New Latin music exhibit to open Nov. 19 at The Atlantic City Experience
Published Oct. 27, 2025
The Foundation of the Atlantic City Free Public Library celebrates Latin Music Culture
WHAT: The opening of a new exhibit, "Latin Rhythms by the Sea" and Latin Pipe Organ Concert
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 19. Concert at 12 p.m. and exhibit reception at 1 p.m.
WHERE: The Atlantic City Experience located in the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall lobby
Atlantic City’s rich Latin music heritage will be on display starting Nov. 19 with a new long-term exhibition, “Latin Rhythms by the Sea”, on view at The Atlantic City Experience, located in the lobby of the iconic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is located at: 2301 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The Atlantic City Experience - open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday - is presented by the Atlantic City Free Public Library.
(Pictured is Miguelito Valdés. Photo credit: The Wolfsonian-FIU)
The exhibition opens Nov. 19 with a special Latin pipe organ concert at 12 p.m., followed by a reception at 1 p.m. with light refreshments. The general public is invited to attend both events and admission is free. Free parking will be available underneath Boardwalk Hall to those attending the events. The unique concert will be performed on Atlantic City’s famed Midmer-Losh organ, the largest pipe organ in the world. The organist is Luke Staisiunas, the winner of the American Theater Organ Society competition and secretary of the ATOS.
Atlantic City's "Golden Age" for entertainment occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was a premier vacation resort known for its vibrant culture, diverse amusements, and iconic Boardwalk entertainment. At the same time Latin music, also referred to as Afro Caribbean rooted music, became popular in the United States, with genres such as rumba, mambo, chachachá and later salsa influencing the entertainment scene.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION – “Latin Rhythms by the Sea” provides a glimpse of many of the Latin greats whose bands brought Atlantic City audiences up on to the dance floor. Musical pioneers represented include: Cuban born Miguelito Valdés, (the original Mr. Babalú), famed Spanish born bandleader Xavier Cugat, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger bandleader, and proud son of Puerto Rican parents, “El Rey” Tito Puente, Puerto Rican vocalist and bandleader Tito Rodriguez, Cuban born pianist Jose Curbelo, Puerto Rican pianist Joe Loco, and others. The poly rhythms and stirring sounds of percussion ignited a passion for the music among non-Latino artists as well, including Atlantic City’s own, Pedro Albani and his Rio Rumba Band, confirming the incredible Latin influence and artistic contributions to our nation’s cultural landscape. During his distinguished career, Albani spent time on Tin Pan Alley and collaborated with such notable musicians as Xaviar Cugat, Joe Loco and Miguelito Valdés
.
With memorabilia drawn from the Atlantic City Free Library Heritage Collections, the Vicki Gold Levi private collection, and the Pedro Albani Family Music Collection the materials convey a vivid entertainment scene renowned for its nightlife. The featured venues, many no longer in existence, include Club Harlem, Round the World Room, President Hotel, Mayflower Hotel, Paradise Club, Torch Club, to name a few. The exhibition is designed by the New York based firm Pure and Applied.
ABOUT ATLANTIC CITY EXPERIENCE – Atlantic City Experience showcases the culturally diverse heritage and exciting history of Atlantic City through a series of topical exhibits and nostalgic timeline. The installations highlight many of the important events, places and people for which Atlantic City is known. It features iconic images, digital touch screens, artifacts, and an interactive timeline. Many of the items on display are part of the library’s extensive Atlantic City Heritage Collections. To learn more about The Atlantic City Experience, please click here.
ABOUT THE MIDMER-LOSH ORGAN - The largest pipe organ in the world, the Midmer-Losh organ, is located at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Also known as the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ, it has over 33,000 pipes, 7 manuals, and is the loudest and largest musical instrument on Earth.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ATLANTIC CITY FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY - The Foundation is a (501c3) non-profit organization formed for the purpose of advocating for and supporting the work of the Atlantic City Free Public Library. The Foundation raises funds for specific needs and/or projects such as providing books and other materials for the general and the Atlantic City Heritage Collections. For more info click here.
The Foundation of the Atlantic City Free Public Library celebrates Latin Music CultureWHAT: The opening of a new exhibit, "Latin Rhythms by the Sea" and Latin Pipe Organ Concert
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 19. Concert at 12 p.m. and exhibit reception at 1 p.m.
WHERE: The Atlantic City Experience located in the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall lobby
Atlantic City’s rich Latin music heritage will be on display starting Nov. 19 with a new long-term exhibition, “Latin Rhythms by the Sea”, on view at The Atlantic City Experience, located in the lobby of the iconic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is located at: 2301 Boardwalk in Atlantic City. The Atlantic City Experience - open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday - is presented by the Atlantic City Free Public Library.
(Pictured is Miguelito Valdés. Photo credit: The Wolfsonian-FIU)
The exhibition opens Nov. 19 with a special Latin pipe organ concert at 12 p.m., followed by a reception at 1 p.m. with light refreshments. The general public is invited to attend both events and admission is free. Free parking will be available underneath Boardwalk Hall to those attending the events. The unique concert will be performed on Atlantic City’s famed Midmer-Losh organ, the largest pipe organ in the world. The organist is Luke Staisiunas, the winner of the American Theater Organ Society competition and secretary of the ATOS.
Atlantic City's "Golden Age" for entertainment occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it was a premier vacation resort known for its vibrant culture, diverse amusements, and iconic Boardwalk entertainment. At the same time Latin music, also referred to as Afro Caribbean rooted music, became popular in the United States, with genres such as rumba, mambo, chachachá and later salsa influencing the entertainment scene.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION – “Latin Rhythms by the Sea” provides a glimpse of many of the Latin greats whose bands brought Atlantic City audiences up on to the dance floor. Musical pioneers represented include: Cuban born Miguelito Valdés, (the original Mr. Babalú), famed Spanish born bandleader Xavier Cugat, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger bandleader, and proud son of Puerto Rican parents, “El Rey” Tito Puente, Puerto Rican vocalist and bandleader Tito Rodriguez, Cuban born pianist Jose Curbelo, Puerto Rican pianist Joe Loco, and others. The poly rhythms and stirring sounds of percussion ignited a passion for the music among non-Latino artists as well, including Atlantic City’s own, Pedro Albani and his Rio Rumba Band, confirming the incredible Latin influence and artistic contributions to our nation’s cultural landscape. During his distinguished career, Albani spent time on Tin Pan Alley and collaborated with such notable musicians as Xaviar Cugat, Joe Loco and Miguelito Valdés
.
With memorabilia drawn from the Atlantic City Free Library Heritage Collections, the Vicki Gold Levi private collection, and the Pedro Albani Family Music Collection the materials convey a vivid entertainment scene renowned for its nightlife. The featured venues, many no longer in existence, include Club Harlem, Round the World Room, President Hotel, Mayflower Hotel, Paradise Club, Torch Club, to name a few. The exhibition is designed by the New York based firm Pure and Applied.
ABOUT ATLANTIC CITY EXPERIENCE – Atlantic City Experience showcases the culturally diverse heritage and exciting history of Atlantic City through a series of topical exhibits and nostalgic timeline. The installations highlight many of the important events, places and people for which Atlantic City is known. It features iconic images, digital touch screens, artifacts, and an interactive timeline. Many of the items on display are part of the library’s extensive Atlantic City Heritage Collections. To learn more about The Atlantic City Experience, please click here.
ABOUT THE MIDMER-LOSH ORGAN - The largest pipe organ in the world, the Midmer-Losh organ, is located at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Also known as the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ, it has over 33,000 pipes, 7 manuals, and is the loudest and largest musical instrument on Earth.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ATLANTIC CITY FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY - The Foundation is a (501c3) non-profit organization formed for the purpose of advocating for and supporting the work of the Atlantic City Free Public Library. The Foundation raises funds for specific needs and/or projects such as providing books and other materials for the general and the Atlantic City Heritage Collections. For more info click here.