Biography
Dimensión Latina stood at the forefront of Venezuela’s salsa scene throughout the 1970s. The ensemble first assembled in the opening years of that decade, and a group using the same name remained active until the 1990s. It started life as a six-piece outfit initially known as Oscar Y Sus Estrellas and played regular engagements at Caracas’s La Distinción bar. Following a pair of pianist substitutions and a collaborative LP with Clan De Victor, the lineup that recorded the 1973 debut ¡Triunfadores! consisted of composer/arrangers Oscar D’León (b. Oscar Emilio León Samoza, 11 July 1943, Antímano, Caracas, Venezuela; lead vocals/bass) and César Monje aka César Monge (trombone/vocals), José Antonio ‘Rojitas’ Rojas (trombone/vocals), Jesús ‘Chuíto’ Narváez (piano), Elio Pacheco (congas), and José ‘Joseíto’ Rodríguez (timbales). Co-lead vocalist Wladimir Lozano (b. 2 March 1950, Venezuela), whose specialty was boleros, joined for the follow-up En La Dimensión Latina. A third trombonist, Carlos Guerra Jnr., appeared on Dimensión Latina ’76/Salsa Brava.
After D’León departed in 1976 to lead Salsa Mayor, Monje assumed the role of musical director and Gustavo Carmona took over on bass. Argenis Carruyo served as co-lead vocalist solely on Dimensión Latina 77/Internaciónal. The band soon secured a major acquisition by offering Andy Montañez (b. Puerto Rico) a superior contract that drew him away from El Gran Combo, where he had spent the previous fifteen years as one of Latin music’s most prominent vocalists. Montañez made his first recordings with Dimensión Latina on Los Generales De La Salsa, sharing lead duties with both Montañez and Lozano alongside Rodrigo Mendoza (ex-Los Satélites), whose voice combined power with a distinctive high-pitched timbre. The same vocal trio featured on 780 Kilos De Salsa.
Lozano exited in 1978, first partnering with D’León on the double album Oscar D’León Y Su Salsa Mayor Con Wladimir before forming his own short-lived group La Constelación. Conga player Elio Pacheco departed to establish the charanga outfit La Magnifica and later directed La Mafia Latina; Carlos Jesús ‘Pacuso’ Guillen stepped in as his replacement. Luis ‘Perico’ Ortiz arranged and led three selections, among them his own “Cantante Errante,” for ... Tremenda Dimensión! (1978). In 1979 Narváez and Mendoza left to launch La Amistad, prompting Carruyo’s return and the arrival of Samuel Del Real on piano.
D’León rejoined his former colleagues in November 1980 for the live album Dos Colosos En Concierto, captured at Caracas’s Poliedro Stadium. Montañez launched a solo career that same year, while Del Real started his own ensemble, issued two Venezuelan albums, and eventually moved to the USA. Narváez, Pacheco and Lozano reconvened in 1984 to record Producto De Exportación. Monje subsequently worked as a freelance arranger, musical director, session player and producer, occasionally contributing to his old band. The early-1990s edition of Dimensión Latina retained only three members from the 1970s—Mendoza, Lozano and timbales player Joseíto Rodríguez, who had become musical director. Rodríguez, Monje, Pacheco, Narváez and Mendoza reunited in 2002 as Los Generales De La Salsa.
After D’León departed in 1976 to lead Salsa Mayor, Monje assumed the role of musical director and Gustavo Carmona took over on bass. Argenis Carruyo served as co-lead vocalist solely on Dimensión Latina 77/Internaciónal. The band soon secured a major acquisition by offering Andy Montañez (b. Puerto Rico) a superior contract that drew him away from El Gran Combo, where he had spent the previous fifteen years as one of Latin music’s most prominent vocalists. Montañez made his first recordings with Dimensión Latina on Los Generales De La Salsa, sharing lead duties with both Montañez and Lozano alongside Rodrigo Mendoza (ex-Los Satélites), whose voice combined power with a distinctive high-pitched timbre. The same vocal trio featured on 780 Kilos De Salsa.
Lozano exited in 1978, first partnering with D’León on the double album Oscar D’León Y Su Salsa Mayor Con Wladimir before forming his own short-lived group La Constelación. Conga player Elio Pacheco departed to establish the charanga outfit La Magnifica and later directed La Mafia Latina; Carlos Jesús ‘Pacuso’ Guillen stepped in as his replacement. Luis ‘Perico’ Ortiz arranged and led three selections, among them his own “Cantante Errante,” for ... Tremenda Dimensión! (1978). In 1979 Narváez and Mendoza left to launch La Amistad, prompting Carruyo’s return and the arrival of Samuel Del Real on piano.
D’León rejoined his former colleagues in November 1980 for the live album Dos Colosos En Concierto, captured at Caracas’s Poliedro Stadium. Montañez launched a solo career that same year, while Del Real started his own ensemble, issued two Venezuelan albums, and eventually moved to the USA. Narváez, Pacheco and Lozano reconvened in 1984 to record Producto De Exportación. Monje subsequently worked as a freelance arranger, musical director, session player and producer, occasionally contributing to his old band. The early-1990s edition of Dimensión Latina retained only three members from the 1970s—Mendoza, Lozano and timbales player Joseíto Rodríguez, who had become musical director. Rodríguez, Monje, Pacheco, Narváez and Mendoza reunited in 2002 as Los Generales De La Salsa.
Albums
