ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Frank Leto has been performing original music in his annual carnaval show at the National Hispanic Cultural Center for two decades now. 

This year’s performance theme is “Veinte Años,” meaning 20 years. 20 years of sharing music and dance from all over the world. 

“We usually call this a tambourine but in Brazil this is called a pandero, and the pandero plays samba and samba is based on your heartbeat,” said Leto. 

Leto says the show takes you on a trip around the world, celebrating carnaval.

“We might start out in Trinidad and Tobago, where they play the steel drum and Calypso music. And then we might take them to Brazil, where they play Samba. Also, we take the audience to Cuba to experience the comparsa,” Leto said.

This year, the music is hitting more of a sad note.

“Well, we’re dedicating this show to my wife, Pilar,” said Leto. 

Pilar suddenly passed away in 2024. She was the lead choreographer for the local show. Their love story deeply intertwined with carnaval celebrations, and that’s how they met. 

Leto says hitting the year mark has been hard, but this heartbeat has kept him going.

“I don’t know if I would have survived this last year without music. So I continue to write songs,” Leto said. 

This year is for Pilar. 

“I know that she would want everybody to dance and have a good time, so we’re going to go ahead with that and just try to push everybody forward. It’s going to be an emotional night, but it’s going to be a celebratory night,” said Leto. 

There’s only one show this year happening Saturday, for more ticket information click here.