Nacho Sanabria (Ignacio "Nacho" Sanabria Vázquez-Maysonet) was born Decembe… Read Full Bio ↴Nacho Sanabria (Ignacio "Nacho" Sanabria Vázquez-Maysonet) was born December 16, 1929, in Cataño (Puerto Rico).

Iconic figure of the Puerto Rican salsa Nacho Sanabria (Ignacio "Nacho" Sanabria Vázquez-Maysonet) was born on December 16, 1929, in Cataño (Puerto Rico). He discovers at the age of 4 years the bomba and plena in the streets of his village.
An early talent for dance earned him the nickname "el niño bailarín".
He sings for the first time on stage at the age of 9.
In 1949, Nacho Sanabria moved to New York as many Puerto Ricans, where he works at the factory.
He returned to Sonora Boricua in 1951 and soon after singing at the Palladium with this orchestra.
From 1953 to 1955 he was enlisted for the Korean War, where he met Hector Rivera.
Back in New York, he participates in the orchestra: New Yorker.

In 1956 he entered as singer and dancer in the Panamericana orchestra of Quique Rijos, with this orchestra he released a first single (bolero and plena) in 1957.
After this enriching experience, he moved to Gilberto Cruz's sextet, then to José Fajardo's orchestra for an international tour. He also replaces Ray Barretto's orchestra.
Soon after, he was approached by Johnny Pacheco, but he did not join this orchestra with the intention of returning to Puerto Rico with his wife and children.
What he did in 1962 by integrating the trumpet orchestra Kito Vélez. Shortly after they will dissolve the orchestra to work for two years with Rafael Cortijo.
For proof the disc: "Go" (1963), where he sings "Quítate el zapato", "The llave", "The moña", "El colora'o", "Lo dijo Cortijo" and "The timadora".
He left the famous orchestra in 1965, but returned three years later to record two records: "Sorongo" and "Ahí na 'ma", released in 1968.
Coming out of the Combo of Cortijo in 1965 he goes to the formation of Mongo Santamaría.

In 1966 he founded his own orchestra "El Sabor de Nacho" (sabor = flavor), which begins with 7 musicians from the village of Cataño:
Ernesto Valentín (bass), Tuto Clemente (piano), Eladio Pérez (conga), Jaime Concepción (bongo), Eugenio Cruz and Picar (trumpets).
Their first records came out in 1968 in the form of two singles at the Montañez label, on which we find the songs "Changó tá vení", "Ya ya ya, mujer", "El saquito", "El piole guajira".
The first 33 "El Sabor de Nacho, Vol I" was born in 1970, an immediate success thanks to the song "Alma primitiva", of "Tite" Curet Alonso. The other pieces of the disc:
"Santo llega" by Henny Álvarez, "Changó tá vení", "Oro que brilla" and "Los buena gente", ...
On this album the arrangements were created for the most part by Bobby Valentín. The other musicians of the orchestra are: Ray Cohen (piano), Fernandito Marcano, Paquito Juvet and Willie Matos (trumpets) Papo Castro (congas), Pellín Rodríguez and Paquito Guzmán (choirs).

Their second album was released in 1971 with the songs "Mambo batiri", "Luna Yumurina", "La muerte llegó", "La vida es sueño", "El saquito", "The equivocada", "Yo puedo más que tú" , "Amor sin esperanza", "If yo tuviera a millón", "Tan sólo Dios", "Puntillita" and "El tapón".
At that time the orchestra was a favorite of the Puerto Rican public.

In 1972 released the album "Amada amante" one of the biggest successes of the artist thanks to "La ruñidera" (Cuban Ignacio Piñeiro) who made fury among dancers.
In 1973, the fourth album was released with the songs "Arroz con manteca", "Todo me tasty gusta", "Sabor", "Salsa caliente" and "El alacrán".
Followed by "Muevete" (1974) and the titles "Los guajiros", "Ya no me quieres", "Señora", "El vistilla", "La ola marina", "Mi mujer pide más", ...
In 1975 another atmosphere with the release of "Boleros con caché".

He leaves Borinquen Records for EGC Combo Records, with which he releases a disc whose tracks are: "Salsa na'ma", "One mundo raro", "Quédate como estás", "Sola y triste", "Con alma", "Para sufran los pollos", "For the radio", "Colombiana", "Pensamiento" and "Jorobita jorobá".
In 1976 released "Su estilo y sus hijos" at the label Tioly, whose particularity is the presence of the children of the singer Nachito, Felipe and Roberto in the formation.
In 1979, it was the turn of Bronco Records (Bobby Valentín) to produce the album "Sabor, amor y música".
In 1982, another disc was put on the market by the Gema label, with little impact.

His last album "Pa 'la calle, bailador" (RNS Records 04012) captivated the dancers. The eponymous title - composed by Nacho Sanabria himself - propels you on the dance floor. The other pieces: "Lengua larga" (from Walfrido Guevara); "Vamos pa 'la Luna" (by Heny Álvarez); "Vivito y coleando" (by Joe Cotto); the Mexican bolero "Cuando ya no me quieras" (from Los Cuates Castilla); "Sonerito" (by Arsenio Rodríguez); "Tíbiri Tábara" (from Pablo Cairo) and "To romper el coco" (from Otilio Portal).
The musicians of the record: Emilio Reales (trumpet), Willie Sotelo (piano), Pedro Pérez (bass), Rafael "Cocky" Rivera (timpani); Johnny Ortiz (conga) and Inocencio Tittley (bongo).
Today the veteran singer continues to perform in Puerto Rico.

Sanson batalla
Nacho Sanabria Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sansón!

Yo me llamo Sansón Batalla,
que yo me llamo Sansón Batalla
Te voy a contar un cuento
el chisme déjalo adentro
No te aguanto ni una más

Yo me llamo Sansón Batalla,
que yo me llamo Sansón Batalla
Si no te gusta lo siento,
lo digo a los cuatro vientos
Soy rumbero de la malla

Te invito a formar la rumba
tanto aquí como en la playa
Como rumbero me zumba,
me llamo Sansón Batalla

Escucha mi tumbao de guaguancó

(San-san-sansón, san-sansón Batalla)
(San-san-sansón, san-sansón Batalla)

(San-són Batalla)
Todo el mundo pa´la playa, Batalla
(San-són Batalla)
En las diez de Andino le gritan Batalla
(San-són Batalla)
Que no se quede nadie, vaya que vaya
(San-són Batalla)
Déjalo quieto, que ése es mi pana
(San-són Batalla)
En Castaño o en Santurce, Batall
(San-són Batalla)
Batalla, Batalla, le gritan Batalla
(San-són Batalla)

Oye, en el condado le dicen Batalla
(San-són Batalla)

Overall Meaning

The song "Sansón Batalla" by Nacho Sanabria is a classic salsa tune that introduces the listener to a character named Sansón Batalla. The lyrics are sung from Sansón's perspective, and he is telling the listener about himself and his love for rumba music. He claims that he is a skilled rumbero and invites the listener to join him in the dance. The repeated refrain of "San-són Batalla" emphasizes the character's name and adds emphasis to the song's upbeat and lively tone.

The lyrics also contain a sense of defiance and confidence that mirror Sansón's personality. He proclaims that his name is Sansón Batalla, and if someone doesn't like it, he doesn't care. Throughout the song, his pride in his abilities as a dancer and his love for rumba music shine through. Finally, the song invites the listener to join in the festivities, whether at the beach or in the streets of different parts of Puerto Rico.

Overall, the song is an upbeat and lively celebration of rumba music and Puerto Rican culture, told through the character of Sansón Batalla. His confidence and pride in his abilities as a rumbero serve as inspiration for listeners to embrace their own cultures and celebrate the things that make them unique.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo me llamo Sansón Batalla,
My name is Sansón Batalla,

que yo me llamo Sansón Batalla
I am Sansón Batalla, have you heard?

Te voy a contar un cuento
Let me tell you a story

el chisme déjalo adentro
Keep the gossip to yourself

No te aguanto ni una más
I can't deal with you anymore

Si no te gusta lo siento,
I'm sorry if you don't like it,

lo digo a los cuatro vientos
But I'll shout it from the rooftops

Soy rumbero de la malla
I'm a lover of rumba music

Te invito a formar la rumba
I invite you to join the rumba

tanto aquí como en la playa
Whether here or at the beach

Como rumbero me zumba,
As a lover of rumba,

me llamo Sansón Batalla
I am Sansón Batalla

Escucha mi tumbao de guaguancó
Listen to my guaguancó rhythm

(San-san-sansón, san-sansón Batalla)
(San-san-sansón, san-sansón Batalla)

Todo el mundo pa´la playa, Batalla
Everyone to the beach, Batalla