Title: Carlos Fonseca: The Man Behind Chile’s Music Scene
Subtitle: A Look into the Life and Legacy of the Legendary Music Manager
Date: October 10, 2021
Carlos Fonseca, the renowned music manager and founder of the iconic record store Fusión, played a pivotal role in shaping the Chilean music scene. Born in Lima in the early 1960s, Fonseca spent his childhood in Chile and his teenage years in Argentina. In 1981, he opened Fusión in the Galería Drugstore de Providencia, a record store that would become a hub for Chilean musicians and a catalyst for the country’s music industry.
At a time when specialized music stores were scarce in Chile, Fusión provided a vibrant space for music enthusiasts and artists alike. Fonseca’s keen eye for talent led him to become the manager of influential bands such as Los Prisioneros, La Ley, Nadie, and Manuel García. Over the past four decades, Fonseca has been hailed as one of the most important figures in the national music scene.
In June 2021, Fonseca sat down for an exclusive interview with Culto, where he shared his experiences as a music manager, his perspective on Chilean rock, and intimate details about his relationship with the members of Los Prisioneros. This conversation, which remained unpublished until now, offers a unique insight into Fonseca’s life and career. Sadly, Fonseca passed away on October 6, 2021, at the age of 62, making this interview all the more significant as it reveals some of his most memorable moments.
Reflecting on the early days of Fusión, Fonseca recalls the nervousness he felt about opening a record store in Chile, where the music scene was still in its infancy. He compares the experience to his time in Buenos Aires, where record stores were abundant. Despite the uncertainty, Fonseca’s determination to create a thriving music community led him to not only sell records but also foster a movement that would strengthen and elevate Chilean music.
Fusión’s impact on the music scene became evident when Fonseca offered Los Prisioneros the opportunity to record their first songs on the store’s second floor. This decision proved to be a turning point for both the band and Fonseca’s career. Fonseca’s father played a crucial role in financing Fusión and supporting Los Prisioneros, even though he initially had reservations about his son managing a band. FonseTitle: Carlos Fonseca: The Man Behind Chile’s Music Scene
Subtitle: A look into the life and legacy of Carlos Fonseca, the influential manager and founder of Fusión, Chile’s iconic music store.
Date: October 12, 2021
Carlos Fonseca, the man who played a pivotal role in shaping Chile’s music scene, passed away on October 6, 2021, at the age of 62. Fonseca, born in the early 1960s in Lima, with childhood in Chile and adolescence in Argentina, opened the record store Fusión in the Galería Drugstore de Providencia on April 30, 1981. This marked the beginning of his journey into the heart of Chilean music history.
At a time when specialized stores were scarce in the capital, Fusión became a shining beacon for music enthusiasts. Fonseca’s keen sense of the industry led him to become the manager of Los Prisioneros, one of Chile’s most influential bands, whom he provided with a space to record their first songs on the store’s second floor. Fonseca’s managerial skills extended to other diverse artists such as La Ley, Nadie, and Manuel García, making him the most important figure in the national music scene for the past four decades.
In June 2021, Fonseca connected via Zoom with Culto to share his life as a music manager, his perspective on Chilean rock, and the intimate details of his relationship with the members of Los Prisioneros. This conversation, previously unpublished, sheds light on Fonseca’s remarkable journey.
Reflecting on the early days of Fusión, Fonseca recalls the nervousness of opening a record store in Chile, where the music scene was still in its infancy. He compares it to his experience in Buenos Aires, where there were already 30 record stores. Despite the uncertainty, Fonseca’s determination to create a vibrant music community led him to focus not only on selling records but also on nurturing a movement and strengthening the music itself.
Fusión faced initial challenges, including delays in receiving shipments of records due to customs issues. However, when the records finally arrived, Fonseca spent a sleepless night organizing them, eagerly preparing for the store’s grand opening. The response from the public was overwhelming, and Fusión quickly became a hub for music lovers.
Fonseca’s passion for music and his desire to contribute to the Chilean music scene were supported by his father, who invested in Fusión. The store’s success allowed Fonseca to finance Los Prisioneros’ firstCarlos Fonseca: The Man Behind Chile’s Music Scene
In 1981, Carlos Fonseca’s life changed forever. Born in the early 60s in Lima, with a childhood in Chile and adolescence in Argentina, Fonseca opened the record store Fusión on April 30th that year at the Galería Drugstore de Providencia. This store became his gateway to the history of Chilean music.
At a time when specialized stores were scarce in the capital, Fusión provided a vibrant space for music enthusiasts. It also served as a meeting point for the emerging music scene, starting with Los Prisioneros, whom Fonseca allowed to record their first songs on the store’s second floor. Fonseca’s keen sense of talent led him to become the manager of Los Prisioneros, a role he later repeated with diverse artists such as La Ley, Nadie, and Manuel García. Over the past four decades, there has been no other professional in the industry more influential than him in Chilean music.
In June 2021, 40 years after the birth of Fusión and with the pandemic still looming, Fonseca connected via Zoom with Culto to reveal his life as a music manager, his perspective on Chilean rock, and the intimate details of his relationship with the men behind “La voz de los 80.” This conversation, previously unpublished, sheds light on Fonseca’s remarkable journey. Following his death on October 6th at the age of 62, we now unveil some of his most memorable moments.
“For me, remembering Fusión is recalling the nervousness of opening a record store in Chile when there was nothing happening. It was like day and night compared to what I had experienced in Buenos Aires. When I arrived in Santiago, I felt that there was a slightly more fertile ground to do these things, it was more entertaining because in Buenos Aires, there were already about 30 record stores. But that uncertainty made me bring more color to Fusión and also do parallel things, open spaces, and create a music scene. Selling records was not the most important thing; it was about growing a movement, strengthening music, being attended by someone who vibrated with music, a somewhat romantic notion that was aligned with our principles.”
“We had the store ready, but we didn’t open for about a month because the records never arrived. There were problems with customs. Until one day, 150 boxes of records from the United States arrived, each containing 70 vinyl records. I stayed up all night organizing, without sleeping, putting the records on the shelves until I finally opened the store. I was extremely tired, and it was pouring rain. The store filled up.”
“I was studying at the University of Buenos Aires, and my dad offered me the opportunity to stay there, and I considered it. But in 1980, I came to Chile, met part of my family, and felt a connection. I have never regretted not staying in Argentina; it would have probably been much more competitive. In Buenos Aires, I worked at a record store called La Vitrola, responsible for cataloging. I suggested they change the name to Fusión, but they didn’t listen to me. I also suggested they put televisions with music videos in the shop windows to attract people, but they didn’t do that either. So, I left and said, ‘I’m not going to work in a record store called La Vitrola, for God’s sake!'”
“Fusión existed thanks to my dad’s money; everything was built with his support. He had retired from the company he worked for and received a good retirement package, so he had that money and wanted to invest it in something. When we needed to buy the first instruments for Los Prisioneros or pay for their first album, the money also came from him. Of course, it was much more challenging to convince him to support Los Prisioneros than Fusión. He felt that Los Prisioneros would distract me too much, with tours and everything. And he was right.”
“One conclusion I have drawn over the years is that if Fusión hadn’t worked with Los Prisioneros, if we hadn’t released those albums, the initial stone of Chilean rock in the 80s would have been Cinema (the group led by Álvaro Scaramelli). If Los Prisioneros hadn’t appeared with the success they had, that would have been the dominant musical style in Chile, similar to what happened in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, or even Mexico,
How did Fonseca’s father support his passion for music and the Chilean music scene?
T organizing them, categorizing them by genre and artist. When we finally opened, it was a grand event. People flooded in, excited to find the records they had been searching for. Fusión became not just a store, but a community.”
Fonseca’s passion for music and his drive to contribute to the Chilean music scene were supported by his father, who believed in his son’s vision and invested in Fusión. His father’s support was crucial in financing the store and also in supporting Los Prisioneros, even though he initially had reservations about his son managing a band. However, Fonseca’s dedication and the band’s
Qué interesante! No puedo esperar para aprender más sobre la historia y el impacto de Carlos Fonseca en la música chilena. ¡Felices 40 años de fusión!