Uptown Voices Podcast

09/01/2026

The Moment Celia Cruz Yelled "¡Azúcar!" During My Solo 🎹👑

The Story: Imagine being a young musician, nervous as ever playing a piano solo in front of nearly 300 people, and suddenly, the Queen of Salsa herself stands up. On the latest episode of the Uptown Voices podcast, W***y Rodriguez shares the unforgettable moment Celia Cruz stood up in her iconic blonde wig and yellow dress and yelled, "¡Azúcar!"

After the show, she gave him a grandmotherly hug and told him, "Un día de estos, tú vas a ser alguien bien grande" (One of these days, you are going to be somebody very big). For W***y, those words were the ultimate inspiration to keep pushing forward in his incredible career.

***yRodriguez

09/01/2026

What to do when the music industry closes its doors. 🚪🎶

"If you want doors to be open, sometimes those doors ain't gonna be open for you. You're gonna have to do it yourself." On the latest episode of the Uptown Voices podcast, Grammy-nominated musician and industry powerhouse W***y Rodriguez shares a powerful lesson on perseverance and self-reliance.

Despite his incredible talent, there were times when record labels simply wouldn't give W***y an opportunity. Instead of giving up, he became eager to learn, found mentors, and built his own path to success. His advice to anyone feeling stuck? Don't let the world build your life for you—study, learn, and build the world you want yourself!

***yRodriguez

09/01/2026

Who has the best tacos Uptown? 🌮🔥

We are on a mission to highlight the absolute best local eats in Upper Manhattan! From the legendary OG taquerias to the hidden gems on 207th Street, we are taste-testing it all for Taco Tuesday on the Uptown Voices podcast. But we need your help—drop your all-time favorite Uptown taco spot in the comments below so we can check it out next! 👇

09/01/2026

Welcome back to Uptown Voices!

Riding high on our recent Pix11 broadcast debut, we sit down with a true Uptown powerhouse: W***y Rodriguez. Born and raised in Washington Heights/Inwood, W***y has built a staggering resume that spans the highest levels of both the music and television industries.

In this episode, W***y traces his journey from a five-year-old classical piano prodigy playing Carnegie Hall to joining District 6’s legendary public school jazz band, Clave Azul. He shares incredible, never-before-heard stories—including the moment a 13-year-old W***y played a piano solo so good it made Celia Cruz stand up and yell "Azúcar!" and the hard lessons he learned after bombing his first gig as Tito Puente Jr.’s 19-year-old Musical Director.

Today, W***y is a Secretary for the New York chapter of the Recording Academy (The Grammys), a television programmer for the WWE and the YES Network, and the co-founder of the highly anticipated International Salsa Museum. W***y breaks down exactly how independent artists can get a seat at the table at the Grammys, why NYC desperately needs a 100,000-square-foot facility to honor salsa legends, and why music education in public schools is the ultimate game-changer for our youth.

W***y Rodriguez Uptown Royalty NYC Janice Torres-Perez Janice Torres

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Rc7STDKeUePHTaMBIsIq5?si=v6PqrtQvQsqPn7KMpsj2Yw

Uptown Voices · Episode

08/25/2026

How to get $100 US Open tickets! 🎾🔥

"Sports belong to the people." Big news for our neighborhood! 🗽 Mayor Zohran Mamdani just announced that 1,000 discounted US Open tickets are dropping exclusively for New York City residents!

Starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, NYC residents can snag up to two tickets for just $100 each to see the world's best tennis players compete in the Main Draw. It is all part of a major city push to make massive sporting events accessible to everyone, not just the elite. These will sell out instantly, so head to usopen.org/NYCtickets on Wednesday morning to secure your spot!

08/25/2026

No one should have to wait months for life-saving apartment repairs. On this special segment of the Uptown Voices podcast, Octavio Blanco breaks down NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s major new initiative to fast-track critical housing court cases against severely neglectful landlords.

From open vacate orders and broken elevators to a lack of heat and hot water, the most egregious cases will now require parties back in court within 5 days! Plus, Octavio shares crucial steps you can take before ending up in court, like documenting your 311 complaints to use as evidence and attending NYC 101 workshops to organize your neighbors into a tenant union.

08/25/2026

The Story: Octavio Blanco is back for another edition of Taco Tuesday! This week, we're visiting Taqueria Emilio on 207th Street. It might be easy to miss behind the scaffolding, but you definitely don't want to skip this neighborhood spot.

Watch as Octavio dives into pure pork Carnitas, shares the fascinating Middle Eastern history behind Al Pastor, and taste-tests what might be the neatest, least messy Birria taco in all of New York City. Grab a lime, pull up a chair, and drop your favorite Uptown taqueria in the comments!

08/24/2026

Demanding Respect: Reclaiming the Narrative of Washington Heights. 🛑✊🏽

What kind of example are we setting for the next generation? On this powerful segment of the Uptown Voices podcast, host Octavio Blanco delivers an impassioned message following the recent street takeovers that have caused chaos in Upper Manhattan.

He points out a harsh reality: people are traveling from all over the city to treat Washington Heights like a destructive playground. Octavio makes it clear that we must honor the sacrifices of the long-time residents who built this neighborhood. Anyone is welcome to visit, but they must respect the community and the people who live here!

08/24/2026

"A travesty, but not an unexpected one." Community Board 12 demands action on Sherman Ave. 🛑📋

The Story: Why was the tragic accident on Sherman Avenue this week completely avoidable? On the Uptown Voices podcast, Anthony Viola, Chair of Community Board 12, drops a heavy truth: the board passed a resolution two years ago asking the DOT for a redesign plan—and nothing was done.

Despite repeated calls to the DOT, NYPD, and local officials, the community's warnings were ignored. Now, Anthony and CB12 are preparing to use their "bully pulpit" this fall to bring DOT leadership into the room and demand the safety plan they asked for long ago.