World Renowned GRUPO NICHE Celebrates 40th Anniversary @ Lehman Center March 7th at Lehman Center for the Performing Arts

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts and GOYA FOODS presents the return of GRUPO NICHE for a dazzling concert to celebrate their 40th Anniversary on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 at 8pm. One of the worlds most popular Salsa groups, Grupo Niche is known for both up tempo and vigorous dance music as well as slower-paced salsa romntica numbers. Musical director Maestro Jos Aguirre oversees every smallest detail in keeping with the Grupo Niche style created by the late Maestro Jairo Varela.Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for GRUPO NICHE on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 at 8pm are VIP*$100, $65, $60, $55, $45 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Friday, 10am5pm, and beginning at 4pm on the day of the concert), or through online access at www.LehmanCenter.org. *VIP Reception: The Havana Caf, Goya Foods and Lehman Center special VIP pre-concert wine & hors doeuvres reception will start at 6:30pm. VIP tickets include the reception and the best seats in the house. Sponsored by Havana Caf Restaurant and Goya Foods. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway. Low-cost on-site parking available for $5.GRUPO NICHE was formed in Cali, Colombia in 1980 by songwriter, vocalist, arranger, and producer Jairo Varela, who began his music career at age eight with the group La Timba. Comprised of young musicians from the state of Choc, Grupo Niche was conceived as new, alternative salsa with a more international style and flavor. Their first album, 1980s Al Pasito, put Colombia on the map of the world of salsa. As Jairo Varela broke away from existing musical structures, he also took on Afro-centric issues in all their social and ethnic implications, singing to his homeland, Choc -- its problems, its marginality, and its poverty. The groups second album release, Querer es Poder contained their first hit song Buenaventura y Caney which led to their first US tour in 1981. Their 1984 release, No Hay Quinto Malo, went gold and featured what has become their signature song, Cali Pachanguero which Billboard has called one of the greatest Latin songs of all time. The critically acclaimed Triunfo (also titled Se Pas) was released the following year on the New York Latin Records label and went gold with popular hits like Ana Mil and Del Puente Paalla. After much success in Colombia, Grupo Niche soon earned international fame and in 1986 became the first Colombian orchestra to perform at Madison Square Garden, playing at the World Salsa Festival.Beginning in the late 80s, Grupo Niche turned to romantic lyrics, leaving behind their songs about social issues. The release of 1989s Tapando el Hueco coincided with Puerto Ricos salsa romntica movement and went platinum. In March 1989, they played for more than one million people at a concert in Peru, and in September of that year they staged their first European tour, playing in France, England, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain. In 1990 the group embarked on its first Mexican tour, playing 16 concerts at large venues including the mythical Saln Tropicana. From 1990 through 2005, Grupo Niche, led by their brilliant composer Jairo Varela, released a chart-topping album a year, many of which earned gold, platinum and double platinum sales status. These records overflowed with hits, many of which are now considered classics like Cali Aji, Una Aventura, Sin Sentimiento, Busca Por Dentro, Hagamos Lo Que Diga El Corazon, Duele Ms, Gotas de Lluvia, Etnia, Eres, Culebra and Ni Como Amiga. Grupo Niche has released more than 30 albums, receiving numerous international music awards, including the Latin GRAMMY nomination for the 2001 Album of the Year for Propuesta with its famous cumbia Canoa Rancha.During his lifetime, Jairo Varela was a prolific composer. His death in 2012 did not mean the end of Grupo Niche as he organized the orchestra in a manner that allowed continuity. Their first posthumous album, Tocando el Cielo Con Las Manos (Touching the Sky With Your Hands) was released in 2013 and hit the #10 spot on the Tropical album charts. That same year, Grupo Niche resumed touring internationally, performing in Europe, North America, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Australia. In 2015, Jairo Varelas trusted musical associate Jos Aguirre took over as musical director. Late 2015 saw the release of the second posthumous album 35 Aniversario which rose to the #6 Tropical album chart position and earned the group a Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album. The records first single, Te Ensear A Olvidar, which was first sung by Jairo Varela in 1989, earned the #2 Tropical song chart position. The second single, Enamorada was launched in 2016. Grupo Niche is referred to as the Salsa Experience with its vigorous, up tempo dance music as well as slower-paced romantic numbers. Their latest single, Pnico (2017), is a previously unrecorded composition by Jairo Varela, is sung by Alex Torres, and was arranged and recorded in Cali, Colombia under the direction of Jos Aguirre.Lehman Center for the Performing Arts spectacular 2019-2020 Season celebrates 40 Years of Excellence in the Centers newly renovated, 2,278 spacious seat concert hall, with a redesigned entrance, lobby, and elevator accessible balcony. Lehman Center is one of New Yorks top nonprofit performing arts centers and the Bronxs largest entertainment venue serving over 200,000 audience members each season. Eva Bornstein, who is beginning her fifteenth season as Executive Director of Lehman Center, says, During this milestone year, Lehman Center proudly welcomes audiences and community members to the top entertainment destination in the Bronx, which is now better than ever. The improvements that have been made will help ensure the comfort and convenience of all who attend our world class performances and events. Funding for the 15.4-million-dollar renovation was in part provided by the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, the Bronx Delegation of the New York City Council, and the Office of the Bronx Borough President. Additionally, we will be continuing our Take Your Seat fundraising campaign, which will give you a chance to be a part of Lehmans history by purchasing a tax-deductible seat(s) in your name or a loved one.Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council. The 2019-2020 Season is also made possible through the sponsorships by Goya Foods, The New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department, the New York State Council on the Arts, Con Edison, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, Havana Caf, and the Friends of Lehman Center.