Oscar D’León says he wants to continue singing for “another 80 years”

San Juan, Jul 18 (EFE).- Veteran Venezuelan salsa singer Oscar D’León, known as ‘The Sonero of the World,’ said in an interview with EFE that at 81 years old he still has no plans to retire and wants to continue singing for “another 80 years.”

“I will retire when the public decides or fate itself decides. I want to continue singing for 80 more years, and I am preparing to continue with vitality and good health,” says D’León, who following performing in Spain and Chile, will pay tribute to the legendary Fania All Star orchestra at the Premios Juventud in San Juan.

The salsa singer and bassist recalls the concerts he performed with the group, led by the late Dominican musician Johnny Pacheco and in which other legendary singers participated such as Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe, Cheo Feliciano, Roberto Roena, Ray Barretto and Ismael Miranda, among others.

“There were many anecdotes that we experienced. Fortunately, many of those who belonged to La Fania remain and others who have unfortunately left, but the spirit of those who remain makes the name of La Fania relevant,” D’León emphasizes.

Pacheco, Cruz and the late legendary pianist and composer Larry Harlow will be some of the members of La Fania All Star that D’León, also known as ‘The Lion of Salsa’, will praise with “surprises, many surprises” on the stage of the Premios Juventud, which will take place on July 25 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, in San Juan.

Cuba, its greatest influence

The singer of ‘Llorarás’, ‘Siéntate Ahí’ and ‘Mata Siguaraya’ affirms that Cuban music is what has had the greatest impact on the development of his successful career, and mentions Cuban artists such as Miguelito Valdés, Orquesta Aragón, Alvarito Díez and La Sonora Matancera.

“My inspiration, always the starting point or the spearhead, was Cuba, without leaving behind Puerto Rico,” says D’León, adding that performing in Cuba in 1983 meant a lot to him, which is why he still yearns to return to present himself to the Cuban public with the salsa genre that “has given him everything.”

“Being recognized worldwide, I have to thank him a lot, starting with Cuban music, which gave me that opportunity because I listened to Cuban music since I was a child,” says Oscar Emilio de León, the singer’s given name, regarding salsa.

Emerging salsa singer: “authentic and sincere”

‘The sonero of the world’, winner of a Grammy, three Latin Grammys and a Latin Grammy for ‘Musical Excellence’, advises young people who are taking their first steps in the musical genre of salsa to be “authentic and sincere” with their creations and enjoy them so that they reach the public “as they are sent, with love.”

He also encourages novice salsa dancers to learn and know the genre well in order to enjoy something “so divine that it eradicates any sadness in human beings.”

“If they have that young talent for songwriting, then they should keep trying because you’re not going to make it all, but the day you make it, you’ll take everything you’ve done with you, so there’s no need to despair, you have to keep going,” says the singer, who thus encourages the youngest to pursue their dreams.
D’León says that his wife is his “queen,” that she helps him manage his social networks and that together they try to give their best in each project.

“There are many things to do, but I don’t think regarding that, I think regarding giving my best on stage and off it with my steps well marked so as not to make mistakes,” says the artist who is capable of playing a repertoire of more than 400 songs for 7 consecutive hours.

Esther Alaejos