The musical arm of the international drug rehabilitation centers known as Hogares CREA, Impacto Crea was a Puerto Rican ensemble founded in the early ‘70s by Juan José García Ríos, the president and founder of the organization. Determined to keep the youth away from drugs and crime, García Ríos decided to put together a band to spread their inspirational message throughout the more vulnerable communities. Tackling such diverse Latin genres as salsa, mambo, son cubano, and cha-cha, the group has had a revolving lineup of top-tier musicians among its ranks, such as Bobby Valentín, Larry Harlow, and Carlos “Cano” Estremera. With the help of some professional musicians that were part of the program at the time, Impacto Crea started rehearsing in 1971, and by 1973 they had released their eponymous debut. Featuring vocals by legendary salsa singers Frankie Hernández and José “Cheo” Feliciano, and directed by trumpeter Carmelo Rivera, the LP spawned some of the band’s most memorable songs: “Quiérela” and “Qué Es Lo Que Pasa.” They followed up En Navidad (1973), Impacto Crea Vol. 3 (1973), Cobarde (1974), Pronóstico (1976), and Cruel Despertar (1978). During the ‘80s, they released yet another eponymous album in 1981 and La Temeridad (1983) before finally disbanding. In the wake of the new millennium, the group was reborn as Orquesta C.R.E.A. Conciencia, whose only album, Impacto 2000 (2000), counted with the stellar participation of Gilberto Santiago and Tite Curet Alonso.
