La Palabra, a precursor of romantic salsa and master of cultural fusion, releases his new single, Ángel Desolado, a salsa version inspired by the song “Broken Angel” by Swedish/Iranian singer Arash, which was number 1 in Russia and number 9 in Ukraine in 2011.
“Angel Desolado” has an arrangement that weaves the nostalgia of the original “Broken Angel” with Afro-Latin rhythms, brass arrangements, elements of blues and jazz, and his now classic rap touch.
From his early days in Detroit, La Palabra stood out for the fusions of salsa, jazz, Motown, and soul that permeated his music.
During his time in New York, he shared the stage with the Jackson 5, was invited to be part of Phoenix Rising (Stevie Wonder’s project), and founded Orquesta Versalles.
La Palabra is considered one of the pioneers of romantic salsa, a subgenre that emerged in the 1980s as a softer, more emotional, and melodic version of classic salsa (he called it “Ballada en Salsa”).
His legacy has been cemented in the last year by tens of millions of views on YouTube and streams on Spotify, a reflection of its relevance and contemporary impact.
