(NEWARK, NJ) -- Newark Symphony Hall, New Jersey’s largest Black-led arts and entertainment venue, kicks off its monthly Salsa Night program with Billboard Music Award-winning musician Tito Puente Jr. on Friday, May 27 at 7:00pm. Salsa Night will take place every third Friday of the month throughout the year.

Son of six-time Grammy Award winner and “King of Latin Music” Tito Puente, who debuted his show “Tito Puente en su Mundo Latino” in 1968 on WNJU, the TV station that originated at Newark Symphony Hall, Puente Jr. is an audience favorite in performing arts centers, casinos, symphony halls and jazz festivals worldwide. He brings a taste of contemporary jazz to the traditional mambo style, performing over 300 shows per year. His symphony appearances include Dallas and San Antonio, Texas; Colorado; South Bend, Indiana.; and upcoming performances are planned with the Palm Desert Symphony in Southern California, and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C.

“I’m excited to partner with Newark Symphony Hall and celebrate its new Salsa Night series. Guests should get ready for a high-voltage night of fun and dancing,” said Puente Jr. 

During the evening, Puente Jr. will join attendees in recognizing State Senator Teresa Ruiz as the first Latina state senate Majority Leader.

“It’s an honor to be recognized at a venue close to my heart,” said Ruiz. “I remember my parents seeing Tito Puente Sr. and Celia Cruz at Newark Symphony Hall’s Terrace Ballroom when I was a child and can’t think of a more welcoming place.” 

Sponsored by Prudential Financial and Monterreal Water, Salsa Night is Newark Symphony Hall’s first event from its Summer 2022 performance lineup, which also includes monthly Soul Line Dancing featuring DJ Jon Quick, a social dancing phenomenon that features a choreographed routine set to music ranging from the latest R&B artists to classic Motown hits. Newark Symphony Hall will announce its full Summer 2022 lineup later this month.

“We’re thrilled to kick-off our Summer 2022 programs with Tito Puente Jr.,” said Newark Symphony Hall President and CEO Taneshia Nash Laird. “Salsa Night is the first of many upcoming events taking place at Newark Symphony Hall this summer, and we’re excited to host performances and events that bring the community together.” 

Salsa Night featuring Tito Puente Jr. is a free event, but prior registration is required for tickets. Tickets are available online.

Born in 1925, Newark Symphony Hall (NSH) has been the home of almost a century of arts and culture in what is now one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest arts and entertainment venues. NSH remains as committed as ever to providing an artistically rich experience for art lovers of all ages, while creating career pathways for people of color from around the world – and bettering both its community and the Greater Newark region.  

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with more than $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2022, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help to make lives better by creating financial opportunity for more people. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for more than a century.  

Dedicated to milk production, cheese and bottled water, Monterreal Water has been working in the northern high mountain rain forest in Costa Rica since 1920. Its water operation is focused on bottling natural mineral spring water and exporting it from Costa Rica to the world. The water filters from 2,000 meters to where the water is bottled at source at 1,850 meters above sea level inside the high mountain rain forest.