Formed 1974, New York, New York State, U.S.A.
Disbanded 1982
The Salsoul Orchestra consisted of:
Charles Apollonia
John Bonnie
Edward Cascarella
Roger DeLillo
Don Renaldo
Jack Faith
Larry Gold
Carl Helm
Carlton 'Cotton' Kent
Rudolph Malizia
Vince Montana
Robert Moore
Peter Quintero
Christine Reeves
T.J. Tindall
Ron Tyson
Larry Washington
Earl Young
Phyllis Rhodes
and Vincent Montana, Jr.
In the same way that MFSB were the 'house orchestra' to Philadelphia International, the Salsoul Orchestra performed the same task for Salsoul Records.
In 1974, Vince Montana was introduced to local entrepreneurs Joe, Ken and Stan Cayre (who ran a local Latin music label) by Afro-Cuban pianist Joe Bataan.
Within the Salsoul Orchestra, it was predominantly Vince Montana who wrote, conducted and produced the orchestra from the mid-70's to the mid-'80's.
Some of their finer moments included 'Ooh I Love It (Love Break)' (1975), 'You're Just The Right Size' (1976), 'Salsoul 3001' (1976), 'Runaway' (1977), 'Christmas Time Medley' (1981), 'Take Some Time Out' (1982) and the Patrick Adams-produced 'Seconds' featuring Loleatta Holloway (1982).
With arrangers, conductors and whole sections of instruments (including up to 18 violinists), contributing to the sound, the Salsoul Orchestra routinely included up to 50 members.
The orchestra also played on numerous recordings for the label's other groups and artists such as Charo's 'Charo And The Salsoul Orchestra' (1977), including 'Dance A Little Bit Closer'.
Many Salsoul contributors played on some of the best disco tracks of their time, including Trammps, Grace Jones, the Whispers, Loleatta Holloway and First Choice.
After dismantling the Salsoul Orchestra in the early '80's, Vince Montana led the studio group Montana and recorded with several pop stars of the '80's as well as the '90s.
Though Salsoul records had long been out of print, several were brought back in the mid-'90's.
Many of the more recent 'house' music offerings owe more than a passing nod to the recordings of this orchestra.
Albums:
The Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul 1975)
Nice 'N' Naasty (Salsoul 1976)
Christmas Jollies (Salsoul 1976)
Magic Journey (Salsoul 1977)
Cuchi-Cuchi (Salsoul 1977)
Up the Yellow Brick Road (Salsoul 1978)
Greatest Disco Hits / Music for Non-Stop... (Salsoul 1978)
Street Sense (Salsoul 1979)
Christmas Jollies II (Salsoul 1981)
Anthology (Salsoul 1994)
The Best of the Salsoul Orchestra (Charly 1999)
