“Talk to me a little harshly because I'm half deaf,” the great Melcochita tells us in his classic sense of humor. He is 87 years old, he is accompanied by his wife and his two youngest daughters. And the reason is festive, since the sonero, who has been dedicated to music for 60 years and with 20 recorded albums, has set up his own orchestra with which he sees a long-awaited dream to be able to fulfill performances in the facet, in which, he assures, he feels like a fish in water: that of sonero.
“Before people knew me as a comedian, I made music. And thank God I have stepped on the biggest stages in the world, and not only that, but I was also the first Latino to be on Letterman's show.” Pablo Villanueva – his real name – refers to the year 1983, when he became the first Latino and the only Peruvian to be invited to the famous program 'Late Night' by the legendary television host David Letterman.
Is your own orchestra something you dreamed of?
Mr. Mauricio (Diez Canseco) knows that I am more sonero than comedian. And he suggested that I create my own orchestra with choirs so that I could be on stage myself (laughs). You know that comedy is a little bad now, they talk a lot of rude things, it has changed a lot and it's not like before. Easy humor is used with pure flatness, but that's the way the world goes and there are people who like it. But I distance myself from that environment and it's not that I think it's cool, but that I don't like it. So I will be very happy performing with my own orchestra on the Rústica chain.
Tributes are made in life. What are the tributes that you hold dear?
Wow, I have been known all over the world. I am in the Salsa Museum in New York, I also have a bust in Cali and I was marshal of the parade in New York on July 28. And soon they will pay me a tribute in Puerto Rico with all the brave ones. For me, a tribute was also the moment with Letterman, in which I knew how to only say 'yes'. Then other Latinos have gone, but it has not been the same. And how can I forget that I have shared the stage with Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Johnny Pacheco and other great ones.
Do you think Peru has treated you as you deserve?
I can't complain, I have received a lot of love from Peruvians inside and outside the country. Many people love me, although not all because the radio never played a song of mine.
Why do you think that?
Because you have to pay. Unfortunately, they do not know how to classify one who is exporting the Peruvian flag around the world.
He points out that today easy laughter and flattery are popular, which is why he is removed from comedy.
Do you feel like an ambassador, a prophet in your land?
Of course. No Peruvian has achieved what I have in the world. I am a prophet in my land because the people love me, adore me, but sometimes the profit of certain people tries to cloud that.
What did Melcochita say about Daniela Darcourt and Yahaira Plasencia?
Would you like to show up and fill, perhaps, a National Stadium like Group 5 does?
!Of course! I can fill the National Stadium as long as it has its respective propaganda and if the radios play my songs, which add up to 70 salsas that I have recorded.
Which salsa voices in Peru could you recognize?
To Cartagena, to Willy Rivera, who stand out for making their own music and not that of others. For women, the 'Totó' (Yahaira Plasencia) and Daniela (Darcourt)
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