Ismael Miranda

Name: Ismael Miranda
Date of birth: February 20, 1950
Place of birth: Puerto Rico

Ismael Miranda is a composer and a singer of salsa music from Aguada, Puerto Rico. When Miranda grew up in New York City, on East 13th Street in Manhattan's East Village, he dreamed of becoming a musician.

By the time he was eleven years old, he formed two different juvenile groups, "The 4J's & Little Junior" and "The Class Mates", where he sang and played the conga. When Miranda got older he continued his musical career, and went on to play with Jazz percussionist  Orlando "Q" Rodriguez and piano player Mark Diamond.

Miranda was 17 years old, when he made his recording debut with the song
"Let's Ball" with Joey Pastrana and had his first "hit" with "Rumbon Melon". He created a good impression on bandleader Larry Harlow and was hired as Larry's lead singer. Miranda and Harlow wrote together "El Exigente", set to the rhythm of the Latin Boogaloo.

Miranda joined the Fania All Stars and toured Europe, Asia and Latin-America in 1969 and later formed his own band called "Revelacion" in 1973 and recorded "Así se compone un son" under the Fania Record Label.  With this song, Miranda entered the new salsa craze which was sweeping the nation and beyond. By 1988, he was set on retirement, but went on to establish his own record label "IM Records" and recorded several boleros with Andy Montañez. The 2002 one of his concert recording received the recognition and acclaim of the National Foundation of Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. He also recorded a CD which contained songs composed by the renowned Mexican composer Jose Alfredo Jimenez in a salsa version.

Trivia:
He is also known as "El Niño Bonito de la Salsa" (The Pretty Boy of Salsa).

Discography:
1967 El Exigente
1973 Asi de Compone un Son
1978 Sabor, Sentimento Y Pueblo
1985 Una Nueva Vision


By Lourd Vijay
---
About the Author: Lourd Vijay is the principal Promoter of Latin culture, music and dance in the Asian Region. He recently stood 10th at the “most Popular Entrepreneur of the year 2009” amongst 180 nominees from across the country. An innovative choreographer and a very able instructor, he is the director of the Lourd Vijay’s Dance Studios (www.lvds.in) in India.