The Antiques
| Manny Salas and DJ Alex Gutierrez |
MANNY SALAS
A Video submitted by
PETER FERNANDEZ
Lead Singer of Coke
and the Antiques and
later Ecstacy
PETER FERNANDEZ
Lead Singer of Coke
and the Antiques and
later Ecstacy
n 1975 Peter Fernandez replaced Eddie Diaz (Dias Como Hoy) as the new lead singer of the immensely popular Open House band, THE
ANTIQUES. "The Antique Experience", released in 1976, contained the hit single "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado" the Spanish version to Esther
Phillip's disco sensation, "What a Difference A Day Makes". Peter's rendition quickly became a favorite among the "after the Open House"
party crowd who frequented the popular clubs of the times like Widow McCoys, Menage & Honey for the Bears. "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado"
was revolutionary in that it pioneered the introduction of Spanish language to what was up to that moment an Anglo & Black dominated
genre. Peter was a welcomed addition to The Antiques since he was already well known in the Miami music scene as the lead singer of
COKE. Although Peter recorded and performed with The Antiques for 2 years, his 1974 recording of the album "COKE" was destined to
become an ICONIC symbol of the era. There's hardly a Cuban-American or Latino that was a teen or young adult in Miami during the 70's
that doesn't still own his cherished copy of that record! Peter's interpretation of the hit "Sabor a Mi" on the COKE album forever identified the
voice of Peter Fernandez as the voice of COKE. The fact that COKE & THE ANTIQUES were often the winning Open House combination
during the 70's and that Peter recorded, performed and eventually sang both band's material, for some created a little confusion in later
years as to who recorded what. By 1977 when Disco music was dominating the music scene most Open House fans were under the spell of
"disco-mania" and the deejays became the "stars" who spun the magic. Dancing and dressing up reached new levels of sophistication and
stylized choreography. There was a place called "Pete & Lenny's" where live music and deejays co-existed in perfect harmony and Peter
Fernandez was there, singing tunes like "Disco Inferno" and "Heaven must be Missing an Angel" with the group ECSTASY. As one of the
great disco bands of the day ECSTASY was practically the house band of this legendary Ft.Lauderdale club were Disco dancing was king
and fierce dance competitions took place. That was also the year when Peter's ex girlfriend Ana Bustamante and her partner Carlos won first
place prize for the Pete & Lenny's dance contest:: a shiny new red Corvette! The popular syndicated TV show Disco77 which featured giants
like Lou Rawls, was also filmed at that very location.
ANTIQUES. "The Antique Experience", released in 1976, contained the hit single "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado" the Spanish version to Esther
Phillip's disco sensation, "What a Difference A Day Makes". Peter's rendition quickly became a favorite among the "after the Open House"
party crowd who frequented the popular clubs of the times like Widow McCoys, Menage & Honey for the Bears. "Cuando Vuelva a Tu Lado"
was revolutionary in that it pioneered the introduction of Spanish language to what was up to that moment an Anglo & Black dominated
genre. Peter was a welcomed addition to The Antiques since he was already well known in the Miami music scene as the lead singer of
COKE. Although Peter recorded and performed with The Antiques for 2 years, his 1974 recording of the album "COKE" was destined to
become an ICONIC symbol of the era. There's hardly a Cuban-American or Latino that was a teen or young adult in Miami during the 70's
that doesn't still own his cherished copy of that record! Peter's interpretation of the hit "Sabor a Mi" on the COKE album forever identified the
voice of Peter Fernandez as the voice of COKE. The fact that COKE & THE ANTIQUES were often the winning Open House combination
during the 70's and that Peter recorded, performed and eventually sang both band's material, for some created a little confusion in later
years as to who recorded what. By 1977 when Disco music was dominating the music scene most Open House fans were under the spell of
"disco-mania" and the deejays became the "stars" who spun the magic. Dancing and dressing up reached new levels of sophistication and
stylized choreography. There was a place called "Pete & Lenny's" where live music and deejays co-existed in perfect harmony and Peter
Fernandez was there, singing tunes like "Disco Inferno" and "Heaven must be Missing an Angel" with the group ECSTASY. As one of the
great disco bands of the day ECSTASY was practically the house band of this legendary Ft.Lauderdale club were Disco dancing was king
and fierce dance competitions took place. That was also the year when Peter's ex girlfriend Ana Bustamante and her partner Carlos won first
place prize for the Pete & Lenny's dance contest:: a shiny new red Corvette! The popular syndicated TV show Disco77 which featured giants
like Lou Rawls, was also filmed at that very location.
| The Antiques" were the very first musical pop group made up of Cuban-American youths to record a hit song in the U.S. In 1971, "Va Cayendo Una Lagrima" rose to the # 1 spot in the Latin Music Charts, and remained there for seven (7) consecutive weeks throughout South Florida and other parts of the country. This photograph is the very first and only studio picture ever taken of the original band. |
CHEBI and Eddy
Although an Open House can pertain to other
events, when fraternities at universities had
parties open to the public it was referred to as
an Open House vs. a private party. When it
pertains to the dances where bands such as
Antiques played, it is really a misnomer since
these were all public dances never intended to
be private
Cubans that weren’t familiar with the English
language started opening night clubs that were
called Super Clubs in the 80’s,. They took it
from the term Supper Club. They pronounced
supper as super therefore the misspelling of the
word. These places didn’t serve dinner. Again it
is another misnomer.
At some point, Cubans that had arrived recently
to the US must have associated the fraternity
parties with the dance hall promotions. It
happened again when gangs were benevolently
called fraternities. Remember that languages
are dynamic and constantly evolving.
events, when fraternities at universities had
parties open to the public it was referred to as
an Open House vs. a private party. When it
pertains to the dances where bands such as
Antiques played, it is really a misnomer since
these were all public dances never intended to
be private
Cubans that weren’t familiar with the English
language started opening night clubs that were
called Super Clubs in the 80’s,. They took it
from the term Supper Club. They pronounced
supper as super therefore the misspelling of the
word. These places didn’t serve dinner. Again it
is another misnomer.
At some point, Cubans that had arrived recently
to the US must have associated the fraternity
parties with the dance hall promotions. It
happened again when gangs were benevolently
called fraternities. Remember that languages
are dynamic and constantly evolving.
| Eddie Diaz Lead Singer of the ANTIQUES and Nelson Correa of Mantrap |
| Manny Salas performs all the hits made popular by his former group "The Antiques" |
Antique Formula was our first album in 1969. Some people
aren’t aware we had an album prior to Sincerely Antique. Va
Cayendo Una Lagrima was a huge hit from our first album.
Frank Batista who later joined Coke and is currently with
them sang that song on our record.
aren’t aware we had an album prior to Sincerely Antique. Va
Cayendo Una Lagrima was a huge hit from our first album.
Frank Batista who later joined Coke and is currently with
them sang that song on our record.