“The original voices of Grupo 4-40, including Mariela Mercado, are surprised when they reunite for a show” | Daily menu

In 2024, the 4-40 group, led by Juan Luis Guerra, will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Last Monday night (November 27, 2023), five of the best voices from these four decades took the stage to sing alongside Frank Sciarra, at the beginning of the “Christmas Among Friends” concerts, recording a historic night because it brought together practically everyone. Her lead vocals are a luxury rarely offered on stage.

Maridalia Hernandez, Mariela Mercado, and Adalgisa Pantaleon (former members) and Roger Zayas and Kiko Rizk (current backup singers) reminisced on some of 440’s first songs, this time accompanied by Ciara and conducted by Maestro Pengbian Sang’s orchestra.

The 360 ​​platform, in the Galería 360 shopping plaza, was the place of a magical moment, which the audience enjoyed without reservation, perhaps without imagining that almost four decades had passed since the appearance of those beautiful melodies and that perfect 4-40 tuning. It will forever mark the life of an entire generation and the journey taken by Dominican music, especially merengue.

“Like a bee in honey”

Ceara had already revealed half of his repertoire to the audience when it was Adalgisa and Quico’s turn and they sang “Like a Bee in a Honeycomb”.

The excitement of the attendees was immediate, and they left their seats aside and stopped chanting and dancing to the beautiful song.

Roger and Mariela then performed “She Says”. “She says in her dreams. I appear before everything. Before you close your eyes. Oh! ‘Thank you for life, how lucky you are,'” says the first chorus of one of the group’s first songs.

The party finished lighting Maredalia when he surrendered “Our Love” and “Santiago by Car”.

The highlight of the night came The onstage group consisting of Maridalia, Adalgisa, Kiko, Roger and Marella, along with Frank, Who presented the audience with the unforgettable hits “Mientras más lo pens tú” and “Si tú te vas”.

It was a treat to see such beautiful voices, of unparalleled interpretive quality, a rarely seen musical event, which left everyone longing for a new reunion, hopefully to fruition in 2024 when the group turns 40 years old. .4-40.

From its history

The first members out of 440 were Juan Luis Guerra, Maridalia Hernandez, Roger Zayas, and Mariela Mercado.

Subland (1984), Modanza e Acario (1985) and Tu (1987) were his first productions. It was followed by “I Hope It Rains Coffee” from 1989, and the emblematic slogan “Bachata Rosa” from 1990.

In these first starts, everyone was equal soloists (Mariela, Maridalia and Juan Luis). On the first recordings, everyone recorded the same number of songs on the album, although they recorded as a duo and a quartet.

It’s Maridalia Hernandez in 2020 Who told LISTÍN DIARIO that it all started as a result of an assignment given to Juan Luis at Berklee College of Music, where he was studying.

“When we started singing, we never planned to do a professional project. It gradually evolved from these four friends coming together to play a four-voice task that the professor had given to Juan Luis while he was studying at Berklee, and in the summer when he returned (from the United States) he told me to find him two others votes.”

According to Maridalia, the four met at the house of Juan Luis’ mother, in the University District, and it was Juan Luis’s older brother, José Gilberto (now a surgeon), who suggested the name 4.40.

Mardalia said he objected to the name because 440 was the ideal acoustic tuning style and they had not reached that level, but in the end he had no choice but to accept.

Maridalia Hernandez’s house, where there was a grand piano, was a meeting point for the gathering of sounds and songs.

It was in the gardens of the Eduardo Brito National Theater that the first public performance of the 4-40 was given.

It was a concert with Gilo Carias, who led the group “Cuatro más uno”, which is why the concert was called “Cuatro más Uno, más 440”.

Then, a few days later, he had his first big TV show at the Lost El Dorado Awards.

His first performance outside the country was in Newark, USA alongside Millie, Jocelyn and Los Vicinos.

The group went through a bit of a transformation. Maridalia left in 1987, then Mariela also left the group and Marcos Hernandez, Adalgisa and Kiko Rizk joined the choir. Currently, only Roger and Kiko continue with Juan Luis.