Name: Corwin Jackson

Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana

Current Residence: Salt Lake city, UT

Occupation: Customer Service Agent, Delta Airlines

 Before I tell my story of how I came into contact with Latin Music and the Salsa scene, I first would like to thank Maria Ivanova and Eduardo Santos for giving me the opportunity of contributing to this wonderful web page. I抦 having a fun time doing this, so let抯 keep the ball rolling. Anything for the betterment of our Salsa community here in Utah, I抦 down for. Mil abrazos y besos a ustedes.

 My introduction to Latin Music and the Salsa scene go hand in hand. It was the summer of 1995, and up until that time, I knew little or nothing about Latin Music, or dancing Salsa, until friends introduced me to it. To be very honest, my only exposure to these art forms were either through my studies in the Spanish classes I was taking while attending college, or, from watching Spanish television.

 Upon my studies, I came upon none other than, 揈l Rey Del Timbal, Tito Puente? A friend of mine, Manahi Kewene, from New Zealand, gave me a CD of his to play, so I can get a feel for his music, and after listening to the 揅uban Carnival?CD, I was hooked. The transformation for me was completed when Manahi took me to see him live in concert at the Zephyr Club, in downtown Salt Lake City, UT later in the year, 1995.

 He didn抰 have an opening act; it was just he and his orchestra. I was blown away by his showmanship and ability to keep the crowd moving. The sounds and rhythms were different from anything I抳e ever heard, and it just made you wants to get up and move. l He played for nearly 3 hours that night and from that moment on, I was on the hunt to find any Tito Puente CD ever made. Upon my journey, I stumbled across other artists, besides Tito, Like Johnny Pacheco, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, and so on, and so on. From that point on, my CD collection has grown, and has continued to grow to this day. I抦 amazed at how there抯 soo much out there, and just when you thought there wasn抰 more, there always is.

 Another friend of mine introduced me to dancing Salsa from New Zealand named Lynda Burgess (nee Kamphius) in 1996. Before coming to the States, Lynda ran one of the best dance companies in New Zealand, and was one of its?top female performers at the time. I was a little hesitant at first, but once I started learning from her, I was at ease. I learned the basics and a few moves from her, but I was still into Hip Hop dancing at the time, so dancing Salsa took a back seat. I also had fears of embarrassing myself on the dance floor, and having the confidence to lead and take care of a lady on the dance floor.

 Even though I couldn抰 overcome my fears of dancing Salsa, I still kept listening to the music. My horizons were expanding and listening to the music was helping me a ton. Sadly enough, Lynda left Salt Lake City, UT in late 1996. I was sad to see her go, knowing if I would hear from her or see her ever again. Fast-forward 3 years to 1999. Thanks to mutual friends of Lynda and me, we reconnected ourselves with one another. She was back in New Zealand, picked up where she left off and was doing well. I was very happy to reconnect with her again.

 The third time I went to New Zealand to visit her, which was in November, 2000; I finally overcame my fear and got the courage to dance Salsa. She and her dancers from her team called Latin Fever Dance Company got me reacquainted with the basics once again, and taught me some more moves. When I returned home to Salt Lake City, UT, I was eager to go to any club that had a Latin Night. From Thursday to Saturday, I was dancing and meeting lots of new people and some of the best dancers in the area at the time.

 At the clubs, I was observing the best dancers and I was able to pick up moves very quickly, plus, add my own style to it a little. I guess al those years of dancing Hip Hop sure paid off. Since November 2000, I抳e attended Salsa Congresses in various parts of the United States, and in the Caribbean. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever thought that after 5 years, I would still be dancing Salsa, but I am, and still having fun.

 As far as Djing is concerned, I kind of fell into it by accident. It was in the fall of 2003, and my good friend, Felix Zurita, asked me to assist him at a birthday party for a fellow salsera here in Salt Lake City, UT. I抳e never done anything like this before ever, but once I got instructions on how to work the D. J. equipment, I fell in love with it. Since that time, I抳e DJ-ed at many after parties in the Salt Lake City area, and down in Provo, UT. I抳e also had the opportunity of Djing alongside Utah抯 most popular Latin D.J.?at various clubs in the Salt Lake City area, and with two of Los Angeles, CA抯 finest D.J.s, D.J.抯 Karloz, and Victor Rumbero, at the first annual Utah Salsa Congress, which was held in Salt Lake City, UT, Labor Day Weekend, Sep., 2005. I抦 very much a baby in the D.J. arena, and to be very honest, I don抰 even think of myself as one. I抦 just a person who loves music, and I抦 very grateful for the support I抳e received from my fellow salseros. I抣l continue to do what I can to bring a little bit of unity and happiness to our community.

 In closing, I would like to thank the salseros here in Utah and in other parts of the world for their support. Keep the faith, all of you, and lets continue to support our scene and one another in all aspects of this wonderful art form to the bst of our abilities. Shout-outs go to the D.J.s here in Utah: Coque, Azuquita, N-vision, Oscar, Luis and Hector from GDL, and Panama. In Los Angeles, CA: D.J.抯 Karloz, Victor Rumbero, Frank, Zonik (a.k.a. Picosito), Robby, and my good friend down in Phoenix, AZ, Latin Lady D.J. Margarita. Thanks to al of you for your knowledge抯 and wisdoms that you all have provided for me. I cherish them very much, and I look forward to working with you all at events in the upcoming future. And last, but not least, all of this would not be possible without two very special people, Manahi Kewene, and Lynda Burgess (nee Kammphius). You guys and the country of New Zealand, hold special places in my heart. You all have given me a gift that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Without you all, I wouldn抰 be doing this right now. Until next time, may your pleasures by plenty and your troubles be few. See you all on the dance floor. Love, Peace, Chicken Grease, and I抦 out.