Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York Trailer
5/7/20261 min
In 1964, an Italian-American ex-cop and a Dominican musician in New York City opened Fania Records, the “Motown of Salsa.” The artists from Fania toured the world, sold millions of records and changed culture forever. But Fania Records also became mired by royalty divisions, lawsuits and falling-outs. This is the story of the birth of salsa in Nueva York and the rebellious, seductive and political label that defined it: Fania Records.
Hosted by Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress and Brooklyn native Rosie Perez and produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning Futuro Media. It is the most comprehensive audio narrative yet made about the birth and wild heights of salsa, a genre that continues to shape global culture today.
Series premieres Tuesday, May 26. Join Futuro+ and listen early and ad free. Follow the show and don’t miss an episode!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
38 sentencesRosie Perez· Host0:00
This story starts in the hood.
Speaker 10:02
You heard it as you walked through el barrio.
Rosie Perez· Host0:05
It was here in uptown New York City where these underdogs got their inspiration.
Speaker 20:12
Listen to the trains, clickety, clickety on the tracks, the kids on the basketball court.
Speaker 30:18
We mixed it up with what was going on.
Speaker 40:21
You hear this.
Rosie Perez· Host0:22
[salsa music] These artists created a sound that changed music forever.
Speaker 50:31
And we called it salsa.
Rosie Perez· Host0:32
[salsa music] And one label captured that sound like no other.
Speaker 6· Soundbite0:38
Fania Records.
Speaker 7· Soundbite0:39
Fania Records.
Speaker 8· Soundbite0:40
Fania.
Speaker 9· Soundbite0:41
Fania Records.
Speaker 6· Soundbite0:43
Fania. Fania.
Speaker 10:44
Fania Records.
Speaker 10· Soundbite0:44
Fania!
Rosie Perez· Host0:44
[cheering] [trumpet music] Fania Records, where the world's greatest Latin musicians came together and took over the world. You know them.
Speaker 6· Soundbite0:55
Willy Colón.
Speaker 20:56
Héctor Lavoe.
Speaker 9· Soundbite0:57
Joe Feliciano.
Speaker 10:58
Dan Harlow.
Speaker 6· Soundbite0:59
Ismael Rivera.
Speaker 7· Soundbite1:00
Roberto Roena.
Speaker 9· Soundbite1:00
Rubén Blades.
Speaker 10· Soundbite1:01
Hector Lavoe.
Speaker 6· Soundbite1:02
Celia Cruz.
Speaker 7· Soundbite1:03
Johnny Pacheco.
Speaker 8· Soundbite1:03
Johnny Pacheco.
Speaker 11:04
Johnny Pacheco.
Speaker 41:05
If you sold 50,000 records, that was wonderful. We sold millions.
Speaker 11:10
Fania at that time was the it of everything that was happening.
Speaker 10· Soundbite1:14
You saw junkies on the street air tromboning to Willie Colón coming out of a bodega.
Speaker 6· Soundbite1:20
Fania is making money in every direction.
Rosie Perez· Host1:23
[salsa music] But success came with conflict.
Speaker 21:27
He was