Today we’d like to introduce you to Melina Almodovar.
Melina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico to a highly musical and artistic family my mom danced flamenco and my dad was a bolero singer. I grew up around music all the time in Puerto Rico, always wanted to be a singer from the time I can remember. My father died in PR and my mom and I moved to Memphis TN in 1990 I was young and it was a culture shock for me .. but I enjoyed the music there and started singing any chance I got. Gospel, jazz, rock, until one day when I was in college a group of musicians that where teachers at the University of Memphis music department asked me if I wanted to be in a SALSA BAND and I was like hell yeah!
And that began my love of Salsa Music I studied it and fell in love with it. We played constantly all over the south and that where I decided this is what I wanted to sing and represent artistically. SALSA MUSIC. Then I moved to Miami in 2005 and started performing all over and started producing Salsa Events. That’s where I know never in my life would I have guessed I would be producing the largest salsa event in South Florida in 2019. Hollywood Salsa Fest more than 10,000 salsa lovers! My dreams have come true it’s awesome.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No way nothing worth doing is smooth, my largest struggle has been believing in myself when no one else would and believing in this music. Believing that people love it when everyone is screaming REgeaton! Salsa will always live on its part of our DNA as Latinos. I can’t live without it I am a true salsera, cocola. Also, I had to learn how to be a business person it is very important to know your business learn every day and move forward.
Please tell us about your company.
My company creates salsa events for the public. We have the Hollywood Salsa Festival and the Miami Beach Salsa Festival for six years now. I also produce my records and videos. I’m my label and production company. I am so proud that I have been able to put an amazing team of artists, musicians, dancers and people that believe in our cause of keeping Salsa Music alive. We create free events along with the cities of Hollywood and Miami Beach so that the community can enjoy their culture and children and adults can have a platform to present their talents. That is what I am most proud of.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Of course my family my husband and especially my Best Friend and production partner Cristina Moinelo she has helped me and believed in me from the days I sang at Tapas and Tintos in South Beach now we produce Hollywood Salsa Fest together. I have many people that have helped me along the way … My musicians and producers. The people that always come to see me and that always follow me everywhere they keep me going they have always believed in me and I can’t let them down ever. I am also very grateful to the City Of Miami Beach and all the people that have helped me there to get my festivals going. Also the City of Hollywood. There are too many people to mention when you do something with value people want to be involved its always the case.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.melinaalmodovar.com
- Phone: 3053211087
- Email: Melinasalsa@gmail.com
- Instagram: @melinalamuneca
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/melinasalsa
- Twitter: @melinaalmodovar
Image Credit:
Aldalberto Boyer
Gil Garcia
Esmeralda Fernandez
Daniel Vega
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