Music

Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York

In 1964, an Italian-American ex-cop and a Dominican musician in New York City opened Fania Records, the “Motown of Salsa.” The artists from Fania toured the world, sold millions of records and changed culture forever. But Fania Records also became mired by royalty divisions, lawsuits and falling-outs. This is the story of the birth of salsa in Nueva York and the rebellious, seductive and political label that defined it: Fania Records.

Hosted by Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress and Brooklyn native Rosie Perez and produced by Pulitzer Prize-winning Futuro Media. It is the most comprehensive audio narrative yet made about the birth and wild heights of salsa, a genre that continues to shape global culture today. New episodes available every Tuesday. Follow the show and don’t miss an episode!

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BONUS: The Cinderella Story of New York Legend Joe Bataan Jul 21, 2026

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Senior Producer Jeanne Montalvo sat down to chat with Afro-Filipino singer-songwriter and New York legend Joe Bataan at the Bronx Music Heritage Center in 2024.

As you’ve heard in Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York, Joe is full of all kinds of stories about New York, about music, and about the rollercoaster ride that’s made up his career. In this week’s bonus episode, we share unaired segments from their interview and are even treated to a special performance by Joe.

The Futuro Plus Team includes associate producer Liliana Ruiz, production manager Victoria Estrada, and development manager Danetsy Len. Mixing by Multitude Productions.

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8. The End of Fania and the Rebirth of Salsa Jul 14, 2026

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Fania Records is changing. Co-owner Jerry Masucci wants to sell the company but his partner Johnny Pacheco refuses to sell. Tensions rise between the two, until an alleged betrayal sets them on very different paths. The end of Fania Records doesn’t spell the end of salsa though. The artform these underdogs created lives on.

Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of Craft Recordings, a Concord company, Doc Stanley, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Aurora Flores Hostos Interviews, Jeanne Montalvo Interviews and Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from HITN Television and TelevisaUnivision.

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7. You Reap What You Siembra Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

New kid on the block Ruben Blades moves from Panama to New York City. He gets a job in the mail room at Fania Records, where he tries to pitch his music. Eventually, he gets executives to listen to what he has to offer and lands a collaboration with the legend Willie Colon. But their idea for an album is met with skepticism from music executives, who are later – very dramatically – proven wrong.

Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library, Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, and Aurora Flores Hostos Interview. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from WBAI Radio, Third World Newsreel Film Collective - El Pueblo Se Levanta, FOX 5 New York, Tik Tok, and Vox Media.

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6. Fania Finds its Roots in Africa Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

At the height of Fania’s success, the label’s artists are invited to Zaire to perform at a highly anticipated boxing match. For many of these Black artists, this is the first time they are stepping foot on African soil. Welcomed by a rapturous crowd, the Fania All Stars give a legendary performance and many of them connect with their roots.

Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx Historical Society, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Aurora Flores Hostos Interviews, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, and Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from Hemdale Leisure Productions, ESPN, Ora TV, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Antidote Films, and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.

Additional music this episode also courtesy of SONGS of Media Creature.

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5. A Tale of Two Women Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

In the 1960s and ‘70s, two Afro-Cuban women dominated stages from Havana to New York City. They are La Lupe and Celia Cruz, both virtuosic, vibrant artists. But Fania Records seems to only make room for one woman. One of these women is promoted, while the other is set aside, showing the oppressive mistreatment of women by the music industry. Even still, both of these artists’ legacies persevere.

Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of “The Dick Cavett Show” Courtesy of Daphne Productions / Global ImageWorks, The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Maria Hinojosa for NPR, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, Aurora Flores Hostos Interview, and Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from Enzo GD - Contribution.

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4. The Year Fania got Political Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

By 1973, drummer Ray Barretto is determined to make a high-stakes comeback and to make a political statement about the role of Salsa in the activism of the time. He’s set on performing at Fania’s most ambitious concert yet, at Yankee Stadium. The day of the concert, a frenzy erupts. But despite the wild turn of events, this night cements Fania as the leading label for salsa music. And whether the label wants to be or not, the very presence of Latino youth in Yankee Stadium – one of the most storied venues in the city – makes Fania political.

Listen to The Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library, Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Aurora Flores Hostos Interview and Craft Recordings, a Concord company. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from US National Archives, American Archive of Public Broadcasting, ABC, Internet Archive / formerly Radio Aeropuerto, Rockefeller Archive Center, Third World Newsreel Film Collective, Manhattan Neighborhood Network, WNET, and WMCA Radio.

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3. The Night that Made Salsa Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Larry Harlow, a Jewish kid from Brooklyn, and one of the first artists to be signed to Fania, pitches an idea to film an ambitious live concert. His suggestion will dramatically change the course of the label and salsa. After Fania bankrolls the live concert at the legendary Cheetah Club, the film Our Latin Thing releases one year later, a film and evening often referred to as the night salsa was born and a new Latino consciousness starts taking shape in the media.

Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA, Aurora Flores Hostos Interview, and Martin Cohen Congahead Archives. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from Oro Productions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2. Real and Pretend Gangsters Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

In the mid 1960s, young musicians Joe Bataan and Willie Colón are quickly owning the boogaloo scene in East Harlem and the Bronx. The problem—Morris Levy, the mob boss who owns hit-making labels, is one of the few routes to stardom. Bataan and Colón have to figure out how to avoid Levy, while projecting a gangster image themselves.

Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library, Buyout Footage, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, and Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA, Martin Cohen Congahead Archives. This episode also utilizes a fair use clip from NBC Boston.

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1. Fania Takes Nueva York May 26, 2026

Show notes

The 1960s brings social and political change to the world and to New York City, where a young Johnny Pacheco keeps people dancing with his orchestra and charanga music. The Dominican musician is also going through a divorce and his lawyer, Jerry Masucci, happens to be a fan of Johnny’s music. The two form a music partnership that will forever change music. They call their music label Fania Records.

Listen to the Music Behind Our Thing: The Birth of Salsa in Nueva York playlist here.

Archival courtesy of The Bronx County Archives at The Bronx County Historical Society Research Library, Maria Hinojosa for Latino USA, Craft Recordings, a Concord company, Mary Kent’s Salsa Talks interviews, Aurora Flores Hostos Interview, and Martin Cohen Congahead Archives. This episode also utilizes fair use clips from Prelinger Archives and WBAI Radio.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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