Tony Escobar: The Showman of the 80s and 90s

Tony Escobar (d. 26 July 2021) was one of the great reference points of Venezuelan nightlife and music culture in the 80s and 90s. A DJ, radio announcer, producer and showman, he is remembered as el rey de la rumba, an icon who marked a whole generation with his talent for mixing, hosting and creating unforgettable musical experiences. With his unique style, he filled venues and minitecas where his name was a guarantee of success.

Escobar worked as the exclusive discjockey at minitecas such as New York People and especially Sandy Lane, where he raised the rumba to another level. His versatility took him to private and public events that defined an era, mixing with contagious energy and a special nose for anticipating the hits that would play each season. Many considered him the number one DJ in Venezuela, a legend for his creativity and his ability to connect with the audience.

Beyond his work in the booth, Tony Escobar shone on radio. He was part of the Radio Caracas Radio (RCR) network and of the emblematic 92.9 Tú FM, where he rose to Production Manager. There he created and hosted the program Club Mix, broadcast on Saturdays at 10:00 pm, which became a reference point of the Venezuelan dance scene. The show opened with his famous shout “is ninety-two point nine FM Cluuuub Mix”, which stayed engraved in the memory of its listeners. Escobar also recorded commercials and station stingers and was the voice over of the station, leaving his mark on national broadcasting.

In 1991 he reached great popularity with the track “Dámela que tú la tienes”, recorded with Solmaira Castillo and Ricky Rap, a song considered by many to be the birth of merengue hip hop in Venezuela. The track played on every radio station and at every rumba in the country, establishing Escobar not only as a DJ but also as a music creator. His career also took him to the big screen with his part in the film “La Generación Halley” (1986), where he immortalized the line: “Hola Gente. Sean bienvenidos a la Guerra de Minitecas”, a direct nod to the culture he helped to popularize.

In February 2021, colleagues and friends from the industry launched a campaign to help him with his treatment for prostate cancer, showing the affection and admiration he inspired in the business. His death, on 26 July of that same year in Caracas, shook the world of Venezuelan music and broadcasting. He was seen off with words of respect and affection from public figures, friends and fans who recognized him as a tireless worker and an innovator who always knew how to bring joy through music.

Today, Tony Escobar is remembered as a pioneer of dance music in Venezuela, a legendary DJ who not only lit up the dance floors but also left his mark on radio, on music production and on popular culture. His style, his voice and his legacy are still an inspiration for new generations of DJs who find in his story the essence of what it means to be a showman of music.

«Hola Gente. Sean bienvenidos a la Guerra de Minitecas.»

— Tony Escobar, in “La Generación Halley” (1986)

In pictures

1 / 4

Photograph: culturaminiteka.com archive