Episode 04 · Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo Blues: The Story of Bachata

The interplay of guitar and voice, carrying stories of love, hardship and everyday life.

Once dismissed by Dominican elites as the music of cabarets and the poor, bachata became an international sensation. Filmmaker Alex Wolfe brings live ambience and the stories of Luis Vargas, Antony Santos, Aridia Ventura and Raulín Rodríguez to this portrait of a music that gives everyday feelings a public voice.

Read the original program notes ↗

Listen from October 8, 2026, at midnight Eastern Time. The recording link will appear when confirmed.

Add the release to your calendar ↗

Luis Vargas in sunglasses and a black jacket, with his hands raised; photograph supplied by Afropop Worldwide — Luis Vargas, bachatero. Photograph supplied by Afropop Worldwide. Photo credits ↗

The voices of bachata

01 / LUIS VARGAS

The guitar and the voice

Luis Vargas is at the heart of Alex Wolfe’s documentary portrait of bachata. The radio program’s cue sheet includes a live recording of “Veneno” and his “El Macho”, bringing the guitarist and singer into focus.

Program cue sheet ↗

02 / ANTONY SANTOS

Bachata tells its own story

Wolfe brings the voice of Antony Santos into the program alongside Vargas. The music selections include Santos’s “Voy p’allá”, letting the songs sit alongside the artists’ stories.

Afropop program archive ↗

03 / ARIDIA VENTURA

A woman answers back

Aridia Ventura’s songs gave voice to women’s anger and disappointment in love. Listen for “Tú no eres varón” and “No te me despegues más”, both listed in this program’s cue sheet.

Aridia Ventura / iASO Records ↗

Featured artists: Luis Vargas · Antony Santos · Aridia Ventura · Raulín Rodríguez

Places: Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic