Merengue music
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Merengue is a type of music and dance that comes from the Dominican Republic. It is popular in the Dominican Republic, and all over Latin America. Merengue means whipped egg whites and sugar in Spanish, similar to the English word meringue. It is unclear as to why this name became the name of the music of the Dominican Republic. But, perhaps, It can trace its meaning from the movement on the dance floor that could remind one of an egg beater in action. This style of music was created by Ñico Lora, a Dominican of Spaniard descent, in the 1920s; however, in the Dominican Republic it was promoted by Rafael Trujillo, the dictator from the 1930s through the early 1960s, and eventually became the country’s national music and dance style, and in the United States it was popularized by Angel Viloria and his band Conjunto Típico Cibaeño. It was during the Trujillo era that the popular merengue, "Compadre Pedro Juan", by Luis Alberti, became an international hit. World famous Merengue singers include Miriam Cruz & Las Chicas Del Can, Joseito Mateo, Angel Viloria, El Ciego de Nagua, Juan Luis Guerra, Los Hermanos Rosario, Wilfrido Vargas, Sergio Vargas, Johnny Ventura, Bonny Cepeda, Kinito Mendez, Ravel, Jossie Esteban y la Patrulla 15, Pochy y su Cocoband, Fernando Villalona, Cuco Valoy, The Freddie Kenton Orquestra, Ramon Orlando, Sandy Reyes, Rasputin, Peter Cruz, Alex Bueno, Aramis Camilo, Sergio Vargas]], Jochy Hernandez, El Zafiro, Dioni Fernandez, The New York Band, Anibal Bravo, Los Toros Band and Conjunto Quisqueya. Other artists popular in the Dominican Republic as of 2006 include Julian,Cherito, El Jeffrey, Toño Rosario, Aguakate, and Amarfis. Milly Quezada is known as the Queen of Merengue. The popularity of Merengue is growing fast in Venezuela, due to the high Dominican influence. Such Venezuelan Merengueros include Roberto Antonio, Miguel Moly, Natusha, Los Melodicos. The Merengue produced in New York has become very popular among the lover of this rhythm. Some New Yorkers who produce this new Merengue sound are Malafe, Henry Jimenez and Aybar.
