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German Salsa Scene of the 1980s they wanted, as they felt the music. So
When he arrived in I showed them the basic steps on the
Germany, he tried to find concerts when I was on stage. Today
musicians to form a salsa is completely different you see German
band and within a short time couples dancing salsa exactly like two
he founded a sextet. Then Puerto Ricans.” (Wito Rodriguez)
he got seriously sick and
lost the hearing capacity of La Conexion Latina
one ear, a cochlea implant Wito met Rudi Fuesers in Munich and
and training let him regain they joined in leading Conexion Latina
the control over his voice. for the first two releases. Connection
Latina was a highly professional band
In the beginning of the1980s, accompanying Ismael Miranda, Santos
he founded a new salsa Colon, Tito Allen and toured with Larry
band and accompanied Harlow on piano. They were playing all
stars like Celia Cruz, Pete over Germany and in the neighboring
Conde Rodriguez and countries.
Adalberto Santiago. At that
time the centers of the German salsa Their debut album ‘Calorcito’ was
scene where closely connected with the recorded in Ludwigsburg (near Stuttgart)
US strongholds and the Latinos serving in 1984. The first two releases went viral
in the Army. within the German salsa scene. Songs
like ‘Como el Viento’ (Calorcito, 1984)
In the 1980s Wolfgang ‘Lobo’ Gihr and ‘Salsa Jazz’ (Un Poco Loco, 1986)
founded Musica Latina, the first German demonstrate the outstanding voice of
latin music mail order company. DJ Wito Rodriguez.
Chuck Herrmann’s salsa nights got so
successful that he had to change to Max- During the preparations of the third
Emanuell-Brauerei in Munich. The party release, Rudi Fuesers and Wito realised
still exists today and is the oldest salsa that they had slightly different points
party in Germany held every Friday since of views about the future of Conexion
1984. Latina. So Wito left Conexion but had
already all the arrangements for the third
“In the 1970s Germany was German, the record, returned to the US. After his return
people didn’t know how to dance but to the US he took the record ‘Calorcito’
they danced anyway. They did whatever to Puerto Rico. The radio stations played
