The long-lasting L.A. nightclub the Conga Room closed its doorways for a closing time Wednesday night time, however not earlier than filling its partitions with one final celebration of Latin music. Drink glasses clinked. Arms clapped. Attire swayed to the exuberant beats.
The night time, hosted by founder Brad Gluckstein and co-investors Paul Rodriguez and Jimmy Smits, featured reside performances, together with a jam session that includes salsero Jerry Rivera, Latin soul performer Andy Vargas, reggaeton singer-songwriter Blessd and a set by salsa legend Gilberto Santa Rosa, generally known as El Caballero de salsa.
“Gilberto Santa Rosa might be the next-in-line residing legend behind Celia [Cruz],” Gluckstein stated in an interview previous the occasion. “To bookend the Conga Room in tropical music, with Celia to open [in 1998] and Gilberto Santa Rosa to shut, has particular significance for me.”
Dancers take pleasure in themselves on the Conga Room throughout a farewell present after 25 years in enterprise.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles)
Salsa has at all times been a beloved providing of the venue regardless of its fame as a pan-Latin hub of music and leisure. “If the blues have been born in New Orleans and the South — they took a observe and blew it via a horn,” stated Rodriguez, standing onstage sporting a pinstriped go well with and his signature fedora. “However salsa was a beat that they picked up on the street. And so they wore it down so lengthy that they put it in a conga and that’s the place salsa started.”
At its top within the mid-aughts, the Conga Room loved a standing akin to that of Planet Hollywood or the Sundown Strip Home of Blues — an intimate venue the place Angelenos might go to drink, take pleasure in reside music and possibly even rub shoulders with a star or two.
The confluence of well-known buyers like Smits, Rodriguez, Jennifer Lopez and drummer and percussionist Sheila E and the celebrity-obsessed tradition of the ’90s and noughties made the Conga Room an emblem of L.A. nightlife.
“It was good to have the movie star affect, particularly in a metropolis like Los Angeles, nevertheless it was at all times concerning the music,” stated Gluckstein.
Dancers take pleasure in themselves on the closing farewell occasion.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)
Footwear sparkled on stage.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles)
Over the course of 25 years, from its authentic Wilshire Boulevard location to its closing L.A. Stay outpost, the Conga Room has provided reside reveals earlier than packed audiences. However the enterprise mannequin was destabilized affected by the pandemic when the membership’s regulars struggled to maintain up with the price of residing, not to mention an evening out. And the place as soon as some artists have been content material to carry out intimate units in small and midsize venues, many now prioritizes larger venues and larger budgets.
“The price of artists ratcheted up considerably after the pandemic,” stated Gluckstein. “After the pandemic, artist royalties and monetization grew to become singularly about concert events. Nationwide excursions grew to become the best precedence for artists, and we have been simply not in a position to compete.
“In fact I’m emotional over the closing. However what’s introduced up for me shouldn’t be disappointment however an consciousness that had been misplaced over a few years of the inspiration behind the unique Conga Room. In the end, it turns into a enterprise, and also you lose that consciousness typically.”
Actor Edward James Olmos, white hat, was in attendance on the Conga Room throughout its farewell present.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles)
The farewell celebration kicked off with a dance presentation by a dozen of the Conga Children, spanning salsa, cumbia, the Charleston and hip-hop. The African diaspora dance curriculum and nonprofit group has reached 50,000 underserved elementary faculty college students throughout L.A. and Orange counties over the past 10 years.
“I might say one of many pivotal the reason why the Conga Room is closing is that my consideration has been on the impression we’re having on [Conga] youngsters,” stated Gluckstein. “It’s a music and dance program, however the takeaway for the youngsters is much more.”
The night time was additionally attended by a handful of notable figures, together with legendary labor rights chief Dolores Huerta and actors Edward James Olmos and Constance Marie.
Elected officers, together with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California and former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made remarks and reminisced concerning the membership’s 25-year run. Gov. Gavin Newsom was there in spirit, having pre-taped a video message that was broadcast onstage. A lifetime achievement award was introduced to actor Renée Victor earlier than the night time gave option to music and dancing.
Visitors pose for images on the Conga Room throughout its farewell present.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles)
“I imagine very steadfastly that it is going to be arduous to copy a Conga Room,” stated Gluckstein. “I imagine we’re the Troubadour or the Apollo of Latin music. I feel it’d be arduous for a venue to copy a 25-year run just like the Conga Room or the Apollo or the Troubadour. It’s now an underplay when an artist decides to play a venue like this, whereas for us, for the primary 20 years, it was a staple of our weekly presentation.”
“It’s been a love affair with you, Conga Room, and we are going to all miss you dearly, however the drumbeat will reside on in our hearts and thru Conga Children,” Gluckstein stated onstage. “Gracias, por siempre.”
