La Diva del Sabor:
Choco Orta

Sonera,percussionist, dancer and actress - this is Choco Orta. I called to schedule an interview and it turned out that 'right now' was the best time. Had I eaten? No, so I was invited for a meal. Off I headed to San Turce. I was greeted by the diva herself, ushered in for a meal and as it turned out, lots of conversation and music. The walls of Choco's loft are filled with photos from her career as an actress, dancer, musican and one of Puerto Rico's most talented vocalists on the music scene. They include photos at the Puerto Rican Parade in New York, with Tito Puente and awards she has received for her participation in festivals and shows.

Q: Fill us in on your background and this wonderful video I just watched.
Choco Orta: The video includes a clip of my first performance at the Copa Cabana in New York this past November. I was accompained by Richie Gonzalez's orchestra. It was a great show and heard on La Mega radio station in NYC. I started to dance when I was 10 years old. My mother put me in modern, jazz, ballet and flamenco classes. After that, I auditioned for 'The True History of Pedro Navaja' as a dancer. Once I played the guitar they accepted me. The play ran for 250 uninterupted presentations. I did rumba and mambo. I have some videos of that night. I've always collected material from the performances I've done.

Q: Where were you born?
CO: I was born here in San Turce, Puerto Rico, in this very house. I grew up here. I lived in New York for a year but I didn't like it so I came back here to my barrio.

Q: Did you have music teachers when you were younger or did you just start playing on your own?
CO: My brother, my youngest one, was a drummer. He used to practice every day, 4-5 hours. He still does. He has lived in Florida now for 20 years. I used to listen and I guess I picked things up from him. My mother, Andrea Rodriquez, could sing very well. My father also plays the guitar, which I showed him how to do. So, there has always been a lot of music around me. My real name is Virgen Milagros. They call me Choco because of the color of my skin.

Q: When did you decide to pursue a professional career in music?
CO: Well, after I did that play, everyone started seeking me out to do theater parts. We had a group of seven women, called La Bohemes. We wore clothes from 1948 and sang songs from that era. They asked me to play the congas to add to the act and dance. Then I started to study theater and music at the Conservatory of Puerto Rico. Now, I focus on singing salsa.

Q: Who have been some of your influences?
CO: A lot of Cuban women singers. I've been studying women in salsa and in Puerto Rico. We have soneras and salsa singers too. But there aren't many. Mirta Sliva, a maracera, Rue Fernandez, 80 years old now, from Ponce. Yes, she was just in the paper. They could sing but they are not doing what I am doing. My inspiration is Celeste Mendoza. Cuba has more women in this area as soneras than we do. I admire Celiz Cruz, Elena Burke, Ormaru Portuonda - a lot of influence in my work from these women. Another one who inspired me a lot is Barbara Striesand. I admire her a lot.

Q: What happened after you studied?
CO: While studying acting I always invented things. After La Bohemes, I played the congas and had a bassist and a pianist and I sang. Then I had a quartet, then a quintet and then last year, my CD,' Sentimento y Sabor' came out on MP. It is my first recording.

Q: How has it been working in the music industry as a woman? Not only do you sing but you play and play well.
CO: Well, as you know our philosophy of life, which is deep and full of interruptions, this is a deep question. It has been a struggle. I have to think like men. But I have to bring something else to the stage. I performed at the Copa Cabana in NYC. They don't usually let women in the dressing room downstairs. So I walked in, their [the musicians] language was coarse. As soon as I entered, they stopped, but I just said 'Hey, what's going on?' and they realized it was OK and they continued. It is not that I want to be like them [the men] because I do represent women. In this case I wanted to let them know I can do things myself and in the way I want to. When I used to go to Loiza and bring my congas to practice, I used to ask to sing at the rumba. The guys would be singing and I used to be in the back and they would never listen. So one time I started singing quite forcefully from the back (at this point, Choco sang a sone) - they saw I could sing and I went up to the front and said:'Where are my congas that I brought to play?' Someone else was using them. They were returned to me. I realize no one can take conga playing away from me even if it is men's music. I realize it is my instrument and something I really want to do. I can play as a woman, be myself and everything is fine. So with my career, I try and teach in a humble manner what I as a woman am capable of doing. I can play the same or better than a man. This is my main point of view. It is a psycological war. Many people, men and women, don't understand what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to express myself. I'm trying to show others how it is possible for me as a woman to get this all done.

Q: Has there been more acceptance?
CO: Yes, little by little. There is a combination of things. You have to be polite and delicate but aggressive at the same time. I let them know I won’t bend and they had better be careful. There are so many things I've been working with. Like saying thank you, or 'you are good at that'. Just being intelligent and honest. I don't drink or do drugs and I've been a vegetarian for 9 years.

I consider my body a temple. I graduated as a teacher from the Univeristy of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, cum laude. I have to be clean, spirtually and physcialy so I can give the most when I perform and in life. I always talk nicely about people even if is difficult - I try to say things that are positive for others. In that way, it has been good for me. I meet a lot of people. I have a lot of friends everywhere. For a long time I have been marking the path for where I want to go. It is not that easy. There are a lot of people that focus on something. When you start walking on that road, you see it is not as easy as you thought. Ideas are simple. But to make them materlize, you see how difficult that can be. People pay for ideas because that is the most important thing. But ideas don't always work out. I have many people around me who give me all sorts of warnings about how to take care of things. I've had hard moments but that is part of the path so I'm dealing with it all. In all situations I try and be nice. If I respect what you are doing, why should I be disrespectful? I admire what people can do. Why not? Once you step on what someone can do, then there are problems. I try and stay away from that.

Q: Tell us about the recent performance you were in last week, here in Puerto Rico.
CO: There was a Christmas show, Homanaje al Metisas. A lot of well-known artists from Puerto Rico like Chuoho Avellanet, Nidia Cara, Cesar Ferandez, an opera singer were included and they invited myslef and some other newer artists. I sang three songs. It was in Cuaguas, south on the island. I was accompanied by Milton Sesenton's orchestra. It was a great experience because this was televised and seen all over the island.

Q: People know you from singing salsa and playing music and now they see you in this venue.
CO: I sang the Christmas song called 'The Little Drumers' so people saw that I could also sing choral or classical music and with feeling. (Choco demonstrated a moving rendition.)

I was also invited to the 124th comemeration of the Puerto Rican flag. I went there with Chucho Avellanet. It was very nice, something different.

Q: What direction are you headed with your career?
CO: I want to continue with singing as long as God keeps helping me. He has been helping me all along. I want to continue and focus and be a sonera. I performed in the movie, Angelito Mio, and I receive a royalty check every 13 weeks. So I have been around as an actress. I've been asked to do theatre, but it is not for me right now. I want to focus on my music. Perhaps in a few years I will do some theater. Now, I just want to sing. I enjoy it so much.

And sing she must! Choco is an amazing performer as I had the chance to witness a few times while in Puerto Rico. Everywhere we went people recognized her. Choco's energy is infectious, her strong, alto voice and sones have great feeling and look out when she hits those congas! One of the video clips I saw was Choco playing congas while Tito Puente played timables - she would not let him stop!

Above: Choco with Jerry Medina, Jerry Gonzalez and Cachete Maldonado

I thanked Choco for her time. Look for her on the New York scene this year and with any luck, we will get her out here to California.
Listen to a sound byte from her CD 'Sentimiento y Sabor' . Make sure and pick up a copy!

Interview and photos ©2000 by Julia Sewell.
Photos courtesy of Choco Orta.

La Diva del Sabor:
Choco Orta

Sonera,percussionist, dancer and actress - this is Choco Orta. I called to schedule an interview and it turned out that 'right now' was the best time. Had I eaten? No, so I was invited for a meal. Off I headed to San Turce. I was greeted by the diva herself, ushered in for a meal and as it turned out, lots of conversation and music. The walls of Choco's loft are filled with photos from her career as an actress, dancer, musican and one of Puerto Rico's most talented vocalists on the music scene. They include photos at the Puerto Rican Parade in New York, with Tito Puente and awards she has received for her participation in festivals and shows.

Q: Fill us in on your background and this wonderful video I just watched.
Choco Orta: The video includes a clip of my first performance at the Copa Cabana in New York this past November. I was accompained by Richie Gonzalez's orchestra. It was a great show and heard on La Mega radio station in NYC. I started to dance when I was 10 years old. My mother put me in modern, jazz, ballet and flamenco classes. After that, I auditioned for 'The True History of Pedro Navaja' as a dancer. Once I played the guitar they accepted me. The play ran for 250 uninterupted presentations. I did rumba and mambo. I have some videos of that night. I've always collected material from the performances I've done.

Q: Where were you born?
CO: I was born here in San Turce, Puerto Rico, in this very house. I grew up here. I lived in New York for a year but I didn't like it so I came back here to my barrio.

Q: Did you have music teachers when you were younger or did you just start playing on your own?
CO: My brother, my youngest one, was a drummer. He used to practice every day, 4-5 hours. He still does. He has lived in Florida now for 20 years. I used to listen and I guess I picked things up from him. My mother, Andrea Rodriquez, could sing very well. My father also plays the guitar, which I showed him how to do. So, there has always been a lot of music around me. My real name is Virgen Milagros. They call me Choco because of the color of my skin.

Q: When did you decide to pursue a professional career in music?
CO: Well, after I did that play, everyone started seeking me out to do theater parts. We had a group of seven women, called La Bohemes. We wore clothes from 1948 and sang songs from that era. They asked me to play the congas to add to the act and dance. Then I started to study theater and music at the Conservatory of Puerto Rico. Now, I focus on singing salsa.

Q: Who have been some of your influences?
CO: A lot of Cuban women singers. I've been studying women in salsa and in Puerto Rico. We have soneras and salsa singers too. But there aren't many. Mirta Sliva, a maracera, Rue Fernandez, 80 years old now, from Ponce. Yes, she was just in the paper. They could sing but they are not doing what I am doing. My inspiration is Celeste Mendoza. Cuba has more women in this area as soneras than we do. I admire Celiz Cruz, Elena Burke, Ormaru Portuonda - a lot of influence in my work from these women. Another one who inspired me a lot is Barbara Striesand. I admire her a lot.

Q: What happened after you studied?
CO: While studying acting I always invented things. After La Bohemes, I played the congas and had a bassist and a pianist and I sang. Then I had a quartet, then a quintet and then last year, my CD,' Sentimento y Sabor' came out on MP. It is my first recording.

Q: How has it been working in the music industry as a woman? Not only do you sing but you play and play well.
CO: Well, as you know our philosophy of life, which is deep and full of interruptions, this is a deep question. It has been a struggle. I have to think like men. But I have to bring something else to the stage. I performed at the Copa Cabana in NYC. They don't usually let women in the dressing room downstairs. So I walked in, their [the musicians] language was coarse. As soon as I entered, they stopped, but I just said 'Hey, what's going on?' and they realized it was OK and they continued. It is not that I want to be like them [the men] because I do represent women. In this case I wanted to let them know I can do things myself and in the way I want to. When I used to go to Loiza and bring my congas to practice, I used to ask to sing at the rumba. The guys would be singing and I used to be in the back and they would never listen. So one time I started singing quite forcefully from the back (at this point, Choco sang a sone) - they saw I could sing and I went up to the front and said:'Where are my congas that I brought to play?' Someone else was using them. They were returned to me. I realize no one can take conga playing away from me even if it is men's music. I realize it is my instrument and something I really want to do. I can play as a woman, be myself and everything is fine. So with my career, I try and teach in a humble manner what I as a woman am capable of doing. I can play the same or better than a man. This is my main point of view. It is a psycological war. Many people, men and women, don't understand what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to express myself. I'm trying to show others how it is possible for me as a woman to get this all done.

Q: Has there been more acceptance?
CO: Yes, little by little. There is a combination of things. You have to be polite and delicate but aggressive at the same time. I let them know I won’t bend and they had better be careful. There are so many things I've been working with. Like saying thank you, or 'you are good at that'. Just being intelligent and honest. I don't drink or do drugs and I've been a vegetarian for 9 years.

I consider my body a temple. I graduated as a teacher from the Univeristy of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, cum laude. I have to be clean, spirtually and physcialy so I can give the most when I perform and in life. I always talk nicely about people even if is difficult - I try to say things that are positive for others. In that way, it has been good for me. I meet a lot of people. I have a lot of friends everywhere. For a long time I have been marking the path for where I want to go. It is not that easy. There are a lot of people that focus on something. When you start walking on that road, you see it is not as easy as you thought. Ideas are simple. But to make them materlize, you see how difficult that can be. People pay for ideas because that is the most important thing. But ideas don't always work out. I have many people around me who give me all sorts of warnings about how to take care of things. I've had hard moments but that is part of the path so I'm dealing with it all. In all situations I try and be nice. If I respect what you are doing, why should I be disrespectful? I admire what people can do. Why not? Once you step on what someone can do, then there are problems. I try and stay away from that.

Q: Tell us about the recent performance you were in last week, here in Puerto Rico.
CO: There was a Christmas show, Homanaje al Metisas. A lot of well-known artists from Puerto Rico like Chuoho Avellanet, Nidia Cara, Cesar Ferandez, an opera singer were included and they invited myslef and some other newer artists. I sang three songs. It was in Cuaguas, south on the island. I was accompanied by Milton Sesenton's orchestra. It was a great experience because this was televised and seen all over the island.

Q: People know you from singing salsa and playing music and now they see you in this venue.
CO: I sang the Christmas song called 'The Little Drumers' so people saw that I could also sing choral or classical music and with feeling. (Choco demonstrated a moving rendition.)

I was also invited to the 124th comemeration of the Puerto Rican flag. I went there with Chucho Avellanet. It was very nice, something different.

Q: What direction are you headed with your career?
CO: I want to continue with singing as long as God keeps helping me. He has been helping me all along. I want to continue and focus and be a sonera. I performed in the movie, Angelito Mio, and I receive a royalty check every 13 weeks. So I have been around as an actress. I've been asked to do theatre, but it is not for me right now. I want to focus on my music. Perhaps in a few years I will do some theater. Now, I just want to sing. I enjoy it so much.

And sing she must! Choco is an amazing performer as I had the chance to witness a few times while in Puerto Rico. Everywhere we went people recognized her. Choco's energy is infectious, her strong, alto voice and sones have great feeling and look out when she hits those congas! One of the video clips I saw was Choco playing congas while Tito Puente played timables - she would not let him stop!

Above: Choco with Jerry Medina, Jerry Gonzalez and Cachete Maldonado

I thanked Choco for her time. Look for her on the New York scene this year and with any luck, we will get her out here to California.
Listen to a sound byte from her CD 'Sentimiento y Sabor' . Make sure and pick up a copy!

Interview and photos ©2000 by Julia Sewell.
Photos courtesy of Choco Orta.