So, who are your Top 10 Bachatero's?? Considering their Presence, Talent, and Discography??

Presence -
Ability to take over the stage and command the audience. It also has to do with their Confidence and Style. Presence is what makes you feel like you got your money's worth even though the Band didn't play the best.

Talent -
The ability of a Bachatero to Sing. The voice of a Bachatero is not really determined to be good based on your typical musical standards. Normally REALLY good Bachatero's have a voice that is 'painful', it projects lament, emotion, confidence and innocence all at the same time. Talent also has to do with the ability to PLAY A GUITAR (a seemingly lost art nowadays). Can they play just as good in front of 12 people in someones living room, or is it limited to the Studio and Post-Production??

Discography -
What type of legacy have they left behind?? How many of their songs are TRULY classics?? How many of their albums are timeless?? Even if they only have a handful of songs, how powerful and significant are they??

And who in your opinion is often over looked and/or underrated as a Bachatero??

I would like to start this post for all Bachatero's and TRUE fans of Bachata and it's legendary artist. Feel free to post Videos and Pictures.

My Top Ten -
(In no particular order, kinda sorta)

1) Anthony Santos, (El Mayimbe, El Bachatu)
2) Marino Perez
3) Joe Veras
4) Luis Segura
5) Teodoro Reyes
6) Luis Vargas
7) Juan Bautista
8) Raulin Rodriguez
9) Blas Duran (he would be MUCH higher on my list in Merengue)
10) Frank Reyes

That was HARD!! So many others, like Bolivar Peralta, Chicho Severino, RIchie Ortega, El Chaval etc etc.

But considering the reasons above I believe that would be my list (more or less).

Im sorry but i believe you have Luis Vargas way low on your list and Frank Reyes high. I noticed you mentioned it wasent in that particular order which is fine. I a couple guys that could make the list is Zacharias Ferreira and Yoskar Sarante. Alot of good Bachateros out there definetely. Blas Duran ushered in the modern Bachata era in his beginings with doble sentido but as you know became more of a merenguero.

Yea it was hard for me to decide where to put Luis Vargas, I was just about to put him before Teodoro, but I think that all things considered he just kinda ended up there.
Teodoro and Vargas are really neck and neck in a lot of aspects.
Frank Reyes ONLY made my list barely because although he doesn't play Guitar (anymore) his songs are pretty big. His temas just seem to touch people even though he is not as respected as El Mayimbe nor as talented as a Joe Veras.
Also I had to remember his early works, back then he was really good, his music was raw, simple and a just good Bachata. His discography doesn't come close to El Mayimbe but considering his style his songs are surprisingly successful.

I love mayimbe dont get me wrong but i believe alot of his new stuff mostly when he performs live is like a cheerleading experience. Alot of cussing!!!! JAJAJAJAJA Wow Afrolatino was a big fan of Mayimbe. Any chance you may be him???? JAJAJAJA Luis Vargas is a legend no doubt but i would have to rate Mayimbe and his newer music ahead of Vargas. Reyes is a pioneer and the most raw out of all of them in my opinion. He is a true Borrachon!!! Dont forget another legend Jose Manuel Calderon!

Funny. Keep in mind that EVERYBODY loves Anthony Santos, so the fact that me and this 'AfroLatin' person likes him is like saying, "Juan and Daniel both enjoy eating, maybe they are the SAME person". Anyway...

Granted, some of the new stuff he has is not a consistently 'hit after hit', like say his older Albums - La Chupadera or Enamorado etc. But Luis Vargas simply doesn't have his presence. NOBODY moves a crowd like El Mayimbe. He is the only Bachatero that can start singing a song, and not ONLY will the ENTIRE crowd know the song word for word including ad libs, but he can stop in the MIDDLE of the song and switch to another song in the middle of THAT song and crowd won't miss a beat. That is incredible. Luis Vargas is a classic bachatero, and he will always be on my 10 ten somewhere, but i don't think he will ever be able to compete with Anthony Santos as far as presence and discography goes.

Watch at how effortlessly he keeps the crowd going with EVERY song. He practically doesn't even have to sing. That's beyond impressive and just shows you how great his music is.

"Granted, some of the new stuff he has is not a consistently 'hit after hit', like say his older Albums - La Chupadera or Enamorado" etc.

Actually i think Mayimbe's music has become more of a hit with fans in the last few years. Luis Vargas had him beat in the late 80s and 90's but he plummeted some as the late 90s rolled. Btw Anthony santos played guira for Vargas in his earlier days. Once Santos got away and went solo they both developed a rivalry which has ceased today.

Richie Ortega is HIGHLY underrated in my opinion. He doesn't have an extremely immense discography but he is one of the most talented bachateros out there. He has a voice that is both lamentful and skilled, and his Guitar playing skills are better than a LOT of Bachateros out there. He is a true showman, and you can see that he really enjoys playing the Guitar and I really appreciate that as there are less and less Bachateros that Sing AND Play.

"the fact that me and this 'AfroLatin' person likes him is like saying, "Juan and Daniel both enjoy eating, maybe they are the SAME person".

You know how foolish that enalogy is? JAJAJAJA Under the name Afrolatino you were even wondering why we werent making much mention of Santos on a previous music thread. You were making a huge deal of his supposed Haitian roots. Not that i care whether he is or isnt as long as the guy can play.

Ok look. PLEASE, go and contact a Moderator or whomever to see if my IP has EVER appeared on this site under another name so you stop with that nonsense. Thanks