Bronx, NY—Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents an electrifying celebration of freestyle music with FOREVER FREESTYLE 17 on Saturday, March 15th, 2025, at 8 PM, celebrating 40 years of freestyle! To Latino teenagers in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, freestyle was more than music, it was a movement, blending Hip-Hop and disco into a sound that became “Our Music.” Now in its seventeenth year at Lehman Center, this concert will feature performances by GEORGE LAMOND, JUDY TORRES, NOEL, THE COVER GIRLS, BETTY D OF SWEET SENSATION, CYNTHIA, LISETTE MELENDEZ, SOAVE, C-BANK, ABY CRUZ, and SAMMY ZONE.
Having thrilled audiences for nearly two decades, FOREVER FREESTYLE 17 returns to Lehman Center for one unforgettable night, bringing together artists and fans for the ultimate celebration of freestyle music.
JUDY TORRES, known as the “Queen of Freestyle,” was discovered at 18 in her hometown of the Bronx and quickly rose to fame with hits like “No Reason to Cry” (1986) and “Come Into My Arms” (1987). Her second album featured the hit “I Love You for All Seasons,” and in 2010, she released the MP3 album Stay.
GEORGE LAMOND got his start singing backup for his cousin Joey Kid in the Bronx before forming the duo Loose Touch. He made his solo debut with “Bad of the Heart” (1990), which landed him a deal with Columbia. In 1992, he released the hit “Where Does That Leave Love,” and later became a Latin music star when his first Spanish single, “Si Tu Te Vas,” soared to the top of the charts.
NOEL, a Bronx native of Puerto Rican descent, made his mark on the dance charts in 1987 with his breakout hit “Silent Morning.” The following year, “Like a Child (At Play)” became his first #1 single, followed by another chart-topper, “Out of Time.” In 1990, he continued his success with the hit “The Question.”
THE COVER GIRLS were formed by Sal Abbatiello after an extensive talent search, bringing together a group of eight talented women. They made an instant impact with their debut single “Show Me” (1986), lighting up both domestic and international charts. Originally from the Bronx, the group went on to release four albums, selling over 3 million records and scoring 11 consecutive hits on Billboard’s Hot 100.
BETTY D was a founding member of the Bronx-based freestyle group Sweet Sensation, one of the few acts in the genre to break into the mainstream. With hits like “Hooked on You” (1988) and the chart-topping ballad “If Wishes Came True” (1990), the group became a staple of late ‘80s and early ‘90s dance music. Now performing as a solo artist, BETTY D continues to bring the energy and nostalgia of freestyle to audiences today.
CYNTHIA, a native of Spanish Harlem, began her music career at 16, singing alongside Safire. She rose to fame with her 1989 debut album, Cynthia, which featured freestyle classics like “Change On Me,” “Endless Nights,” and “Thief of Hearts.” Her follow-up album, Cynthia II, included hits such as “Break Up to Make Up,” “Love Me Tonight,” and the Billboard Hot 100-charting duet “Dream Boy/Dream Girl” with Johnny O.
LISETTE MELENDEZ, a Puerto Rican-American vocalist from East Harlem, became a freestyle sensation in the early ‘90s with her smash hit “Together Forever” (1991), followed by another charting single, “A Day in My Life (Without You)” (1991). Her debut album landed in the Top Ten on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, solidifying her impact on the genre. She continued her success with hits like “Goody Goody” (1994) and later collaborated with Cynthia on the 2005 single “I Can’t Change Your Mind.”
SOAVE, born Jeffery Martinez in Jersey City, NJ, is best known for his freestyle classic “Crying Over You” (1994). He followed up with hits like “If You Want Me” (2006), “Don’t Look Back” (1991) and “Where Did We Go Wrong?” (2009), solidifying his place in the freestyle scene.
C-BANK is a dynamic studio project created by musician, composer, and producer John Robie, featuring lead vocalist Jenny Burton. The group is best known for its 1983 freestyle classic “One More Shot,” which became a defining hit of the era.
ABY CRUZ, a former member of the legendary freestyle group TKA, helped define the Latin club sound of New York City in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. As part of TKA, he contributed to hits like “Tears May Fall” (1987),“You Are the One” (1989) and “Louder Than Love” (1990). Now performing as a solo artist, he continues to bring the energy and passion of freestyle to the stage.
SAMMY ZONE, a freestyle artist from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, got his start in the late ‘80s, first as a member of Release and later as part of One on One. He went on to build a solo career, releasing music on labels like NY Track Records, High Power Records, and Warner Brothers, gaining international recognition with a massive tour in Brazil in 1995. After taking time off to focus on family, he made a triumphant return to freestyle, collaborating with Carlos Berrios on the singles “Without You” (2012) and “Running” (2010).
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 FOREVER FREESTYLE 16 on Saturday, March 16th, 2024 at 8pm ($125, $95, $75, $60, $50) can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Friday, 10am–5pm, and beginning at 4pm on the day of the concert), or through online access at https://www.lehmancenter.org/events/freestyle-16. 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.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. is supported, in part, by public funds through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the Bronx Delegation. Additional funding is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. We are thrilled to share that Goya Foods has agreed to renew their sponsorship for this season which will help Lehman Center expand our reach to the community.
