Title
Recognizing and honoring the outstanding hard work and dedication of Jesse Bermudez to Philadelphia's Latin Music Scene and declaring July 8, 2015 as
"Jesse Bermudez Day".
Body
The Council of the City of Philadelphia is pleased and proud to recognize and honor Jesse Bermudez, who for the past forty years has been at the center of Philadelphia's Latin music scene.
WHEREAS, Jesse Bermudez began his career as a performer with the doo-wop, Vessolaire, before becoming a legendary Latin music DJ. In the mid-1970s, Jesse turned his attention exclusively towards Philadelphia's Latin music market as a performer and, eventually, as a promoter, producing the area's most memorable salsa concert, "Salsa con Salsa", featuring legendary artists, Celia Cruz, Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe, at the Philadelphia Civic Center; and
WHEREAS, In 1982 Mr. Bermudez founded Philadelphia Philadelphia's Asociacion de Musicos Latinos Americanos (A.M.L.A), which led to the creation of A.M.L.A School of Performing Arts, later renamed, Artistos y Musicos Latinos Americanos.
WHEREAS, Under Mr. Bermudez leadership, A.M.L.A. became the "gold standard" for Latin music education throughout the United States, producing a cadre of professional musicians and recording artists including Edgar Joel, Anthony Colon, Ray Viera, Carlos Sanchez, Luisito Figoroa, Elvis Bonilla, Pablo Batista and Foto Rodriguez. His influence resulted in a number of disadvantaged Latin youth finding a life-long path of positivity through the discipline and sense of community derived from effective music education; and
WHEREAS, While constantly striving to improve working conditions for area musicians, Mr. Bermudez produced the recording "Authentico", a compilation of recordings by A.M.L.A. artists in 2002. In 2008, he was the Executive Producer on Papo Vazquez and the Mighty Pirates' Grammy-nominated recording, "Marooned/Aislado" (Picaro Records); and
WHEREAS, Through the years, Mr. Bermudez has been...
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