On a cold and windy afternoon in January, a crowd gathered outside at Allegheny Avenue and C Street to enjoy the rhythmic sounds of bomba and plena. The event, held in honor of Three Kings Day, marked the grand opening of Los Bomberos de la Calle’s new location, the Bomba Plena Cultural Center.
Los Bomberos de la Calle, formed in 2013, is dedicated to preserving and sharing Puerto Rican traditions. Named for their street-level approach to music, the group began holding jam sessions to raise cultural awareness in Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community. The center, which acts as the band’s home base, hosts events and programming related to music and dance.
The band has grown in size and purpose over the years, according to Anthony E. Mendez, founder and director of Los Bomberos De La Calle. The group’s mission is to teach young people the rhythms of their ancestors.
“We do over 50 to 60 school assemblies during Hispanic Heritage Month, bringing our music to the next generation,” Mendez said.
Mendez’s journey with bomba
At 18, Mendez, known as “Mr. Tony,” moved to Philadelphia from New York, where he connected deeply with bomba, a Puerto Rican folkloric music.
Bomba originated in the 17th century, created by enslaved West Africans on Puerto Rico’s sugar plantations. Using barrel drums and call-and-response vocals, it became a powerful form of communication, resistance, and expression. Towns like Mayagüez, San Juan, Loíza, and Ponce shaped its many styles, influenced by Caribbean musical exchanges, leading to 16 distinct rhythms.
In the early 20th century, plena became known as the "sung newspaper," sharing community stories through melodies and percussion.
Bomba and plena embody Puerto Rico’s resilience, blending resistance and celebration through music.
Mendez recalls when he first encountered bomba.
“I'll be completely honest, I wasn't very interested in it at first,” he said. “But once I found out the history of what the music entailed, it drew me to it like nothing else.”
Since developing an interest in bomba, Mendez has been influenced by many mentors. He trained with Maribel Lozada Arzuaga, skilled in the danza jíbara style of bomba, and the bomba group Familia Rojas.
His journey took a profound turn when he picked up a drum for the first time and instantly connected to the rhythm.
One day, on his way to watch a performance, he spotted a bomba drummer practicing at the bottom of a hill.
“She called me over and told me to try it. I didn’t want to at first, but she kept pushing me,” said Mendez. “When I started playing, I picked it up quicker than anything.”
As Mendez followed the drummer’s lead, the band’s director came rushing down the hill, amazed that Mendez could keep the rhythm so well.
“And at that point, [the band director] said, ‘Okay, we're going to Target, I'm gonna buy you the clothes for the show tomorrow,’” he said.
The band's connection to the music
For Mendez, bomba is more than just music—it’s a form of emotional release and storytelling. The bomba rhythms are closely tied to the dancers' movements, which express their emotions through each step, while the drummers respond in kind. This dynamic, Mendez explained, offers a therapeutic outlet for frustration and joy.
“When you dance bomba, you’re letting off steam. And the drummer feels what you’re feeling. It’s like a conversation through sound.”
One of Los Bomberos’ vocalists, Jonathan Santiago, came to Philadelphia in 2013 from Humacao, Puerto Rico. Nydia Calderon, a teacher and Santiago's wife, introduced him to Los Bomberos De La Calle after they performed a Christmas parranda in her classroom.
Santiago said his love for bomba began during his childhood.
“My dad has involved me since I was little. Even though there wasn’t much bomba and plena around, I’d see bomba performed on street corners, and it always caught my attention,” he said in Spanish.
Juliselle Burgos, a dancer and teaching artist with Los Bomberos, has experienced bomba's transformative power firsthand. She has used it to overcome many challenges in her life, she said.
Her journey began at 11, when she walked into a room expecting to learn salsa, only to find herself introduced to bomba instead.
“I didn’t know what bomba was at the time, but it became my outlet,” she said.
Over time, Burgos went from a shy student to a confident teacher. Now, she helps the young people she works with do the same.
“We've had kids come in so shy, and by the end of the year, they’re jumping and smiling, fully embracing the music,” she said.
Mendez’s children—Izabella, a dancer, and Sean and Izaiah—have been immersed in the music since they were toddlers. Their participation in the band plays a crucial role in the group's legacy.
“Every time I told everybody, everybody doubted me,” Mendez said, recalling the band’s reluctance to involve his kids in the performances. “But I told them just watch, you're going to see.”
Today, if needed, Mendez can put on an entire show with just his family.
Mendez’s son Sean, now 17, reflects on the photos and videos of Mendez teaching him the music that is now an integral part of his life. Growing up with the sound of bomba echoing through his home, Sean's connection to the music deepened as he matured.
“As a kid, I followed Tony everywhere, like his tail. I got hooked,” Sean said.
But over time, he progressed from student to one of the group’s lead percussionists.
“To have everybody doing it now, it’s passing it down to the next generation,” Mendez said. “I think that’s why we’re doing this location.”
Centuries of tradition under one roof
The opening of the group’s new space wasn’t just about having a practice area—it represented the next chapter of their mission.
“It feels good. This has been a long time coming,” Sean said, reflecting on the moment's significance.
For Los Bomberos de la Calle, the Bomba Plena Cultural Center is more than just a music venue—it’s a community gathering place. From Puerto Rican merchandise on display to Mendez’s mother’s gourmet fruit cupcakes, Mendez's vision extended beyond the beats—it's a celebration of culture.
“I wanted to create something that brought people together and reminded them of home,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the room filled with laughter and music.
To Los Bomberos de la Calle, bomba and plena are not just relics of the past but living traditions that continue to inspire and empower.
“What started as fun for me became a mission,” said Santiago. “It’s about showing how rich our music is and bringing our culture to those who may have never experienced it.”
Want to see more photos of Los Bomberos de la Calle? Check out our Photos of Kensington series.
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