Latin IS America

MSU's salsa band, Salsa Verde, will be joined by Sony Music artist and MSU Alumnus Pianist Arthur Hanlon for a live performance and open dance session featuring Afro-Cuban and Latin music. Featuring music that includes Hanlon’s original arrangements, student arrangements, and works by other artists.

Free

Bios:
Chart topping pianist/composer/arranger and Billboard, Latin Grammy and Emmy-nominee Arthur Hanlon is the single most recognizable name in Latin instrumental music today. Born in Detroit to Irish American parents, Hanlon found his calling in Latin music and has done what no one else has accomplished in Latin instrumental music, becoming the only pianist to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Latin charts and the only pianist to hit Billboard’s Latin Airplay charts multiple times in decades. A virtuoso with an undergraduate degree in piano performance from Michigan State University and a master’s degree in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music, Hanlon plays a distinctive blend of Detroit street, classical virtuosity and Latin beats and he has recorded and performed with superstars like Marc Anthony, Natalie Cole, Enrique Iglesias, Laura Pausini, Juanes and Bernie Williams among others. 

Now, newly signed to Sony Music, Arthur has released “Viajero,” a groundbreaking album that has taken him around the world in search of iconic Latin songs. 

Arthur started playing the piano at six, and at 15, was already playing professional gigs with Detroit’s leading bands, hiding his real age in order to get into the clubs that were booking him. While at Michigan State, he was the pianist with Motown’s Flip Jackson Band, playing Motown review shows throughout the state. The Latin in him is the product of his life in New York City, where he completed postgraduate work in classical piano performance at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. While in New York and living in Spanish Harlem, Arthur fell in love with Latin music and started playing Latin gigs around the city which irreversibly changed his life.

Salsa Verde In 2008, David Wullaert and Jon Weber founded the Michigan State University Salsa Band as a means for College of Music students to practice and perform Afro-Cuban music. Since then, Salsa Verde has played concerts, dances, recitals, benefits, cultural events, and outreach in Michigan. Salsa Verde performs songs by Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz, Poncho Sanchez, Sonora Carruseles, Irakere, and others, with many of the works original arrangements by Salsa Verde. The members of Salsa Verde are students or faculty in the MSU College of Music. Members of Salsa Verde have played with groups such as Orquesta Ritmo, Aye, Sobroso, Mariachi Kora, Groupo Varidad Folkrorico, Thom Jayne and the Nomads and H2. 

Works to be performed include:
Siboney – Arthur Hanlon
Madrigal – Arthur Hanlon
Yo Me Llamo Cumbia – Arthur Hanlon
Bailando – Enrique Iglesias, salsa version arr. Issac Delgado                                                                                                   
La Dueña del Swing – Los Hermanos Rosario      
La Vida Es Un Carnaval – Celia Cruz                        
Pa Gozar – Oscar Hernandez                    
Pare Cochero – Marcelino Guerra                         
Quimbara – Junior Cepeda                                                                 
Unity Jam  – Tony Succar
Valio La Pena – Marc Anthony, Estéfano

Other Latin IS America events: