Borough President Diaz Kicks Off Bronx Week 2021
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, BRONX W BTR EEK, MAY. 7-13, 2021 27
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
was joined by Deputy Borough President
Marricka Scott-McFadden, sponsors
and elected offi cials on Wednesday,
May 5, for the offi cial kick-off of
“Bronx Week 2021,” his fi nal Bronx
Week serving as Borough President, at
the New York Botanical Gardens. During
the kick-off, Diaz announced that
Joe Conzo, Jr., Sal Abbatiello and Kid
Capri would be honored as the newest
members of the Bronx Walk of Fame.
The Tourism Award will be presented
to Woodlawn Cemetery by The Bronx
Tourism Council.
“Bronx Week is a chance for our borough
to celebrate what an incredible
community we have here. In my fi nal
year as Bronx Borough President, I am
thrilled that despite the COVID-19 pandemic,
we are able to come together in
a safe way to celebrate the people who
are proud to call the Bronx their home,”
said Diaz Jr. “The Bronx is recognized
by the whole world as a rainbow of culture,
talent, and spirit and this year’s
honorees represent just that. We have
three amazing honorees that have
never stopped representing the borough
through art, music, activism and
philanthropy, and I am thrilled to join
the people of the Bronx in congratulating
them on this tremendous honor.”
“Bronx Week is a little different this
year, but we are delighted to celebrate
in whichever way we can because the
Bronx deserves to be celebrated,” said
Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of
the Bronx Tourism Council.
The 2021 Bronx Walk of Fame Inductees
are:
Salvatore Abbatiello, Founder and
CEO of Fever Records, is a Bronx born
and raised entrepreneur, and has been
a business owner since 1971. He has
over 46 years of experience owning over
15 night clubs, restaurants and lounges,
employing numerous residents. He encompasses
all areas of the music industry
including his own record label, artist
management, publishing and concert
promotions. His dedication to the Bronx
community has been the focal point of
his life and he continues to contribute
to community charity and fundraiser
events. His story about Disco Fever can
been seen in the movie Krush Groove
released in 1985. In 1999 the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame invited Sal Abbatiello
to participate in its fi rst ever national
Hip-Hop Conference, and solicited key
Disco Fever memorabilia for the museum’s
permanent collection. It seems
that the Disco Fever legend is destined
to live on into the 21st Century. This CD
sampler represents just a portion of the
Fever legacy as it lives on in the hearts
and minds of the many people who experienced
it.
Sal has provided a number of artists
with opportunities to showcase their
talents at the Disco Fever, leading them
to bigger platforms in the music industry
moving on to receiving Grammy
awards for their contribution to the music
culture. Sal continues to work tirelessly
for the Bronx community by providing
employment to many residents at
his establishments and concert venues.
Joe Conzo, Jr. was born and raised in
the Bronx, and he was born into Bronx
royalty. His grandmother, Dra. Evelina
Antonetty, affectionately known as
“The Hell Lady of The Bronx,” is credited
with starting Bilingual education
in The Bronx and advocating for basic
human rights for Bronx natives and
people of color. His mother, the late
Lorraine Montenegro is credited with
starting the fi rst Women with Children
facility in the country to combat
their demons with substance abuse. Joe
Conzo Sr. is considered the foremost
Latin Music Historian in the country
and teaches at Hostos Community College.
Serving 5 years in The Army as
a combat medic, Joe found a career as
an EMT and Union activist in The NYC
Fire Department. Retiring in 2018 after
25 years with FDNY, Joe was a staunch
advocate for his members who responded
to the 9/11 tragedy in helping
set up the 9/11 health registry, which
would lead to the WTC Zadroga Bill.
Joe acquired a passion for photography
as a young boy attending the Agnes
Russell School on the campus of Columbia
University. He continued his formal
artistic education at the School of Visual
Arts (NYC). The New York Times, heralded
Joe Conzo Jr. as “The Man Who
Took Hip-Hop’s Baby Pictures.” The
long and perilous journey of his photographic
images had fi nally captured the
gaze of mainstream America.
All the while, he continued his photography
and published a seminal book
on hip hop culture that has received
worldwide recognition, Born in the
Bronx: A Visual Record of the Early
Days of Hip Hop” (2007). In 2019, Joe
published his second book, 111 Places in
Da Bronx you must not miss, showcasing
the Bronx’s historical contributions
to The World.
Retired now for 3 years from public
service, Joe continues his photographic
career, documenting events all over the
world and fi ghting for the basic human
rights for the people in the Bronx.
KID CAPRI, Grammy Award winning
DJ and producer, is globally known
as an originator, innovator, and pioneer
of DJ Culture. KID’s humble roots can
be traced back to his parent’s home in
the Bronx, where ten year old David
Anthony Love would scratch records
on his father’s old Zenith stereo system.
As soon as he was old enough, he
hit the pavement and caught a buzz hustling
his DJ mixtapes on the streets and
performing local gigs. His grass roots
hustler mentality became a template
for success emulated by the DJs that followed
in his footsteps. Dubbed the Guru
of Mixtapes, KID CAPRI literally redefi
ned the term “DJ” as he blazed a trail
with his array of fi re mixtapes and lit
crowd hyping performances. “A true
master is somebody that makes other
people want to do what they do.” - KID
CAPRI. KID CAPRI was the fi rst DJ to
perform on major networks like BET
and VH1. He starred in the popular
HBO series Russel Simmons DEF Comedy
Jam and recently returned for The
Netfl ix DEF Comedy Jam’s 25TH Anniversary
Special. He was the lead judge
on VH1’s Master of the Mix DJ Competition
show. KID has produced tracks
for Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Madonna, Heavy
D, and 50 Cent to name a few. He has
years of touring experience with legends
like Diddy, Jay Z, Aaliyah, Salt-N
Peppa, Timbaland, and most recently
RBRM. KID won a Grammy for producing
a song on Jay-Z’s classic album,
Hard Knock Life. In 2018 KID narrated
Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN album; the
only hip hop album to ever win a Pulitzer
Prize. KID premiered his signature
crowd hyping vocals at Jennifer Lopez’s
ALL I HAVE Las Vegas Residency during
the magical portion of her show dedicated
to the Bronx.
Bronx Week is made possible with
the generous support of Gold Sponsors
Montefi ore Medical Center, Empire
BlueCross BlueShield and BronxCare
Health System.
Other Bronx Week sponsors include:
ConEdison, Waste Management, Bronx
Community College, Lehman College,
Hostos, Lincoln Hospital, Pix11 and
BronxNet.
B R O N X W E E K 2 0 2 1
Borough President Ruben Diaz Joe Conzo, Jr. Salvatore Abbatiello, KID CAPRI,