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For Immediate Release:
March 08, 2013
Media Contact:
Laura Phillips
[email protected]
305-755-7842

Miami-Dade County Parks Announces Free Dance Party Concert by Merengue Sensation ''Tony Swing'' at Tropical Park, Sponsored by Target

This is the finale performance for the 2012-2013 Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights free concert series


Don't miss this dance party under the stars featuring a live concert by Merengue music sensation Tony Swing on Friday, April 5th at Tropical Park, as part of the free Noches Tropicales concert series presented by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department, and sponsored by Target. The concert starts at 8:00 p.m. and offers a casual, family-style atmosphere with open field seating. Admission and parking are free for this event. This marks the finale performance in the 2012-2013 Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights concert series.

 

Tropical Park is located at 7900 SW 40 St., Miami. Noches Tropicales concert goers are encouraged to bring along a blanket, chairs and snacks to better enjoy the festivities. In the event of rain concerts may be cancelled. Concert performers are subject to change. For more information on Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights concerts, call 305-271-0812, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks .

With hit singles like “Hit the Dance Floor” and “The Swing Is Back,” Tony Swing's music is action packed and is all about the dancing and feeling the beat. His contagious and festive music style, embraces traditional merengue with “merengue ripiao,” adding a touch of urban flavor.

Born Juan Antonio Morales, Tony Swing is a veteran in the world of Dominican merengue. For more than 10 years he fronted many of the best internationally-known merengue bands, including Oro Solido and Pochy y su Cocoband. In 2000 Tony Swing launched his solo music career with a Showtime featured concert at New York City's Manhattan Center, alongside Latin music legend Tito Puente. He followed that with his first solo album Por Fin (At Last), which featured such favorites as “Cinderella” and “I Won't Quit.”

In addition to music career, Tony Swing has been active in numerous film and entertainment endeavors. He has worked alongside hip hop artists Frankie Negron, Method Man, and Big Pun in the movie Boricua's Bond, and is the former owner, manger and producer for the musical group Malkriados. He is currently an actor and producer for Niche Films.

The 2012-2013 Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights concert season featured an array of popular music artists including Elaine Hernandez, Magnum Band, Edwin Bonilla, TK Blu Band, Carlos Oliva and Los Sobrinos del Juez (The Judge's Nephews) and Velvet Rope.

In September Miami-Dade Parks kicked off the free “Noches Tropicales” 2012/2013 concert season with a Latin Jazz gala at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium that featured Grammy award-winning and nominated artists Joan Cartwright, Nicole Yarling, Carlos Averhoff, Kiki Sanchez, Elaine Hernandez, Andy Harlow, Niki Orta, Reinier Guerra, and Daniel Berroa. The gala and the expanded concert line-up was made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to expand the Noches Tropicales concert series from its home base at Tropical Park to other venues throughout the County.

The 2012-2013 Noches Tropicales concert series also received a $75,000 grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT). The grant is part of Target's ongoing efforts to build strong, safe and healthy communities across the country. These efforts include Target's long history of giving 5 percent of its income to communities, which today equals more than $3 million every week. As part of this commitment, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015 to help kids learn, schools teach and parents and caring adults engage. To date Target has provided more than $300,000 in cultural grant funds in support of Noches Tropicales.

Now in its seventh year, Noches Tropicales, inaugurated by Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Sen. Javier D. Souto, has showcased more than 20 evening concerts at Tropical Park that have included traditional Cuban contemporary music and zarzuelas, Argentinean tango, Brazilian Jazz, and a Spanish-language version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. More than 40,000 patrons have attended Noches Tropicales concerts over the years.

About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award and winner of the 2009 Florida Governor's Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land.  It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world.  Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more.  For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.

About The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County's world-class parks system for residents and visitors.  Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities.  For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation.