Joe Arroyo
Encyclopedia
Álvaro José Arroyo González (also known as Joe Arroyo or El Joe; 1 November 1955 – 26 July 2011) was a Colombian salsa
and tropical music
singer, composer and songwriter. Considered one of the greatest performers of Caribbean music in his country.
. Born and raised in the neighborhood Nariño in Cartagena, Arroyo began his career at an early age, at the age of eight when he sang in brothels in Tesco, a red-light zone in his hometown. In the beginning he sang with groups like "Los Caporales del Magdalena", "Manuel Villanueva y su Orquesta", "La Protesta" and "Super Combo Los Diamantes", in 1971 he recorded with "La Promiscua".
and signed up with Colombian record label Discos Fuentes
. He performed with the band for ten years until in 1981 when he began his solo career leading his band, named "La Verdad" (The truth).
Joe Arroyo became very successful by mixing salsa
, cumbia
, porro
, soca
, kompa, zouk and other music from the African Diaspora in a unique style. Some of his most famous songs are Rebelión", "Tania", "El Ausente" and "En Barranquilla me Quedo.
He was once seriously ill for about 3 months due to a problem with his thyroid even though many had attributed it to drug abuse, which the singer denied in Rolling Stones Magazine, Argentina in January of 2004.
With The Latin Brothers
With his group "La Verdad"
Compilations
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
and tropical music
Tropical music
Musica tropical or tropical music is a broad term for vocal and instrumental music with "tropical" flavor usually associated with the Afro-Caribbean music. It is part of an even broader category of Latin music. Usually it is an upbeat dance music, but also includes ballads. It features complex,...
singer, composer and songwriter. Considered one of the greatest performers of Caribbean music in his country.
Early life
Joe Arroyo was born in CartagenaCartagena, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias , is a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department...
. Born and raised in the neighborhood Nariño in Cartagena, Arroyo began his career at an early age, at the age of eight when he sang in brothels in Tesco, a red-light zone in his hometown. In the beginning he sang with groups like "Los Caporales del Magdalena", "Manuel Villanueva y su Orquesta", "La Protesta" and "Super Combo Los Diamantes", in 1971 he recorded with "La Promiscua".
Musical career
In 1971 Arroyo had his biggest opportunity of becoming a nationally known artist. He was discovered by Julio Ernesto Estrada, the bass player and singer of the band Fruko y sus TesosFruko y sus Tesos
Fruko y sus Tesos is a salsa group from Colombia which enjoys immense popularity throughout the Latin American world. It was formed in 1970 by Julio Ernesto Estrada, artistically known as "Fruko" who modeled it after the New York salsa sound of the Fania All-Stars, one of the leading salsa groups...
and signed up with Colombian record label Discos Fuentes
Discos Fuentes
Discos Fuentes is a record label based in Colombia. It was founded in 1934 in Cartagena, Colombia by Antonio Fuentes Estrada, and was the first Colombian record label. The label was instrumental in introducing African-based genres such as cumbia, fandango, and porro to Colombia...
. He performed with the band for ten years until in 1981 when he began his solo career leading his band, named "La Verdad" (The truth).
Joe Arroyo became very successful by mixing salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
, cumbia
Cumbia
Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...
, porro
Porro
The porro is a musical style and dance from the Caribbean region of Colombia. It is a Colombian Cumbia rhythm that developed into its own sub-genre. It was originally a folkloric expression from the Sinú River area that evolved into a ballroom dance...
, soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
, kompa, zouk and other music from the African Diaspora in a unique style. Some of his most famous songs are Rebelión", "Tania", "El Ausente" and "En Barranquilla me Quedo.
Health issues and drug abuse
Joe Arroyo was forced to stay away from his performances many times due to his health problems. On more than one occasion, he was thought to be dead because of his abrupt absences from media attention. Joe Arroyo had to go through surgery because of problems with his eyes.He was once seriously ill for about 3 months due to a problem with his thyroid even though many had attributed it to drug abuse, which the singer denied in Rolling Stones Magazine, Argentina in January of 2004.
Death
Arroyo died in Barranquilla on July 26, 2011, after spending nearly a month in hospital due to multiorgan failure. During his stay in the hospital his health deteriorated. The day before his death, doctors announced the singer was suffering from several organ failures including renal and heart failure and he was given his final sacrament by the local bishop. The singer died at 7:45 local time.Discography
With Fruko y sus TesosFruko y sus Tesos
Fruko y sus Tesos is a salsa group from Colombia which enjoys immense popularity throughout the Latin American world. It was formed in 1970 by Julio Ernesto Estrada, artistically known as "Fruko" who modeled it after the New York salsa sound of the Fania All-Stars, one of the leading salsa groups...
- 1972 – El Bueno
- 1973 – La fruta bomba
- 1973 – Ayunando
- 1973 – El Violento
- 1974 – El Caminante
- 1975 – El Grande
- 1976 – El Bárbaro
- 1977 – El Patillero
- 1978 – El Cocinero Mayor
- 1979 – El Teso
- 1980 – El Espectacular
- 1982 – El Genio
With The Latin Brothers
The Latin Brothers
The Latin Brothers is Colombian salsa group. It is currently led by Rafael Benitez, who is the group's timbales. The Latin Brothers was created by lead singer Piper Pimienta, the "voice of Colombian salsa." in 1974, as a sister act to Fruko y sus Tesos on the Discos Fuentes label...
- 1976 – Te encontré
- 1977 – Bailame como quieras
- 1978 – Suavecito, apretaíto
- 1979 – En su salsa
With his group "La Verdad"
- 1981 – Arroyando
- 1981 - Con gusto y gana
- 1982 - El campeón"
- 1983 - Actuando
- 1984 - Hasta amanecé
- 1985 - Me le fugué a la candela
- 1986 – Musa Original
- 1987 – Echao Pa´lante
- 1988 - Fuego en mi mente
- 1989 – En Acción
- 1990 – El Supercongo // La guerra de los callados
- 1991 – Toque de Clase
- 1991 - La voz de Joe Arroyo
- 1993 – Fuego
- 1994 – Sus Razones Tendrá
- 1995 - Mi libertad
- 1996 – Reinando en Vida
- 1997 – Deja Que Te Cante
- 1998 – Cruzando El Milenio
- 1999 – En Sol Mayor
- 2002 - Marcando terreno
- 2004 – Arroyo Peligroso
- 2004 - El Joe Live
- 2005 – Se Armó la Moña en Carnaval
- 2007 – El Súper Joe
Compilations
- 1990 – 15 grandes exitos
- 1990 - Echao pa'lante (Grandes éxitos)
- 1991 - 20 aniversario
- 1994 - Antología musical
- 1995 – Lo Diferente
- 1995 - Súper éxitos del Joe. Vol.1 y vol.2
- 1997 - Álbum de oro
- 1997 - 30 pegaditas con el Joe
- 1997 - 25 aniversario
- 1998 – Aquí Estoy
- 1998 – El Sonero de América
- 1998 - Rey del carnaval
- 1999 – El Baile del Siglo, Disco 1
- 1999 – El Baile del Siglo, Disco 2
- 1999 - 20th aniversary
- 2000 - El Rey del Congo de Oro
- 2001 – Los Reyes del Trópico (Con Juan Carlos Coronell)
- 2001 – Rebelion
- 2002 – El Original, Disco 1
- 2002 – El Original, Disco 2
- 2002 - 32 Cañonazos (CD 1)
- 2002 - Los Magníficos de La Salsa
- 2002 – Sus Mejores Temas Tropicales
- 2003 – Grandes Exitos, Disco 1
- 2003 – Grandes Exitos, Disc 2
- 2003 – Lo Salsero de Joe
- 2005 - La Verdadera Historia del Joe
- 2006 - Gold
- 2007 - 20 originales
- 2008 - 10 de colección
- 2011 - Colección 100 éxitos del siglo