La Palabra (born Rodolfo M. Foster in Caimanera, Cuba) is an American bandleader, singer-songwriter, pianist, record producer, and arranger, known for his versatile approach to music, particularly his invention of the romantic salsa, a latin music genre and his signature style of Afro-Cuban-influenced and sensual Latin jazz. In 1999, La Palabra began recording Rap-A-Salsa with Chuck Neustein but paused the project after reconnecting with George Balmaseda, who introduced him to Mel Morrow of Morrowland Records. Morrow offered to finance a new band, leading to the formation of Orquesta La Palabra, with Balmaseda and Angelo Pagan on vocals. Together, they recorded the album On Fire in Los Angeles, featuring new versions of “Todo Se Derrumbó” and “Lady.” The latter gained international airplay, reviving interest in La Palabra's music across the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia. In 2003, he released Breakthrough under Tornillo Records. The album included the hit “El Tun Tun de Tu Corazón,” which topped Colombian radio charts for 12 consecutive weeks in 2006. This success led to international tours and performances, including at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, in Beijing, China, He also wrote a song for the city of Shenzhen, titled "I'm Going to Shenzhen" (which was specifically requested by the mayor of Shenzhen) for the opening ceremonies for the city. La Palabra also played at the International Salsa Festival, and the 2008 Salsa Congress in Beijing La Palabra returned to his Afro-Cuban roots with the 2009 album Musicholic, showcasing a sophisticated blend of traditional Cuban rhythms and Latin jazz influences. His evolving style drew inspiration from legends like Bebo Valdés, Chucho Valdés, and Eddie Palmieri, while honoring the foundations of Afro-Cuban jazz. <a href="https://www.last.fm/music/Orquesta+La+Palabra">Read more on Last.fm</a>. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.