Nelson Y Sus Estrellas – A Pedir de Boca (1977)

Nelson González Rojas, nicknamed by his peers as the "Emperor of Salsa" and recognized by Sony Music as one of the best of the Millennium, was a virtuoso Venezuelan pianist and arranger of salsa, tropical music, and other musical expressions. His orchestra, "Nelson y sus Estrellas," created songs that not only highlighted Hispanic American culture but also captured the attention of audiences around the world. Nelson David González Rojas was born on December 29, 1946, in the working-class neighborhood of Catia, Caracas, Venezuela. From childhood, he displayed exceptional musical talent, teaching himself to play the harp, guitar, and piano, which caught the attention of those close to him and encouraged him to pursue that path. Although he went on to study mathematics and physics at the Central University of Venezuela, he quickly realized that his true calling was music. For this reason, he decided to abandon his university studies to found, along with friends like Edgar Lara, Joe Balsa, and his younger brother, Luis Felipe, a small music school that trained young performers and eventually gave rise to the group "Nelson y sus Estrellas." The orchestra's name was derived from the quality of its members, but above all, to make it clear who the leader was.