The book has four sections : "The Immortals" features legends Celia Cruz Noro Morales Beny More" and Arsenio Rodriguez. "The Big Three" spotlights the premiere band leaders or the era Tito Puente Frank "Machito" Grillo and Tito Rodriguez. "The Successors" is devoted to the next generation of great Latin Jazz and Salsa singers and musicians such as Ruben Blades Hector Lavoe Ray Barretto and Eddie Palmieri. "The Sidemen" showcases some of the unsung heroes of Latin music.
Alava captures the joy and passion of musicians performing in concerts festivals recording studios and jam sessions. These images are interspersed with snapshots of Alava with musician friends and their families adding a warm personal touch.
Spanish Harlem's Musical Legacy 1930 - 1980 was clearly a labor of love for Silvio Alava. He completed it shortly before his untimely death in May 2007 leaving behind a compelling visual documentation of the golden age of Latin music in Spanish Harlem.
