Fania Salsa (2 Hard Songs) - Ray Barretto

1 - Ritmo En El Corazon
2 - Eras

Ray Barretto [April 29, 1929 February 17, 2006], (whose surname is really "Barreto"; a mistake at the time Ray's birth certificate was filed gave his last name its formal spelling) was born in New York City of Puerto Rican descent. His parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico in the early 1920s, looking for a better life. He was raised in Spanish Harlem and at a very young age was influenced by his mother's love of music and by the jazz music of musicians such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

In 1946, when Barretto was 17 years old, he joined the Army. While stationed in Germany, Barretto met Belgium vibist Fats Sadi, who was working there. However, it was when he heard Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca" with Cuban percussionist, Chano Pozo, that he realized his true calling in life.

Began playing the conga drums while stationed in Europe with the U.S. Army, late 1940s; returned to New York, played congas for free in local clubs until eventually landing a job with Eddie Bonemere's Latin jazz combo; later worked with Jose Curbelo's band; made recordings with such jazz notables as Cannonball Adderley, Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, and Red Garland; replaced Mongo Santamaria in Tito Puente's band, late 1950s; formed own band, 1962; recorded actively, 1960s-1980s; formed New World Spirit, a Latin jazz sextet, 1992.

In 1962 Barretto put together his first band, calling it Charanga la Moderna. Later that same year the fledgling group released a single entitled "El Watusi," which quickly became a nationwide hit. It was around this time that Barretto established what would be a longtime relationship with Fania Records, a New York-based label specializing in Latin music that Barretto once described as the Latin version of Motown. Barretto eventually became the music director of the label's Fania All-Stars, a coalition that over the years included such notable Latino musicians as singers Ruben Blades and Hector Lavoe, trombonist Willie Colon, and pianist Larry Harlow. Looking back on his years as the leader of Charanga la Moderna, Barretto told the Austin Chronicle: "Many great years of salsa followed. Though [we were] not always commercially successful, the level of music was generally good and sometimes creative and great."

Barretto and his band kept busy during the 1960s, recording dozens of albums before the decade ended. Some of the more memorable titles from this period included Viva Watusi!, Acid, Fiesta en El Barrio, Alma Alegre, Hard Hands, Soul Drummer, and Encendido Otra Vez. Among the singers who worked with Barretto over the years were Ray de la Paz, Ruben Blades, Adalberto Santiago, and Tito Gomez.

Barreto died on February 17, 2006 at the Hackensack University Hospital of heart failure and multiple health complications. His body was flown to Puerto Rico, where Barretto was given formal honors by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture; his remains were eventually cremated.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ray Barretto
• Celia Cruz
• Carlos Torres

[DajaWaja]

@afterray celia man, Celia

[danmusitea]

sabroso!!! las manos duras de ray barreto y el azucar de celia!!!!

[afterray]

ray barretto / selia cruz RIP

boy this culture rocks!

[peruchi13]

magolote te felicito de veras por estos temones de hard songs! muy muy buenos ,mis respetos pana y que viva LA SALSA!,saludos de lima peru!

[loverockandroll1]

what can u say about the queen of salsa celia cruz the best there was

[LLJtbone]

Yeah.. love her voice. Great horns.. :-)

[sakeena12]

thank you for info on Ray berretto

[Ajmtornado]

el rey de las manos duras!!!!!!!!!!

[JohnySack1]

Probablemente el mas grande artista en la historia de la musica latina.

[bangswift]

wow esto vale mas que oro