Ray Barretto
Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | April 29, 1929
Died | February 17, 2006 Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 76)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | 1949–2006 |
Labels | |
Formerly of | Private First Class |
Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent.
Life and career
Early years
Barretto was born on April 29, 1929, in New York City. His parents moved to New York from Puerto Rico in the early 1920s, looking for a better life. His father left their family when Barretto was four, and his mother Delores moved the family to the Bronx,[2][3][4] and from a young age he was influenced by his mother's love of music and by the jazz of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.[5][6][7]
In 1946, when Barretto was 17 years old, he joined the Army. While stationed in Germany, he met Belgian vibraphonist Fats Sadi. However, it was when he heard Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca" with Gil Fuller and Chano Pozo that he realized his calling.[5][6][7] Barretto was not able to escape racial discrimination while stationed in Germany, which led him to a nightclub that was welcoming to black servicemen. He was able to start his music career at this club by playing the back head of a banjo.[3]
Beginnings as a sideman
In 1949, when Barretto returned home from military service, he started to visit clubs and participated in jam sessions, where he perfected his conga playing. He is credited as being the first U.S. born percussionist to incorporate the conga drum into jazz.[8] On one occasion Charlie Parker heard Barretto play and invited him to play in his band. Later, he was asked to play for José Curbelo and Tito Puente, for whom he played for four years. It was in 1958, while playing for Puente, that Barretto received his first recording credit.[4] Barretto developed a unique style of playing the conga and soon he was sought by other jazz band leaders. Latin percussionists started to appear in jazz groups with frequency as a consequence of Barretto's musical influence.[5][6][7]
In 1963 Barreto played conga on Kenny Burrell's album Midnight Blue, noted by several critics as one of the greatest jazz albums.
Charanga Moderna and rise to fame
In 1960, Barretto was a house musician for the Prestige, Blue Note, and Riverside labels.[4] He also recorded on Columbia Records with Jazz flautist Herbie Mann.[9] New York had become the center of Latin music in the United States and a musical genre called pachanga was the Latin music craze of the early 1960s. In 1962, Barretto formed his first group, Charanga La Moderna,[3] and recorded his first hit, "El Watusi" for Tico Records.[2] He was quite successful with the song and the genre, to the point of being typecast (something that he disliked).[5][6][7]
Boogaloo and early salsa
In 1965, Barretto signed with the Latin division of
Success with Fania
In 1972 Barretto's Que viva la música was released. "Cocinando," a track from the album, opened the soundtrack of the Fania All Stars film
Barretto played the conga in recording sessions for the
New World Spirit
In 1990, Barretto won his only Grammy, in the Tropical Music category, for the album Ritmo en el corazón ("Rhythm in the Heart"), a collaboration featuring the vocals of
Also in the 1990s, a Latin agent,
In 1999, Barretto was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.[5][6][7]
In 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Barretto its Jazz Masters Award.[4][12]
Barretto lived in Northern New Jersey and was an active musical producer, as well as the leader of a touring band which embarked on tours of the United States, Africa, Europe, Israel and Latin America.[5][6][7]
Death
A resident of
Discography
External audio | |
---|---|
You may listen to Ray Barretto's "El Watusi" on YouTube . |
As leader
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2021) |
- Barretto para bailar (Riverside, 1961)
- Latino! (Riverside, 1962)
- Charanga Moderna (Tico, 1962)
- Moderna de Siempre (Tico, 1963)
- On Fire Again (Encendido otra vez) (Tico, 1963)
- The Big Hits Latin Style (Tico, 1963)
- Guajira y guaguancó (Tico, 1964)
- Viva Watusi! (United Artists, 1965)
- Señor 007 (United Artists, 1966)
- El Ray Criollo (United Artists, 1966)
- Latino con Soul (United Artists, 1966)
- Fiesta En El Barrio (United Artists, 1967)
- Acid (Fania, 1968)
- Hard Hands (Fania, 1968)
- Together (Fania, 1969)
- Head Sounds (Fania, 1969)
- Barretto Power (Fania, 1970)
- The Message (Fania, 1971)
- From the Beginning (Fania, 1971)
- Que viva la música (Fania, 1972)
- Indestructible (Fania, 1973)
- The Other Road (Fania, 1973)
- Barretto (Fania, 1975)
- Tomorrow: Barretto Live (Atlantic, 1976)
- Energy to Burn (Fania, 1977)
- Eye of the Beholder (Atlantic, 1977)
- Can You Feel It? (Atlantic, 1978)
- Gracias (Fania, 1978)
- La Cuna (CTI Records, 1979)
- Rican/Struction (Fania, 1979)
- Giant Force (Fania, 1980)
- Rhythm of Life (Fania, 1982)
- Todo se va poder (Fania, 1984)
- Aquí se puede (Fania, 1987)
- Irresistible (Fania, 1989)
- Ritmo en el Corazón (Fania, 1990)
- Handprints (Concord Picante, 1991)
- Soy Dichoso (Fania, 1992)
- Live in New York (Messidor, 1992)
- Salsa Caliente de Nu York (Universe, 2001)
- Fuerza Gigante: Live in Puerto Rico April 27, 2001 (Universe, 2004)
- Standards Rican-ditioned (Zoho Music, 2006)
With New World Spirit
- Ancestral Messages (Concord Picante, 1992)
- Taboo (Concord Picante, 1994)
- My Summertime (Owl, 1995)
- Contact! (Blue Note, 1998)
- Portraits in Jazz and Clave (RCA, 2000)
- Trancedance (Circular Moves, 2001)
- Homage to Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers (Sunnyside, 2003)
- Hot Hands (compilation of Ancestral Messages and Taboo[13]) (Concord Picante, 2003)
- Time Was - Time Is (O+ Music, 2005)
As sideman
With Gene Ammons
- Blue Gene (Prestige, 1958)
- Boss Tenor (Prestige, 1960)
- Up Tight! (Prestige, 1961)
- Boss Soul! (Prestige, 1961)
- Twisting the Jug with Joe Newman and Jack McDuff (Prestige, 1961)
- Soul Summit Vol. 2 (Prestige, 1962) – rec. 1961
- Late Hour Special (Prestige, 1964) – rec. 1961
- Velvet Soul (Prestige, 1964) – rec. 1961
- Goodbye (Prestige, 1974)
With Kenny Burrell
- Bluesy Burrell with Coleman Hawkins (Moodsville, 1962)
- Midnight Blue (Blue Note, 1963)
- Crash! with Brother Jack McDuff (Prestige, 1963)
- Soul Call (Prestige, 1964)
- God Bless the Child (CTI, 1971)
With Celia Cruz
- Tremendo Trío! (Fania, 1983)
- Ritmo en el Corazón (Fania, 1989)
- Bacalao with Shirley Scott (Prestige, 1959)
- Afro-Jaws (Riverside, 1960)
- Misty with Shirley Scott (Moodsville, 1963) – rec. 1960
- RCA Victor, 1966)
With Lou Donaldson
- Swing and Soul (Blue Note, 1957)
- Blues Walk (Blue Note, 1958)
- Light-Foot (Blue Note, 1959)
- The Time Is Right (Blue Note, 1959)
- Midnight Sun (Blue Note, 1960)
- Cole Slaw (Blue Note, 1964)
With Jimmy Forrest
- Most Much! (Prestige, 1961)
- Soul Street (New Jazz, 1962)
With Eddie Harris
- Mean Greens (Atlantic, 1966)
- The Electrifying Eddie Harris (Atlantic, 1967)
With Yusef Lateef
- Yusef Lateef's Detroit (Atlantic, 1969)
- In a Temple Garden (CTI, 1979)
With Johnny Lytle
- Moon Child (Jazzland, 1962)
- The Soulful Rebel (Milestone, 1971)
With Herbie Mann
- Flute, Brass, Vibes and Percussion (Verve, 1959)
- The Common Ground (Atlantic, 1960)
- The Family of Mann (Atlantic, 1961)
- Herbie Mann Returns to the Village Gate (Atlantic, 1963) – rec. 1961
- Our Mann Flute (Atlantic, 1966)
- The Herbie Mann String Album (Atlantic, 1967)
- Glory of Love (A&M/CTI, 1967)
- Discothèque (Atlantic, 1975)
- Waterbed (Atlantic, 1975)
- Talk That Talk (New Jazz, 1960)
- Open House!(Riverside, 1963)
With Sonny Stitt
- Stitt Meets Brother Jack with Jack McDuff (Prestige, 1962)
- The Matadors Meet the Bull (Roulette, 1965)
With Cal Tjader
- Along Comes Cal (Verve, 1967)
- Hip Vibrations (Verve, 1967)
With others
- Bee Gees, Main Course (RSO, 1975)
- George Benson, The Other Side of Abbey Road (A&M, 1970)
- Ray Bryant, Dancing the Big Twist (Columbia, 1961)
- Arnett Cobb, Party Time (Prestige, 1959)
- Billy Cobham, Spectrum (Atlantic, 1973)
- Judy Collins, True Stories and Other Dreams (Elektra Records, 1973)
- Crosby, Stills & Nash, CSN(Atlantic, 1977)
- Deodato, Prelude (CTI, 1972)
- Bill Doggett, Doggett Beat for Dancing Feet (King, 1957)
- Art Farmer, Listen to Art Farmer and the Orchestra (Mercury, 1963) – rec. 1962
- The Red Garland Trio, Manteca (Prestige, 1958)
- Dizzy Gillespie, Carnegie Hall Concert (Verve, 1961) – live
- Al Grey, The Al Grey - Billy Mitchell Sextet with Billy Mitchell (Argo, 1962) – live rec. 1961
- Slide Hampton, Jazz with a Twist (Atlantic, 1962)
- Jake Holmes, How Much Time (Columbia, 1972)
- Willis Jackson, Thunderbird (Prestige, 1962)
- Clifford Jordan, Soul Fountain (Vortex, 1970)
- Ben E. King, Spanish Harlem (Atco, 1961)
- Junior Mance, I Believe to My Soul (Atlantic, 1968)
- Jack McDuff, Somethin' Slick! (Prestige, 1963)
- Rah!(Riverside, 1961)
- Wes Montgomery, SO Much Guitar! (Riverside, 1961)
- Oliver Nelson, Impressions of Phaedra (United Artists, 1962)
- Dave Pike, Limbo Carnival (New Jazz, 1962)
- Michel Sardaby, Michel Sardaby in New York (Sound Hills, 2002)
- Jeremy Steig and Eddie Gómez, Rain Forest (CMP, 1980)
- Julius Watkins, French Horns for My Lady (Philips, 1962)
- Weather Report, Mysterious Traveller (Columbia, 1974)
- Frank Wess, Southern Comfort (Prestige, 1962)
- Charles Williams, Stickball (Mainstream, 1972)
- Edgar Winter, Edgar Winter's White Trash (Epic, 1971)
See also
References
- ^ "Barretto Pagan, Raymundo, PFC | TWS".
- ^ a b c d e f "Ray Barretto | American percussionist and bandleader". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
- ^ a b c d e "NPR's Jazz Profiles: Ray Barretto". legacy.npr.org. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guzman, Pablo (2006-02-21). "Ray Barretto, 1929–2006". Village Voice. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Drummerworld: Ray Barretto". Drummerworld.com. Retrieved 2017-05-12.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ray Barretto discography at MusicBrainz
- ^ Arrieta, Rolando. "NPR's Jazz Profiles: Ray Barreto".
- ^ Puente, Celia Cruz, Tito Rodriguez, Herbie Mann, Ray Barretto, Johnny Pacheco, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, Santos Colón, Santos Miranda – Salsa
- ^ Atlantic Records Catalog: 1600 series Retrieved 15 February 2024
- ^ "Ray Barretto - Concord". concord.com. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
- ^ "In Memoriam: Ray Barretto, 1929-2006". NEA. 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
- ^ Ray Barretto & New World Spirit - Hot Hands, 2003, retrieved 2023-08-08
External links
- Ray Barretto Discography at Discogs
- Ray Barretto at IMDb
- Photographs and sound