Willie Colon to Emcee Opening Night of El Museo's Summer Nights Concert Series

Willie Colon to Emcee Opening Night of El Museo's Summer Nights Concert Series

Salsa Star and NYC & Company Ambassador Will Introduce Legendary Bandleader Johnny Pacheco at Free Live Concert

NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Latin music stars Willie Colon and Johnny Pacheco will be on hand at the opening night of El Museo del Barrio's Summer Nights at El Museo concert series. Willie Colon-representing NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism organization of New York City-will act as emcee and introduce Johnny Pacheco y Su Tumbao who will be performing at El Museo's historic Teatro Heckscher from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 21.

"Willie has been an integral part of NYC & Company's marketing efforts for some time, and we are very happy to have him on board to help promote New York City," said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. "There is something here for everyone, and events like El Museo del Barrio's Summer Nights only reinforce New York City as a cultural and musical haven. My sincere hope is that New Yorkers and visitors alike will take the opportunity and explore the city and its many attractions."

Willie Colon has 11 GRAMMY nominations, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, one GRAMMY and 15 gold and five platinum records. He has collaborated with such musical greats as Hector LaVoe, Ruben Blades and Celia Cruz.

"It is an honor to be introducing my dear friend Johnny Pacheco on opening night," said Willie Colon. "The Summer Nights series is a great showcase for some of the world's best Latin musical talent, and you can find it right here in my hometown-the world's greatest city-New York City. I hope everyone, from die-hard Salsa fans to people just wanting to try something new, get a chance to come to El Museo this summer and experience the fun and excitement."

Summer Nights will take place on 10 consecutive Thursday evenings, beginning tomorrow with Johnny Pacheco and ending on August 23 with the Venezuelan fusion band Los Amigos Invisibles. The free concert series will highlight the diversity of contemporary Latin music. The concerts will alternate every week between more traditional salseros, like Tito Puente, Jr., Plena Libre and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and new musical talent, such as CIRCO, Pistolera and Pacha Massive.

Teatro Heckscher of El Museo del Barrio is located at 1230 Fifth Avenue between 104th and 105th Streets, for information please call 212-831-7272 or visit www.elmuseo.org.

About NYC & Company

NYC & Company is the official marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

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Source: NYC & Company

CONTACT: Kimberly Spell or Ernesto Freire, +1-212-484-1270,
press@nycvisit.com, both of NYC & Company; or Lauren Van Natten of El Museo
del Barrio, +1-212-660-7102, lvannatten@elmuseo.org

Web site:

http://www.elmuseo.org/

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