José Alberto “El Canario”: His Life Story & the Secret Sauce Behind 50 Years of Salsa

José Alberto “El Canario” joins Honey German on Gracias, Come Again for a funny, heartfelt conversation about his life, his legendary salsa career and the stories behind the music. 🇩🇴🎶🎙️ Loved by generations of Latinos, the Dominican salsa icon takes us from his childhood in the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico at just seven years old, then to New York City in the ’70s, where he built the foundation for an extraordinary career. We revisit his early band days, his journey to becoming a solo artist, his Latin GRAMMY wins and 50 years in music, celebrated in 2025. From “Sueño Contigo” and “Discúlpeme Señora” to “Bailemos Otra Vez,” we’re talking about the songs that became part of our lives. ❤️ El Canario also shares how he earned his nickname, which means “the canary,” and the story behind his signature imaginary flute, including whether he actually practices it! 😂🪈 Plus, we get into love, marriage, his wife’s occasional jealousy, his skills in the kitchen and life in Florida. He’s so busy touring the world that he’s only used his pool once, for about 15 minutes! We also discuss the New Jersey street named in his honor, his upcoming October concert in Florida and the wisdom he shares in our Life Advice segment. Stories, laughs and lessons from one of salsa’s GOATs. Listen to Gracias, Come Again on iHeartRadio and watch the full José Alberto “El Canario” interview on YouTube. 🔥