Personnel: Tito Rojas (vocals); Antonio Vazquez, David Betancourt, Omar Velazquez (violin); Jose Diaz (saxophone); Elias Lopes, Angie Machado (trumpet); Rafy Torres, Tonito Vazquez, Ellut Cintron (trombone); Ricky Martinez (accordion); Luis Quevado (piano); Polito Hueras (bass); Alberto Machucha (bongos); Papo Clemente (congas); Celso Clemente (timbales); Robertito "La Guira" Santos (guira); Rafael "Junny" Brito, Braullo Ayala (tambora); Pichie Perez (percussion); Jose "Chegul" Ramos, Jose E. Parra, Tony Hernandez, Darvel Garcia (background vocals).

Personnel: M rio Feliciano (vocals, background vocals); David Betancourt, Omar Vel zquez, Antonio Vazquez (violin); Ricki Mart¡nez (accordion, piano); Jose Diaz (saxophone); El¡as Lop‚s, Carlos Vargas , Angel "Angie" Machado (trumpet); George Guzman, Eliut Cintr¢n, Michael Colon, Raffi Torres, Tonito Vazquez (trombone); Luis Quevedo (piano); Alberto Machuca, Papo Clemente (congas); Celso Clemente (timbales); Pichie Perez (percussion); Darvel Garcia, Jos‚ E. Parra (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Jimmy Diaz.

Recording information: MP Studios.

Director: Ricki Mart¡nez.

Photographer: Demetrio Fernandez.

Another Tito Rojas effort that paid off handsomely; it is one of his biggest sellers. Rojas (with the help of Musical Productions' music machine and producer, Julio "Gunda" Merced) crafted another bold album wherein his honest, raspy, and sometimes volatile approach is the key element. The plena, omba, and charanga genres are only some of the ingredients in this zany concoction. The hits "Ser‚, Ser‚"; "Te Quiero Para M¡"; "Te Amo Tanto"; the evocative, eclectic "Am‚rica"; and "No Me Dejes Solo" are great selections from Rojas' repertoire. A must-have for Tito Rojas fans. ~ Jos‚ A. Est‚vez, Jr.

Although most people believe that salsa is predominantly Cuban, Puerto Rico has also delivered its share of musical giants, from Hector Lavoe and Tony Vega to Andy Montanez and Gilberto Santa Rosa. Tito Rojas is yet another important voice in the world of Puerto Rican salsa, which offers a lighter, easier-to-dance-to style.

Rojas has recorded a number of excellent albums for Musical Productions, an independent record company that also handles ex-Grupo Niche lead singer Tito Gomez. ALEGRIAS Y PENAS, a record in which Rojas explores the inevitable share of both joy and sorrow he has experienced in his life, is a tight, no-nonsense exercise in straight-ahead salsa. Rojas' band knows how to introduce subtle variations that can punch up the tunes, such as the vigorous violin solo on "Sere, Sere" and the doo-wop influenced backup vocals on the wistful "Te Amo Tanto." Rojas might not be as famous as other salsa luminaries, but his vocal chops are as good as it gets.