The renowned Puerto Rican salsa artist Tito Nieves, who is celebrating his 50 years of artistic career with a world tour, expressed that he finds it amusing the public perception that salsa "revived" thanks to the inclusion of tracks of this genre in Bad Bunny's latest album, as, according to him, salsa has never been in a state of "death." During a press conference at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, where he will perform on May 17 as part of his tour '50 Years – The History,' Nieves shared his opinion on the matter.
The artist, known as 'The Pavarotti of Salsa,' referred to the success of the song 'Baile Inolvidable,' which Bad Bunny included in his album 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' and has accumulated over 300 million streams on Spotify. Nieves pointed out that he has defended salsa in online discussions where it is considered an outdated genre, while legendary figures like Willie Rosario, Rafael Ithier, Bobby Valentín, and Bobby Cruz, all over 80 years old, remain active in the music scene.
Regarding his own career, Tito Nieves expressed his desire to continue performing on stage until an old age, taking Willie Rosario's longevity as an example. He also praised urban artists like Rauw Alejandro and Guaynaa for including salsa themes in their productions and expressed his interest in collaborating with them and with other talented younger salsa artists from Puerto Rico like Christian Alicea, Norberto Vélez, Gerardo Rivas, and Carlos García.
Nieves' upcoming performance in San Juan on May 17 will be his first as a soloist in the most important concert hall on the island. The tour '50 Years – The History' will also include concerts in different cities of the United States, Latin America, and Europe, following successful performances in Florida and New Jersey, with upcoming dates in Spain, Mexico, and Colombia.
Tito Nieves, raised in New York but born in Puerto Rico, emphasized his commitment to remain on stage as long as his voice and health allow him, indicating that he will only consider retiring if these conditions are affected. With a career that includes being a background singer for Héctor Lavoe and lead vocalist for El Conjunto Clásico, the salsa artist reaffirmed his passion and dedication to music, stating that he has no intentions of stopping as long as he can continue delighting his audience with his talent and energy.
