Larry Harlow

Destiny united Lennox (Gabriel Pizarro) and Zion (Felix Ortiz) in the small town in Carolina, Puerto Rico, by making them neighbors. As kids they connected through a common interest in Rap, Hip Hop, and Dance Hall. Their musical collaboration quickly evolved into a serious passion through working on Reggaeton together. From an early age Zion And Lennox deeply believed in the potential of young genre.

"El Judio Maravilloso", as he is affectionately called by his colleagues, completely revolutionized what is known today as "SALSA". Harlow developed the explosive, Tumpet/trombone sound of the contemporary salsa bands in the early 70's. He was the first to introduce the sacred bata' drums of the Yoruba religion in Cuba to secular Afro-Cuban dance music in NYC. Known as IFA' or La Regla de Ocha, or commonly called by the lay public as Santeria, Harlow began studying its many secrets and eventually became a full fledged initiate being baptized as the child of Ochun, the Yoruba deity of the river, shekere and love.

For Fania records, he has produced over 260 CD's for various artists and as a leader over 50 cd's including the Masterpiece, "La Raza Latina, a Salsa Suite" in 1978, the first serious treatment of the genre, tracing the music's Diaspora and the evolution from West Africa to Southern Spain through the Caribbean and eventually New York City and the only Latin Opera ever written called "Hommy" which was performed to SRO crowds for 2 shows at Carnegie Hall and 2 shows in Puerto Rico. This opera is being revived in 2003 in San Juan, Puerto Rico's new Coliseo with an updated cast as well as recording an HBO special and new CD. Harlow is also the producer/pianist for the legendary Fania All-Stars. With the All-Stars he recorded over 30 cd's and spread clave Consciousness the world over.

Mr. Harlow also co-produced, and wrote music for and starred in, "Our Latin Thing" and "Salsa", two of the definitive documentaries on Afro-Cuban based music in New York City. He appeared in "Fania in Africa" as well as being the music producer. In 1997 Maestro Harlow composed the music for "SOFRITO", a multimedia, bilingual family musical, which features story teller David Gonzalez. Performed to sold out audiences at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway and across the Americas, the show incorporates ancient Caribbean folk tales with live on-stage performances of Harlow's Latin Legends Band. This CD is available on Laughing Horse records.

Mr. Harlow, as a Governor of the NY chapter of NARAS, was responsible for making the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences take notice of the contributions of Latin musicians, which made them establish the first Latin Grammy Award and now there are 10 different Latin Categories a swell as the Latin Grammys. He himself has been nominated 3 times for a Grammy.

He holds a BA in Music from Brooklyn College and a Masters Degree in Philosophy from the New School of Social Research in New York City.

His classic CD entitled Larry Harlow's Latin Legends Band, on JMM/SONY DISCOS features a who's who of contemporary Latin musicians. The fascinating career and life of this "living Legend" is featured in an exciting new video biography/documentary entitled "The Golden Age of SALSA Through The Eyes Of Larry Harlow", produced by Tropical Visions Entertainment Group" of Puerto Rico. Harlow was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame on April 5, 2000.

Harlow and the Latin Legends, will be touring Europe, Japan, China, the Caribbean and the West Coast of the U.S this summer with his new band called, Larry Harlow's "Thunder Drums", featuring five of the worlds best Afro-Cuban percussionists, as well as a guest drummer from each country they appear in concert. All of this, together with the famous Larry Harlow incredible brass/string section and Harlow's torrid piano playing make an exciting Latino presentation.

In January, 2003 Larry Harlow's Latin Jazz Encounter "Live at Birdland" was released on the new LATIN COOL label, thus beginning a new phase in Harlow's career, LATIN JAZZ. Harlow has just completed a double CD and DVD from his 35th Anniversary Concert at Tito Puente Ampitheater in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which will be released in Spring 2003.