Why the International Salsa Museum belongs in the Bronx

In honor of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, the first pop-up public exhibition centered on the late Tito Puente’s Centennial and the legacy of the Queen of Latin Soul, Cuban artist La Lupe, was held early last month at the International Salsa Museum (ISM) in the Bronx.

Founded by Afro-Latinos Willy Rodriguez, Ilias Reyes, and Manny Tavarez from NYC as a nonprofit, the ISM was established to celebrate the legacy and advance the culture of salsa music. The goal is to open an official museum facility.

Rodriguez shared that the idea came about when Reyes and Tavarez were having a conversation about their passion for salsa, in which Tavarez asked Reyes  if there was any museum in NYC that he could visit with his family that taught the history of Salsa.

“With my knowledge and resources within the entertainment industry field combined with their experience, it is the perfect trifecta to create something magical hence the birth of the International Salsa Museum,” Rodriguez stated.

Rodriguez shared how salsa music has had on his life. “I grew up in a household where my father and mother would always listen to salsa. Every Saturday all my cousins, aunts, uncles

would come over to our NYC apartment and dance all night long. From Salsa to Merengue we heard it all,” he said.

Tito Puente Jr. and Willy Rodriguez are on stage performing with a band during an event at Lincoln Center in May of this year. Rodriguez is playing the piano, and Puente Jr. is singing. Photo courtesy International Salsa Museum (ISM)

He credits salsa for leading him to become an internationally recognized music producer, director and supervisor, as well as for shaping his perspective on life.

“It made me realize that music is truly a universal language. I traveled the world and to see the smiles and the joy that salsa brought to people while at the same time experiencing the humanitarian and social responsibility aspect of music,’ he added.

Some other big moments this year in the history of the genre include Bad Bunny’s historic Coachella performance, which opens with tribute to Early Salsa pioneers. In addition, this year is the 50th of Latin NY Magazine published by Bobby Sanabria.

Additionally, this year is also the 50th Anniversary of Arturo Sandoval forming the band Irakere in 1973 with keyboardist Chucho Valdés and saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera. Sandoval will get a Latin Grammy Honor this year.

“My life has always been about service through the arts,” he continued. Rodriguez has taught music in elementary schools and for New York City Housing Authority, in addition to volunteering for the Special Olympics, and also at Homeless shelters and senior citizen homes.

Furthermore, he feels he is combining all his goals and dreams, ultimately serving the world, with the ISM.

“I am clear that since the moment I was born, I was meant to serve the world in a big way and the International Salsa Museum is aimed to do just that,” he stated.