Joe Cuba

In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisCalderón.

Gilberto Miguel Calderón(April 22, 1931 – February 15, 2009),known professionally asJoe Cuba,was an Americanconga drummerofPuerto Ricandescent widely regarded as the "Father ofLatin Boogaloo".

Joe Cuba
Birth name	Gilberto Miguel Calderón
Also known as	Sonny, Joe
Born	April 22, 1931 Harlem,New York,U.S.
Died	February 15, 2009(2009-02-15)(aged 77) New York, New York, U.S.
Genres	Boogaloo,salsa
Occupation(s)	Musician, bandleader
Instrument	Conga
Years active	1950–2009
Labels	Tico,Fania

Early years

Gilberto Miguel Calderón Cardona was born inHarlem,New York,United States.Calderón's parents moved fromPuerto Ricoto New York City in the late 1920s, and settled inSpanish Harlem,aLatinocommunity located inManhattan.Calderón was raised in an apartment building, where his father had become the owner of acandy store,located on the ground floor (street level floor). His father had organized astickballclub called the Young Devils. Stickball was the main sport activity of the neighborhood. After Calderón 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.

Musical career

In 1950, when he was 19 years old, he played for Joe Panama and also for a group called La Alfarona X. The group soon disbanded and Calderón enrolled in college to study law. While at college he attended a concert in whichTito Puenteperformed "Abaniquito". He went up to Puente and introduced himself as a student and fan, and soon they developed what was to become a lifetime friendship. This event motivated Calderón to organize his own band. In 1954, his agent recommended that he change the band's name from the José Calderón Sextet to the Joe Cuba Sextet,and the newly named Joe Cuba Sextet made their debut at the Stardust Ballroom.

In 1962, after recording three albums for Mardi Gras Records, Cuba recorded his first album with the Joe Cuba Sextet calledSteppin' Outfeaturing the hit "To Be With You", featuring the vocals ofCheo FelicianoandJimmy Sabater Sr.The band became popular in the New York Latin community.The lyrics to Cuba's music used a mixture ofSpanishandEnglish,becoming an important part of theNuyorican 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 "I'll Never Go Back to Georgia" chant was taken fromDizzy Gillespie'sintro to the seminalAfro-Cubantune "Manteca."Sabater later revealed that" None of us had ever been toGeorgia."

Along with fellow Nuyorican artists such asRay BarrettoandRichie 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 emergingLatin boogaloosound,which became a popular and influential Latin style in the latter half of the 1960s.In 1966, his band scored a hit on the United StatesBillboard Hot 100with the song "Bang! Bang!".The record peaked at No. 63 on the Hot 100,and No. 21 on the R&B chart. The follow-up, "Oh Yeah", peaked at No. 62 on the Hot 100.

Later years and death

In April 1999, Joe Cuba was inducted into theInternational Latin Music Hall of Fame.In 2004, he was named Grand Marshal of the Puerto Rican Day Parade celebrated inYonkers, New York.He was also the director of the Museum of La Salsa, located inSpanish 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 two adult children (Mitchell & Lisa) from his first wife (Nina, married in 1960)

Discography

As leader

• I Tried To Dance All Night(1956)
• Mardi Gras Music For Dancing, Vol. 1(1956)
• Cha Cha Chá(1957)
• Mardi Gras Music For Dancing, Vol. 2(1958)
• Mardi Gras Music For Dancing, Vol. 3(1959)
• Brava Pachanga(1959)
• Merengue Loco(1961)
• Joe Cuba(1961)
• Steppin' Out(1962)
• To Be With You(1962)
• Cha Cha Chá's To Soothe The Savage Beast(1962)
• Diggin' The Most(1963)
• Vagabundeando! (Hangin' Out)(1963)
• Comin' At You(1964)
• El Alma del Barrio (The Soul of Spanish Harlem)(1964)
• Breakin' Out(1965)
• Bailadores(1965)
• Red, Hot and Cha Cha Chá(1965)
• Estamos Haciendo Algo Bien! (We Must Be Doing Something Right!)(1966)
• Bang! Bang! Push, Push, Push (Wanted Dead Or Alive)(1966)
• The Velvet Voice of Jimmy Sabater(1967)
• My Man Speedy!(1968)
• Recuerdos de mi Querido Barrio (Memories of My Beloved Neighborhood)(1970)
• Bustin' Out(1972)
• Hecho y Derecho (Doing it Right)(1973)
• Cocinando la Salsa (Cookin' The Sauce)(1976)
• El Pirata del Caribe (The Caribbean Pirate)(1979)
• Steppin' Out... Again!(1995)
• Salsa y Bembé(1998)

Compilations

• Greatest Hits(2009)
• El Alcalde del Barrio(2010)
• The Best of Joe Cuba (Lo Mejor de Joe Cuba)(2010) - Fania Original (Remastered)
• Anthology(2012)

See also

• Jimmy Sabater
• Boogaloo

External links

• Living Memories of Joe Cuba
• Joe Cuba Sextetdiscography atMusicBrainz
• The Latin boogaloo’s history, impact and short-lived popularity are explored in the documentary We Like It Like That