrations also set new standards of el Canal 41 de Nueva York.En 1975, él quality in Latin music packaging and comenzo los primeros premios de Salsa (Latin provided the world with its first visual NY Music Awards) que fueron no solo imagery of Salsa.In 1973, Sanabria importantes para la comunidad latina y de la branched out AS host of a Latino version musica, pero gracias a ellos se logro la of the “Soul Train” TV Show, appropriately inclusiún de una categorÌa separada para la called “Salsa” on New Yorks Channel 41. musica latina en la competencia de premios That same year, by combining all his de los talents, he started publishing Latin NY Grammy Awards.Como si todo esto no fuese magazine. Written in English, it became suficiente, Izzy es uno de los comediantes the single most influential magazine in puertorriqueños mas versatiles. El ha the Latin commu- actuado en muchos clubs de comedia en Nueva nity and the ultimate word on Salsa music York, en universidades y en las afueras de world-wide. From 1973 until 1985, Latin NY la ciudad. Tambien se caracterizo por ayudar reflected the vibrant energies of an y aconsejar los jovenes comendiantes latino emerging new Latino subculture with its (muchos de los cuales han tenido muchisimo own unique fashions, music, dances and mas exito que el).Como el maestro de lifestyles. A generation that grew into ceremonias oficial de las Estrellas de Fania adulthood influenced and inspired by the (los exponentes de la Salsa mas grande del contents of Latin NY.In 1975, Izzy mundo), Izzy ha viajado través de Sur presented The Latin NY Music Awards (the América, Europa y tan lejos como Africa y el first Salsa Awards) which brought Japon, siempre agregando su gran sentido del international attention and recognition to humor en sus presentaciones. El ha actuado the music and its creators. en algunas de las salas de conciertos mas These awards were not only important for prestigiosas del mundo como el Carnegie Hall the Latino and music community, but they de Nueva York, Madison Square Garden, Radio also forced NARRAS to create and include a City Music Hall, Avery Fischer Hall y en el Separate Latin Music Category in the Hollywood Palladium. Izzy ha aparecido Grammy Awards competition.INTERNATIONAL también en varias pelÌculas, producciones de RECOGNITION FOR teatro y en numerosos shows de SALSA, LATIN NY MAGAZINE and Mr. SALSAThe television.Izzy Sanabria es un Awards received greater mainstream press individualista multi talentoso y su labor ha coverage than was ever given to any Latin tomado music event. This coverage aroused a un papel muy importante y significante en tremendous curiosity and interest in Salsa cuanto a la promocion de la especially from members of the musica latina de Nueva York y su cultura international press. In turn, they exposed durante la decada de los años Salsa to the world an set off the world- 70. El a menudo ha sido citado y reconocido wide salsa Explosion.Journalists from por sus esfuerzos en throughout Europe (Italy Holland, France, numerosas publicaciones americanas (mas Germany, England, etc.) and as far away as reconocidas), incluyendo los Japan, came to interview Sanabria, Salsa’s periodicos, The New York Times, The Village most visible and articulate spokesman and Voice, The NY Daily News, NY to document this new Latino phenomena of Post, Show Business y revistas como, high energy rhythmic music. Billboard, Times, Newsweek y This world-wide attention established Gentleman’s Quarterly entre otros.Por sus Latin NY as the primary source for numerosas y valiosas contribuciones a la information on Salsa and Sanabria musica latina, el 5 de a central figure as Salsa’s spokesman, Abril del 2000, Izzy Sanabria finalmente earning him recibio un (meresido y the title of “Mr. Salsa”. It also provided atrasado) reconocimiento de sus colegas, Sanabria with opportunities to further cuando él fue instalado en el develop his talents and skills.