Karaoke Forums

After reading another thread concerning Mexican, Latin, and/or Spanish language CD+G production, I was able to glean something of value as quoted above.

Being an ignorant Anglo, I’ve find it difficult to know what to add to my library with reference to this genre.

While I will look into the above named labels, my question is who else (in addition to those mentioned) is/are popular artist(s) as well as popular songs.

Operating in the phoenix area, you can understand the advantage to having a good library for this genre.

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EveningStar Entertainment & Events
JR & Michele LaPorte
Peoria, AZ

JR this is the best deal I've seen for Spanish music.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

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I like everyone when I first meet them. If you don't like me that's not my problem it's YOURS!
A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet

Before you go spending a bunch of money on latin music, you need to identify WHAT KIND OF LATIN MUSIC YOUR CROWD WANTS!! Are they Tex-Mex, Tejano, Salsa, Regaeton, Banda, Bachata, Mariachi, Barrio, Ballados, or ??????? "Latin" music has a HUGE VARIETY of styles. Are you prepared to learn the ACTUAL ARTISTS---(and I dont mean Gloria Estefan, Mark Anthony, or other latin/american pop artists)

Where I DJ/KJ, we play predominatly salsa--either DJ or live bands(I run sound and DJ before and after and on breaks).

This crowd wants Cubano Salsa, Son, traditional salsa, Reggaeton, Merenque, Bachata, Cha Cha Cha, Samba, etc.

Other types of clubs may require more Traditional MEXICAN music(there are SIGNIFICANT differences)

For Karaoke we've been using either the old Pioneer Laser discs--PKL-501, 502---alot of traditional latin music. And also the OKE brand of CDG for additional traditional latin songs.

We have a SEPARATE LATIN KARAOKE SONG LIST BOOK for our LATIN custies.

I also bring a couple of my own discs for Reggaeton (such as PITBULL-Kulo, Daddy Yankee-Gasolina, Tego Calderon, etc.)

Im looking to buy a couple of new CDGs for my own to so I can learn a couple of Cuban Salsa songs to sing--because I like the particular rythems of these particular songs.

I order my latin discs from ACE KARAOKE.com in El Monte, Ca. They have a HUGE asortment of Latin Karoake


Your best bet to LEARN the music is ask some of your latin customers for the names of he artists that they think would make for a good assortmetn of latin karaoke---both standards, current and "classics".

They will help you out and love you more that you value THIER JUDGEMENT, HELP an ADVICE and be tickled that you want to take the time to learn THIER MUSIC and provide it for them to sing!

Also take some time to go OUT TO SOME LATIN/MEXICAN CLUBS and LISTEN TO THE MUSIC THEY PLAY FOR DANCE OR KARAOKE IF THEY HAVE it. Dont be bashful about asking the DJ waht he's playing. Dont feel out of place going to a "Latin" night club. Go dancing there and learn the rythems. They might have lesssons at the club. Talk to the DJ and tell him your a DJ and trying to learn the music to bring it to your club also. Maybe get some reccommedations from him.

Become a regular customer and listner.

To REALLY understand and REALLY be able to DJ the music and know what you have to play and WHAT YOU"RE DOING, you pretty much have to IMMERSE YOURSELF into it.

It helps to be able to SPEAK SOME SPANISH with the custies at your show too.

Its a WHOLE DIFFERENT BAG than regular American music. AND it can REALLY GET YOU HOOKED.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Since you're in Peoria, your best bet for Spanish Karaoke is actually your closest WalMart store! I've found them to have the best selection and quality of Spanish karaoke discs at their stores near where there are large Hispanic populations. Good prices too! Karaoke Box and Karaoke Phoenix (made by MultiKaraoke) are both great quality brands and very inexpensive at WalMart. Usually about $5 a disc, less for the 2-disc Karaoke Box sets. The managers who do the ordering for the individual local stores are pretty aware of what is popular in their neighborhood and that's what they stock. The store closest to my home at Rural & Southern in Tempe has almost no Spanish karaoke at all. The one near a few of the bars I used to host at where I had people singing in Spanish, at 36th St & Thomas, has a better selection of Spanish karaoke than the valley karaoke stores do. The one at ChrisTown has a great selection as well. I rarely get West of I-17, but I'm sure you get the picture.

Of course the best thing is to talk to the people in your venue about music, but it also helps a lot to browse what Spanish artists are stocked at the WalMart nearest your venue, especially in the "Regional Mexican" section.

Artists I've found to be popular in the Phoenix area for karaoke are:
Selena, Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fernandez, Alejandero Fernandez, Shakira, Pepe Aguilar, Juan Sebastian, Jose Jose, Mana, Juanes, Los Bukis, Los Tigres Del Norte, Conjunto Primavera, Marc Anthony, Rocio Durcal, El Poder Del Norte & Lupillo Rivera to name a few.

my top three Spanish songs have been
Como La Flor & Bidi Bidi Bom Bom by Selena and Volver Volver by Vicente Fernandez.

I wouldn't jump into that Sound Choice deal on eBay though, as it seems to be completely latin pop. In the Phoenix / Glendale / Peoria area that's not nearly as popular for karaoke as Norteno and Mariachi.

Where I live, our population is about ten percent Hispanic. I know many of them. I have about 250 Spanish songs, if I want more, I get advice from 1 or 2 of them.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I think that Spanish karaoke can be just as diverse as English language karaoke or even more so.

I work in a college town with some of my customers who want to perform Spanish Language songs from Spain, others from Latin America, while others are students learning the language (or teachers).

While there is some overlap, there is a lot of subdivisions and what is popular with one group may not be the same as in other groups.

I get about 10-15% Spanish at two of my three gigs here in the Los Angeles area. Being in the same region, I bet your crowds would like to sing the same stuff as my crowd. What latiinos want to dance to, and what they want to sing.

Spanish singers who bring their own disc in seem to prefer the Multi-Karaoke brand the best, followed by Karaokanta. As far as artist, you have to have as much Vicente Fernandez as possible. He is the Mexican Elvis. You have to have Shakira in Spanish, not English. Other needs are Selena, Linda Ronstadt, Pedro Infante, Alejandro Fernandez, and Pepe Aguilar.

If you have a Cavs player, you can't go wrong with the Tropical Zone Super CD+G's. Get the one with 1125 songs, and you are in business.

Felix the KJ