Miami-Dade County Parks and Target Present a Free Live Concert Led by Salsa Legend Andy Harlow with the ''Charanga Time Band''
(MIAMI, January 30, 2014) – Dust off your dancing shoes as salsa music legend Andy Harlow brings along the “Charanga Time Band” for his return concert visit to Tropical Park on Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, 2014. The concert starts at 8:00 p.m. and admission and parking are free. This is the third of four free family-style concerts in the 2013-2014 Noches Tropicales concert series presented by the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department and sponsored by Target. The Noches Tropicales series was founded by Miami-Dade County District 10 Commissioner, Senator Javier D. Souto.
Harlow is a former member of the famed Fania All-Stars salsa band and is known the world-over for his reed and vibes playing. He leads the Charanga Time Band in playing “Charanga-style” salsa music, a tantalizing mix of spicy Latin rhythms that adds the elegance of trombones, violins and flute.
Harlow, whose hits have included “Tin Tin Deo,” “La Loteria,” and “Calle Ocho,” which he recorded in 1981 for Miami’s Calle Ocho Festival, remains active as a performer on the South Florida concert scene and hosts a Salsa/Latin Jazz radio show "Fusion Latina" on WDNA-FM 88.9 in South Florida. A regular feature of his show is the "Charanga Time" segment where the many styles of Charanga music are showcased.
Miami-Dade County Parks kicked off its free Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights 2013/2014 concert season with a star-studded Latin Jazz Gala concert at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium (MDCA) on September 20. The Gala concert was led by 10-time Grammy Award-winning percussionist Edwin Bonilla and his Latin Jazz All-Star Ensemble, and included musical performances by five-time Grammy winning violinist Federico Britos, legendary Cuban flutist Gustavo Cruz and vocalist Lucy Grau. These concerts were made possible by a $100,000 Knight Foundation grant to expand the Noches Tropicales concert series from its home base at Tropical Park to other venues throughout the County and taking on the name of “Tropical Nights”. The Knight Foundation grant will also fund the upcoming Wyle Fyah concert at Goulds Park on March 7.
The Noches Tropicales concerts at Tropical Park are made possible by a $75,000 grant from Target. The season’s finale will feature Tony Swing in concert at Tropical Park on April 4.
Noches Tropicales and Tropical Nights are produced each year by Miami-Dade Parks to bring communities closer together through the presentation of culturally diverse entertainment that is free and enjoyable for families. Now in its eighth year, Noches Tropicales, inaugurated by Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Senator Javier D. Souto, has showcased more than 30 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 45,000 patrons have attended Noches Tropicales concerts over the years.
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 Vivian Greer Digon at 305-271-0812 or visit Miami-Dade County Parks on the web at www.miamidade.gov/parks. To stay up to date on all future events, like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/miamidadeparks; and follow us on Twitter @miamidadeparks. You can also see past events on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/miamidadeparks.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor’s Sustained Excellence Award and 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/.
Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade 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.
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