Profile of Roy Brown, one of Puerto Rico's most lyrical Nuefva Cancion musicians.

by Shel Horowitz

"Salsa is a formula, merengue is a formula. Nueva Cancion is a formula," says Roy Brown, the feisty Independentista whose music has often been labeled Nueva Cancion. "They create these marshmallow fillings in people. You write a song like that, you get on the radio. We refuse to fit into that formula. "

Back in his native Puerto Rico after 12 years in New York, Brown, 44, may not be topping the charts, but he's still singing his heart out after 20 years. Brown's topics include Puerto Rican independence, struggles in South Africa and Palestine, love and relationships, the environment...and settings for the great Spanish-language poets: Lorca, Neruda--and Puerto Rican poets such as Juan Antonio Corretjer. "His poetry is very musical. You read his poetry and you feel you know Puerto Rico better."

Brown's audience both in Puerto Rico and on the mainland continues to grow. "My audience is people who are discovering me now, and people who discovered me 20 years ago. Now in Puerto Rico a lot of people come to me and say 'I've never seen you before, I've always heard about you.'"

Brown expects eventually to be more well known, but is not putting faith in the media to take him there. "The community keeps in touch with culture through television and commercial radio stations, which are controlled by people who are not favorable to my views: that you have to have a strong cultural identity, you have to develop an artistic perspective, and a sense of independence and strength."

Brown's 10th album, "Balado de Otro Tiempo," features musicians he calls "among the best on their instruments in Puerto Rico." He continues to grow musically and politically. "I have a route that I decided I would follow when I was young, and I continue that road. And my songs still have a direction."

Written by Shel Horowitz (1989).

Shel Horowitz, Editor of Global Travel Review and owner of FrugalFun.com, is the author of the e-book, The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook, and the creator of the Ethical Business Pledge campaign.

To visit the most important pages on our site, make a selection from the drop-down menu below. If your browser doesn't automatically take you there, please click on "Visit Now!"

Shel Horowitz's book, "The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook" will save you hundreds of dollars on FUN...every year... for the rest of your life! learn how to travel to exotic places with zero lodging cost... fly for about a quarter of the published fare... eat in fabulous restaurants for $10 or less... This site is brought to you by Shel Horowitz and Dina Friedman, Directors of Accurate Writing & More--bringing you marketing, writing, and career assistance since 1981. (800) 683-WORD or (413) 586-2388 http://www.frugalfun.com http://www.frugalmarketing.com/ http://www.accuratewriting.com/ http://www.principledprofit.com/

Subscribe--FREE! Frugal Fun Tips Money-saving tips to help you enjoy more travel, arts & entertainment, dining, and more--and spend less to do it! Frugal Marketing Tips Be more effective and spend less on marketing. Covers media publicity, copywriting, Internet marketing, speaking, advertising, direct mail, in-person selling, and much more. Positive Power of Principled Profit Profiles of businesses that are succeeding through high ethics and extraordinary commitment to their customers. Reviews of books on business ethics and customer service. Book Marketing Tip of the Month Pledge-Signer Pow-wow An occasional update (probably two or three times a year) on Shel's campaign to change the world and make future Enron scandals impossible. You must be a pledge-signer in order tor receive this newsletter. Our Privacy Policy Read Back Issues: Frugal Fun Tips Frugal Marketing Tips Writing Advice Positive Power of Principled Profit