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  Worldbeat Records Welcomes You

Welcome to our final year-end auction!

Please **carefully read** the:
NEW TARIFF REGULATIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

We remind you that tax charges are entirely independent of us.

For any questions, please contact us via private message.
We will gladly clear up your doubts and help you achieve a successful shipment with low tax charges.

We wish you happy holidays!

🕊️ BIOGRAPHY: SERAFÍN CORTÉS (DECEASED AUGUST 14, 2024)

**Serafín Cortés** was a prominent conguero, band leader, and orchestra director from **Caguas, Puerto Rico**. His orchestra released albums featuring *música brava* and *guaguancó*, among other rhythms.

**Date of Death:** He passed away on Wednesday, **August 14, 2024**, in Puerto Rico.

I. Early Career, Split, and Own Orchestra

• **Late 60s:** Cortés served as the conguero for the orchestra of **Frankie López** in Caguas.
• **Departure:** He left after Frankie López decided to form the **Orquesta de los Hermanos López** with his brother, prompting Cortés to organize his own band.
• **Musical Influence:** Cortés was good friends with **Rafael Ithier** (El Gran Combo), and his music was heavily influenced by **El Gran Combo**, which, in turn, was influenced by **Rafael Cortijo y su Combo**.
• **Personnel:** His orchestra was primarily composed of musicians from Caguas, including singers **Freddy Bonilla** and **Charlie Aponte**.

II. Discography and FANIA Connection

Cortés recorded two albums, with his most notable opportunity coming through the Fania family of labels:

Production of *Naturalmente Serafín*

• **Producers:** **Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz**. They supervised the recording at **LOS GOOD VIBRATIONS SOUNDS STUDIOS** in New York while recording their own LPs.
• **Contract Strategy:** Fania chose the **INTERNACIONAL** label for the release, as Cortés's musical style was similar to that of **Roberto Roena**.
• **Recording Personnel:** Because the session took place in New York, the regular Caguas musicians were supplemented by local talent, including bassist **Pedro Santiago** (from Rey Roig's orchestra) and members of the Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz ensemble.
• **Special Guests:** **Richie Ray** (Piano) and **Bobby Cruz** and **Vicky Vimari** (Chorus) participated in the recording.
• **Album Cover:** The artwork was by **Izzy Sanabria**, depicting a jungle landscape with title letters shaped like tree trunks. Although Cortés had no political intentions, the artwork—similar to other albums of that era—evoked themes of Latin American social struggle.

III. Post-Recording Career and Personnel

• **Night Club Residency:** Between his two album releases, Cortés's orchestra became the resident band at the night club **LOMAS DEL SOL** in Guaynabo (owned by Jerry Concepción). He frequently alternated with El Gran Combo there.
• **Key Personnel (Habitual):** The regular members included Cortés (congas), **Manuel Alfonso Rodríguez** (Musical Director), trumpeters **Edwin Cortés** and **Orlando Pabellón**, and vocalists **Charlie Aponte** and **Freddy Bonilla**.
• **Charlie Aponte's Move:** After the *Naturalmente Serafín* recording, singer **Charlie Aponte** went on to join **El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico**.

Musical Deep Dive

• **"MUCHO AMOR":** This track featured an exceptional arrangement by **Manuel Rodríguez** and was a cover of the romantic bolero **"MUCHO CORAZÓN"** by Mexican composer **Emma Helena Val de la Mar** (popularized by Benny Moré).
• **"BRUJERÍA":** The version recorded by Cortés was based on the composition by Nicaraguan **Napoleón Baltodán** (originally titled "EMBRUJO," 1940).

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Changes to International Shipping

Dear Customers,

Due to the recent and **significant changes in US customs regulations**, specifically the elimination of the historic tariff exemption known as **"De Minimis"**, we are required to implement crucial adjustments to our international logistics.

This new regulation, which subjects almost all shipments to tariffs, has caused a **temporary disruption** in standard postal and parcel services from Mexico to several destinations.

NEW SHIPPING POLICY: Exclusive Use of Private Courier

To ensure your orders arrive safely, with full traceability, and in legal compliance, we are migrating our shipping exclusively to **private courier services (e.g., UPS)** for all orders destined for the:

• **United States of America (USA)**
• **Canada**
• **Puerto Rico**
• **Australia**

Effective immediately, our preferred choice will be **UPS**, a company with the capacity and expertise to handle the complexity of the new customs requirements. We are actively seeking the best rates and service quality.

It is essential that you carefully review the service rates **before placing your bid/order**, as this is the **only shipping method available** for the destinations mentioned above.

Rest of the World

For **all other countries not mentioned**, shipping through **Correos de México (Mexican Postal Service)** continues to operate normally.

We appreciate your understanding regarding these changes, which are beyond our control.

Questions? Contact us via Private Message!

EXCLUSIVE UPS SHIPPING RATES

Due to the recent elimination of the **"De Minimis"** exemption and the resulting disruption of traditional postal services, **Private Courier (UPS)** is now the **only available shipping method** for the **USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Australia**.

Rates have been established based on the quantity and format of the records. Please review them carefully before placing your order:

1. Singles Records (7" / 45 RPM)

2. Long Play Records (LP / 12")

If your order includes a combination or exceeds the limits shown, please **contact us via private message** for a personalized quote.

Auction Rules for a Successful Purchase

• No shipments will be made to any address other than the one provided by **eBay**.
• We do not accept payments outside of **eBay**.
• We do not accept payments on delivery. If you are not familiar with how the platform works, please inform yourself before making a purchase.
• We do not end auctions early. The starting price is the minimum we accept.
• We will not answer questions that are not directly related to the auction.

Payment Policy

• Any sale will be canceled if payment is not received within a maximum of **3 days**.
• If you need more time to make your payment, please send us a message to reach an agreement.

Packaging and Inspection

• The record has been cleaned with the **Spin-Clean washing system**.
• The inner sleeve has been replaced with a new white generic sleeve. The record has been placed in a new outer sleeve.
• The vinyl has been inspected with an **Ott-Lite lamp** to determine its condition. The package will be professionally and securely packaged for shipment.

Shipping Costs (Conflicting Rates Warning!)

**ATTENTION! The rates below (typically for postal service) are SUSPENDED for the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Australia.** For those destinations, you MUST apply the fixed UPS rates shown above.

• Please wait for the invoice with the **actual shipping cost before paying**.
• LP / Singles:
  • USA / Canada: **$20** (Postal service is suspended until further notice - Apply UPS rates!)
  • Europe / America (other countries): **$25**
  • Asia and the Rest of the World: **$30**
• You can combine several records in a single shipment.

Grading and Sound

Our grading follows the international standard:

• Almost flawless (**NM**)
• Excellent (**EX**)
• Very good (**VG+**)
• Very good (**VG**)

Please note that the sound of a record can vary depending on the type of turntable and cartridge used. Our grading is based on playback with a **Reloop 700 turntable and an Ortofon 2M cartridge**.

**Important:** We will solve any problems to avoid negative feedback.

Cordial greetings to our buyers!