
Legendary salsa musician Roberto Roena died Sept 23, 2021. The Fania All Star member and bandleader/bongocero was 81. He was known for being one of the original members of Puerto Rico’s renowned salsa orchestra El Gran Combo, as well as the founding member of the Cortijo y su Combo orchestra as well as his Apollo Sound orchestra. In 1970, he recorded his first album with Fania after joining the widely successful Fania All Stars orchestra where he was a featured performer playing bongos and occasionally performing as a superb Mambo dancer.
“The Apollo Sound” recorded a series of nine albums for Fania over the years, which were well received by Salsa lovers everywhere. This album, Vol. 5 , stands out as his most popular. It includes the internationally acclaimed hits “Cui Cui” and “Que Se Sepa,” both which were composed by Roberto. “Cui Cui” is a pleasant sounding arrangement, very danceable, whereby “Que Se Sepa” shows the versatility of the band. The cut starts out with a tribal feeling led by the fine coro section which includes Tito Cruz, Frankie Calderon, Sammy Gonzalez; and polished off with an exciting arrangement by Mario Ortiz. Throughout the album you’ll recognize the percussive skills of Roberto Roena who keeps the rhythm section tight as, well, a drum. —Bobby Marin

Ray Barretto, Adalberto Santiago & Celia Cruz – Tremendo Trio

Navidades Con la Sonora Matancera

Bobby Cruz & Ricardo Ray – Felices Pascuas

Sonora Ponceña – Navidad Criolla

Cheo Feliciano – Felicidades

Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón & Yomo Toro – ASALTO NAVIDEÑO VOL. II

Ismael Rivera – Feliz Navidad

PETE RODRIGUEZ – BOOGALOO NAVIDEÑO

Héctor Lavoe, Daniel Santos & Yomo Toro – Feliz Navidad

Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe – Asalto Navideño

Orquesta Novel – Prestige

Fania All Stars – Latin Connection

Eddie Palmieri

Johnny Pacheco & Monguito “El Único” Santamaría – Sabrosura

Celia, Johnny And Pete

Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound 5

Héctor Lavoe – El Sabio

La Crema de New York – El Party

Azuquita Y Su Orquesta Melao – Pura Salsa
