Tito Nieves explains why salsa was not 'revived' thanks to Bad Bunny for success of latest album

At a press conference held at the Puerto Rico Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rican salsa singer Tito Nieves, nicknamed 'The Pavarotti of Salsa', commented on public opinion statements that attribute to Bad Bunny having "revived" salsa.

Nieves, who is currently celebrating 50 years in the music industry with her world tour '50 Years - The Story', responded to these statements with humor.

"I feel very happy, but it makes me laugh because they often say that it was revived, but salsa has never been dead," Nieves said. The artist stressed that, although the inclusion of the genre in Bad Bunny's latest album, specifically in the song 'Baile Inolvidable' —which has more than 300 million plays on Spotify— has captured attention, salsa has always remained relevant.

Nieves also highlighted the continued contribution of legendary figures of the genre such as Willie Rosario, Rafael Ithier, Bobby Valentín and Bobby Cruz, who, despite being over 80 years old, still perform live. "I would also like to be up there until I'm 100 years old," he said, referring to the longevity on stage enjoyed by these legends.

In addition to the old glories, the salsero mentioned younger urban artists such as Rauw Alejandro and Guaynaa, who have experimented with salsa in their musical projects . Nieves himself expressed his interest in collaborating with them on future productions.

The veteran singer also praised emerging Puerto Rican salseros such as Christian Alicea, Norberto Vélez, Gerardo Rivas and Carlos García, highlighting the rich reserve of talent on the island. "There is a quantity and quality of talent here, from the patio," he said.

Nieves is preparing for a special performance in San Juan on May 17, marking his first appearance as a solo artist in Puerto Rico's main concert hall, although he has previously participated as a guest of other musicians of the genre.

The '50 Years - History' tour will take him to several cities in the United States, Latin America and Europe, having already performed concerts in Florida and New Jersey, where he delighted his fans with performances lasting more than three hours and a repertoire of more than thirty songs. He will soon perform in Spain, Mexico and Colombia.

The artist, born in Puerto Rico but raised in New York from an early age, shared reflections on his life and career, which included being a backing vocalist for the legendary Héctor Lavoe and the lead singer of El Conjunto Clásico.

Concluding on a personal and determined note, Nieves assured that she has no plans to retire from the stage unless her health and voice prevent her from doing so. "As long as I have a voice and health, I will not retire," she concluded, making it clear that her passion for music is as alive as ever.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from EFE, and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.