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DJ El Turco
Name: Ali Ersu
Phone 781-354-5641
Website: www.djelturco.com
Location: Boston, MA
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2009 5th Annual CT Salsa Fest Battle of the DJs Winner! Back to Defend his Title!
A native of Turkey (hence the name ‘DJ el Turco’), Ali Ersu got his first taste for latin music in 2001 while vacationing in the
Dominican Republic. Some say “there is a little latin in everyone,” but when Ali first heard music playing all day long
throughout the resort, he experienced an awakening. “There is no greater music than salsa”, he says, "and from the first day
I heard it, I knew it would be a part of my life forever." In 2003, Boston-based Noche Latina Dance Company had an
opening for a guest DJ at a local salsa night at Union Street Restaurant & Bar (Newton, MA). Ali submitted a mix CD of some
of the latest music he'd collected and played to himself. The promoter was extremely impressed and booked Ali
immediately. In the following months, his new position turned out to be more of a challenge than he expected. He had to
work extremely hard, learning about dancer tastes and the many different styles of salsa music. But his hard work paid off
and earned him a residency at Union Street. His career was launched. Since then, Ali's DJing style has taken him to many
different clubs and events in Greater Boston, including Havana Club, Studio 665, Plaza Garibaldi, the Boston Salsa
Congress and many more. Since 2006, Ali has also become a popular DJ internationally, spinning at several salsa clubs in
Turkey and at Beijing's most famous salsa club, Salsa Caribe. One of his biggest international events was a set for the
Beijing Salsa Congress where he spun to a crowd of salseros on the Great Wall of China. Ali is currently resident DJ at one
of Boston's hottest salsa clubs, Mambos, in Boston's Back Bay. His vast music collection, his knowledge of salsa culture,
and his passion for the dance have made him one of Boston's best DJs.
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DJ Saoko was born and raised in the oil town of Cabimas, Venezuela. In the 1970s, the decade of the “Salsa Boom”, salsa
was part of his life as an elementary school student. Salsa was playing almost everywhere: in TV shows, buses, neighbors’
houses, parties, barbecues, and the “esquinas”. Esquinas were neighborhood corners where guys would often gather to
hang out and to listen and talk about salsa. From those days until now salsa has been one of his greatest passions.
DJ Saoko’s childhood friend and neighbor Hilmer Martinez was a big influence on him. Hilmer is a respected Venezuelan
band director, timbalero, singer and radio show host. Hilmer would always share his newest records at that time with DJ
Saoko and neighborhood friends. Sometimes he, Hilmer, and other friends would spend hours and hours in listening
sessions. Things started with him DJ’ing a few times in 2003 and 2004 at the dance club Platforms in Providence on Salsa
Sundays, as well as at some private parties. Between 2005 and 2006, he was a rotating DJ for La Cabana night club in RI.
From 2006 to the present time he has DJ’ed in events for the Venezuelan Association of New England. DJ Saoko has DJ’ed
in several Salsa Socials for JJ Latin Dancers from 2007 to present. DJ Saoko has also DJ’ed in several other salsa events,
including “Salsa Night” at Showcase Live in Foxboro, MA in November of 2008. Since the spring of 2008, he has been part
of the regular rotation of DJs for Salsa Sundays at Platforms. Starting in early 2009 he has been DJ’ing regularly at Club
Caribe and Havana Club in the Boston area. He was recently a Guest DJ at the Christmas party at Iguanas Salsa Tuesdays
in New York City. DJ Saoko has also recently DJ’ed at the Houston Salsa Congress in January and Salsa Fever Thursdays
in RI.
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DJ Renzo
Name: Lorenzo Haire
Phone:
Email:
Location: Washington, DC
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I am a dancer/avid salsa music collector turned DJ. I started off dancing salsa in late 2004 and this helped me to realize the
depth of the music that I had listened to but never really understood. It was not until I was deeply engaged in my hobby
(music collection) that I realized that I love this music more than the dance itself. I then started to become a salsa addict. I
started to hang out more with my friend Jon (DJ Vino) and realized that I had an ear for music. I then began to accompany
him to some events and soon I stood in for him as a guest DJ at The Space in Washington D.C. I also started to do guest DJ
work with DJ Neo at Geisha Lounge. We would go back and forth pushing each other to play good music. I then started to
get my own gigs with Go Go Earl Rush of Stuck on Salsa Productions and Mr. Mambo at the D.C. Dance Collective. I then
go my first house DJ gig with Clavekazi Dance Company for their Second Sunday Socials. Recently I have played at the
North Carolina Salsa Festival for the Cobo Brothers Dance Company. I was invited to play on the All Star Salsa Cruise in
Playa Del Carmen Mexico, The All White party put on by Stuck on Salsa, and The Inaugural Party also thrown by Stuck On
Salsa. I have been invited to DJ at the Chicago International Salsa Congress and also the Washington DC Salsa
Congress. In addition to my DJ work I also started The Scene magazine: Salsa in The DMV. This is Washington DC’s first
salsa magazine. I will also DJ at the magazine release party associated with this magazine as well. I have future
engagements in Philadelphia, Richmond, and Virginia Beach. I love any old school mambo and salsa with a hard tumbao
and campana. I like and am very familiar with salsa romantica as well but I prefer to play music that stresses the percussion
more than the singer or words. I love Cha Cha and I am learning more about bachata daily. I can do meringue as well even
though it is not my strong suit. Overall I like to travel and meet new people on the scene that I love so much. Salsa music is
my life and I am always grateful for the opportunity to share my passion with others. For more information please contact
mambolorenzo@gmail.com or renzo@thescenemagdc.com
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DJ MAMBO
Name: Alfonso
Phone: (787) 502-3937
Websites:
http://www.djmambo.webs.com/
www.facebook.com/djmambo
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Catering to demanding salsa dancers, Dj Mambo, brings a select music to the dance floor favoring "Salsa Dura" and "Salsa
Gorda.” Dj Mambo resides in Puerto Rico but has also lived in NYC, and Salsa has been a part of his life since childhood.
He has been influenced by the P.R. and N.Y. dance scenes, and regularly djs at salsa venues in Puerto Rico, also having
appeared at clubs and socials in New York. Dj Mambo started listening to Salsa as a kid in the late 70’s with artists playing
on Puerto Rican radio then, such as Hector Lavoe, Willie Colón, Celia Cruz, Gran Combo, Fania etc... Also, In the 80’s, as a
teenager he listened to Salsa every day in the streets of the commercial district of Río Piedras, P.R. with the recordings of
Bobby Valentín, Cano Estremera and others playing there continuously.
As a social dancer Dj Mambo feels fortunate to have experienced the salsa club scenes of NY’s original east side Copa,
Club Broadway, the 14th St. Palladium, El Flamingo and Nell’s. And in Puerto Rico: Trópico, El Coabey, Habana Club,
Embassy, Shots and more... Mambo’s 1st appearance as Dj was at Club “Dali” as part of the “Boricua Swing DJs” in Old
San Juan, P.R., thanks to promoter and DJ, Luis Salgado. Since then he has appeared at numerous venues and shared
billing with many musicians such as Jimmy Bosch, Willie Rosario or Ray De La Paz. In Puerto Rico Dj Mambo has
appeared at: Drums, Brava, Pool Palace, Shots, Oyster Bar, Doble Seis, Nuyorican Cafe, El Criollo, Palo Once... And in New
York City: Taj, Imperial, Iguana's, Kaña, Jimmy Anton's, Carlos Konig,... DJ Mambo has also participated in the "Festival
Borincano (2004)" in Puerto Rico, the “Philadelphia Salsa Dura Festival (2006)” and in the "Puerto Rico Hustle and Salsa
Festival (2006-2008)" promoted by Billy Fajardo, Tito Ortos, Tamara Livolsi, and Albert Torres.
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DJ Mono
Name: Steven Chase
Email: djmono2000@yahoo.com
Phone: (401) 226-5505
City/State:Boston, MA
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I first started working in La Cabaña night club in the mid 90's as a side DJ in the bar room on the first floor just to make some
extra money for a hobby. I didn't take it very seriously. As time progressed, I began to accumulate more music and
eventually I was promoted to headline the dance floor downstairs. My hobby became a second career for me in an instant.
Soon I began working at many places in Rhode Island from private parties to weddings. All this took place while I always
stayed true to spinning salsa at night. After about a year that I left La Cabaña night club, I worked in other night clubs such as
2000 (now known as club Bohemia), Macando, Mediterraneo, Tabu, Candelejas, 401, La Taberna, Platforms, and now
currently Olives. It has been a lot of fun spinning at these clubs and now I enjoy finding and spinning rare salsa music for
dancers and fans of the music.
I look forward to being a part of this competition because it will be an honor for me to showcase this music to so many
people and it will also be a pleasure to meet other world class DJ’s and compete against the best in the business of salsa.
Salsa music, apart from my family, is my true love and I can not wait to see and meet you all there.
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DJ Sonerito
Name: Andres Giraldo
Phone: 617-755-6920
Website: www.salsaycontrol.com
City/State: Boston, MA
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Andres Giraldo was born in Medellin, Colombia. He was always surrounded by great salsa music growing
up. Leading into his teenage years it became a huge part of his life. He started collecting Salsa Music
which inspired him to pursue his professional career as a dancer. Andres has been collecting music for
over 15 years and is known to many dancers as the salsa encyclopedia. He has over 6,000 Salsa Albums
in Lp’s, Cd’s and Mp3s form. He has provided music for many Dance Companies and DJ’s all over the
world. He has been a regular DJ for 3 years at Havana Club in Boston, and also has DJ at An Tua Nua,
Ryles, Salsa Congresses and many Salsa Events and throughout the US. He has the knowledge of the
music, and knows what dancers want. His great choice of music will make you want to dance.
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Dj El Maestro
Name: Alex Gonzales
Email: elmaestro4u@hotmail.com
Websites:
http://www.salsanewyork.com/picture_page
2.htm#MAESTRO
City/State: New York, NY
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Alex Gonzales AKA “Dj El Maestro" wanted other dancers to feel and enjoy the music the way he did and he decided the
best way was to play for them. This marked the beginning of his career as “DJ El Maestro”. While inspired by great DJs such
as his brother “Dj Gonzo”and New York’s own DJ Antonio La Conga, in The Summer of 2008 He started Djing but Alex still
wanted to create something a little different. His unique style and Sabor quickly became popular among the salseros at local
venues such as Mambo Fateegz, Jimmy Anton Social, Club Cache, Club Iguanas, and Santo Rico Salsa Social. He was the
head Dj at the Brooklyn Congress in 2009 and was asked to head the Congress again this year. In January of this year, he
was also invited to be a guest DJ in the Houston Salsa Congress where he had the opportunity to spin alongside his
brother. DJ EL Maestro is also scheduled to spin this year at the 10th Annual New York Salsa Congress.
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