Joe Cuba
Encyclopedia
Joe "Sonny" Cuba was a Puerto Rican
musician
who was considered to be the "Father of Latin Boogaloo
".
, Cuba's parents moved from Puerto Rico
to New York City in the late 1920s and settled in Spanish Harlem
, a Latino
community located in Manhattan
. Cuba was raised in an apartment building where his father had become the owner of a candy store
located on the ground floor (street level floor). His father had organized a stickball
club called the Young Devils. Stickball was the main sport activity of the neighborhood. After Cuba broke a leg he took up playing the conga
and continued to practice with the conga between school and his free time. Eventually he graduated from high school and joined a band.
performed "Abaniquito". He went up to Tito and introduced himself as a student and fan and soon they developed what was to become a lifetime friendship. This event motivated Cuba to organize his own band. In 1954, his agent recommended that he change the band's name from the Jose Calderon Sextet to the Joe Cuba Sextet and the newly named Joe Cuba Sextet made their debut at the Stardust Ballroom.
In 1962, Cuba recorded "To Be With You" with the vocals of Cheo Feliciano
and Jimmy Sabater Sr.
. The band became popular in the New York Latin community. The lyrics to Cuba's music used a mixture of Spanish
and English
, becoming an important part of the Nuyorican Movement
.
In 1965, the Sextet got their first crossover hit with the Latin and soul fusion of "El Pito (I'll Never Go Back To Georgia)" . The "Never Go Back To Georgia" chant was taken from Dizzy Gillespie's
intro to the seminal Afro-Cuban tune, "Manteca
". Sabater later revealed that "none of us had ever been to Georgia
.
Along with fellow Nuyorican artists such as Ray Barretto
and Richie Ray
, Cuba was at the forefront of the developing Latin soul sound in New York, merging American R&B styles with Afro-Cuban instrumentation. Cuba was one of the key architects behind the emerging Latin Boogaloo
sound, which became a popular and influential Latin style in the latter half of the 1960s. In 1966, his band which included timbales
, congas, sometimes bongos, bass
, vibraphone
s, and the piano
among its musical instruments, scored a "hit" in the United States
National Hit Parade List with the song "Bang Bang" - which helped kick off the popularity of the boogaloo. He also had a #1 hit, that year in the Billboards with the song "Sock It To Me Baby". Charlie Palmieri
, who was his musical director, died in 1988 of a heart attack upon his arrival to New York from Puerto Rico.
. In 2004, he was named Grand Marshall of the Puerto Rican Day Parade celebrated in Yonkers, New York. He was also the director of the Museum of La Salsa, located in Spanish Harlem
, Manhattan, New York.
Joe Cuba died on February 15, 2009 in New York City, after being removed from life support. He had been hospitalized for a persistent bacterial infection. Cuba's remains were cremated at Woodhaven Cemetery. He is survived by his 2 adult children from his first wife (Nina, married in 1960), son Mitchell and daughter Lisa, 3 grandchildren Nicole, Alexis and Rebecca; and his second wife Maria (Married in 1994).
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who was considered to be the "Father of Latin Boogaloo
Latin boogaloo
Latin Boogaloo aka bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was very popular in the United States, Central and South America from the mid to late 1960s. Latin boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans and Puerto Ricans...
".
Early years
Born "Gilberto Miguel Calderón" in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Cuba's parents moved from Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to New York City in the late 1920s and settled in Spanish Harlem
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
, a Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
community located in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. Cuba was raised in an apartment building where his father had become the owner of a candy store
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
located on the ground floor (street level floor). His father had organized a stickball
Stickball
Stickball is a street game related to baseball, usually formed as a pick-up game, played in large cities in the Northeastern United States, especially New York City. The equipment consists of a broom handle and a rubber ball, typically a spaldeen, pensie pinkie, high bouncer or tennis ball. The...
club called the Young Devils. Stickball was the main sport activity of the neighborhood. After Cuba broke a leg he took up playing the conga
Conga
The conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
and continued to practice with the conga between school and his free time. Eventually he graduated from high school and joined a band.
Musical career
In 1950, when he was 19 years old, he played for J. Panama and also for a group called La Alfarona X. The group soon disbanded and Cuba enrolled in college to study law. While at college he attended a concert in which Tito PuenteTito Puente
Tito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
performed "Abaniquito". He went up to Tito and introduced himself as a student and fan and soon they developed what was to become a lifetime friendship. This event motivated Cuba to organize his own band. In 1954, his agent recommended that he change the band's name from the Jose Calderon Sextet to the Joe Cuba Sextet and the newly named Joe Cuba Sextet made their debut at the Stardust Ballroom.
In 1962, Cuba recorded "To Be With You" with the vocals of Cheo Feliciano
Cheo Feliciano
José Feliciano, better known as Cheo Feliciano , is a composer and singer of salsa and bolero music.-Early years:...
and Jimmy Sabater Sr.
Jimmy Sabater Sr.
Jimmy Sabater, Sr. is a Latin musician, who is a three-time winner of the ACE Awards.-Biography:...
. The band became popular in the New York Latin community. The lyrics to Cuba's music used a mixture of Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, becoming an important part of the Nuyorican Movement
Nuyorican Movement
The Nuyorican Movement is a cultural and intellectual movement involving poets, writers, musicians and artists who are Puerto Rican or of Puerto Rican descent, who live in or near New York City, and either call themselves or are known as Nuyoricans...
.
In 1965, the Sextet got their first crossover hit with the Latin and soul fusion of "El Pito (I'll Never Go Back To Georgia)" . The "Never Go Back To Georgia" chant was taken from Dizzy Gillespie's
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
intro to the seminal Afro-Cuban tune, "Manteca
Manteca (song)
"Manteca" was co-written by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo in 1947. It was one of the first examples of Afro-Cuban influences being incorporated into mainstream jazz...
". Sabater later revealed that "none of us had ever been to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Along with fellow Nuyorican artists such as Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto
Ray Barretto was a Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican jazz musician.-Early years:Barretto was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent...
and Richie Ray
Richie Ray
Ricardo "Richie" Ray is a virtuoso pianist, singer, music arranger, composer and religious minister known for his success beginning in 1965 as part of the duo Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz...
, Cuba was at the forefront of the developing Latin soul sound in New York, merging American R&B styles with Afro-Cuban instrumentation. Cuba was one of the key architects behind the emerging Latin Boogaloo
Latin boogaloo
Latin Boogaloo aka bugalú is a genre of Latin music and dance that was very popular in the United States, Central and South America from the mid to late 1960s. Latin boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans and Puerto Ricans...
sound, which became a popular and influential Latin style in the latter half of the 1960s. In 1966, his band which included timbales
Timbales
Timbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned...
, congas, sometimes bongos, bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
, vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
s, and the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
among its musical instruments, scored a "hit" in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Hit Parade List with the song "Bang Bang" - which helped kick off the popularity of the boogaloo. He also had a #1 hit, that year in the Billboards with the song "Sock It To Me Baby". Charlie Palmieri
Charlie Palmieri
Charlie Palmieri was a renowned Bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as "The Giant of the Keyboards".-Early years:...
, who was his musical director, died in 1988 of a heart attack upon his arrival to New York from Puerto Rico.
Later years and death
On April 1999, Joe Cuba was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of FameInternational Latin Music Hall of Fame
The International Latin Music Hall of Fame was established in 1999.In addition to the induction into the Hall of Fame, the award ceremonies include Special Recognition Awards and Beny Moré Memorial Award.-1999:...
. In 2004, he was named Grand Marshall of the Puerto Rican Day Parade celebrated in Yonkers, New York. He was also the director of the Museum of La Salsa, located in Spanish Harlem
Spanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
, Manhattan, New York.
Joe Cuba died on February 15, 2009 in New York City, after being removed from life support. He had been hospitalized for a persistent bacterial infection. Cuba's remains were cremated at Woodhaven Cemetery. He is survived by his 2 adult children from his first wife (Nina, married in 1960), son Mitchell and daughter Lisa, 3 grandchildren Nicole, Alexis and Rebecca; and his second wife Maria (Married in 1994).
Discography
Among the songs recorded by Joe Cuba and his sextet are the following:- 1. Bang Bang
- 2. Cocinando
- 3. Ay Milagro
- 4. El Raton
- 5. Joe Cubas Latin Hustle
- 6. My Man Speedy
- 7. Quinto Sabroso
- 8. El Pito (I'll Never Go Back To Georgia)
- 9. Trip To Mamboland
- 10. Sock It To Me""
- 11. Y Tu Abuela Donde Esta
- 12. Oriza Oco
- 13. Psychedelic Baby
- 14. Pataquibiriquambambaram
- 15. Quires Volver
- 16. Yo Y Borinquen
- 17. Mi Salsa Buena
- 18. Bailadores
- 19. Joe Cubas Madness Pts 1 And 2
- 20. Oye Bien
- 21. Mujer Divina
- 22. La Tortilla
- 23. Talk About Love
- 24. Alafia
- 25. Ritmo De Joe Cuba
- 26. Hey Joe Hey Joe
- 27. Elube Chango
- 28. Wakini
- 29. No Coman Cuento
- 30. To Be With You
- 31. Mi Lindo Son
- 32. Oh Yeah
- 33. Flacos Cha Cha
- 34. La Malanga Brava
- 35. Contigo Aprendi
- 36. Ya Se Acabo
Discography (Albums)
- Steppin' Out (1962)
- Diggin' The Most (1963)
- Comin' At You (1964)
- Breakin' Out (1965)
- Alma Del Barrio: The Soul of Spanish Harlem (1964)
- Vagabundeando - Hangin' Out (1965)
- Bailadores (1965)
- We Must Be Doing Something Right! (1966)
- Bang Bang (1967)
- My Man Speedy (1968)
- The Velvet Voice of Jimmy Sabater (1969)
- Recuerdos de Mi Querido Barrio (1971)
- Bustin' Out (1972)
- Hecho y Derecho
- Cocinando La Salsa