Legendary Boogaloo Producer Bobby Marín elaborates on the legacy of Latin musician and composer Joe Cuba on the heels of the latest Fania Records double CD compilation “El Alcalde Del Barrio.” The project took over two years to put together and now a new generation of Latin music fans will appreciate Cuba’s legacy. I’m Brian Pace, coming up next on The Pace Report, my exclusive interview with Michael Rucker of Codigo Music Group and producer Bobby Marín talk about the Father of Latin Boogaloo and Fania Records impact on Latin music.

Welcome back to The Pace Report I’m Brian Pace. Fania Records recently held a Joe Cuba Tribute set at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City in honor and support of their latest release El Alcalde Del Barrio.” This 34 track double CD compilation celebrates the late bandleader’s music featuring million-sellers like “El Pito” and “Bang Bang.” Cuba is hailed as “The Father of Latin Boogaloo” creating a style of Latin music that fused popular American music and jazz, along with elements of the traditional music from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. I sat down with Michael Rucker of Codigo Music, the owners of the Fania catalog, and legendary Boogaloo Producer Bobby Marín. We talked about both the label and Cuba’s impact on Latin music. Also, how Cuba contributed to this compilation up until his untimely death last year.

Joe Cuba was born Gilberto Calderon on April 22, 1931, in Spanish Harlem, New York City. His parents migrated from Puerto Rico in the early 1920’s. Both he and his brother were separated from their mother and went to live with foster parents in Staten Island after their natural father moved. After a couple of years, his mother remarried and eventually took her sons back. Their stepfather ran a store in East Harlem where both he and his brother would often work. After a leg injury after playing stick ball, he set his eyes on playing music and was taken aback by congo player Sabu Martinez. Calderon learned the congas well and took to playing with musicians like Joe Panama, Sabu, Tommy Berrios, and a young timbales player named Jimmy Sabater. After a falling out with Joe Panama, both he and Berrios formed the Cha Cha Boys. His promoter also changed his name to “Joe Cuba” because he thought the name would have a heavy stage presence. In deed it did. The Joe Cuba Sextet was a major force to be reckoned with. The new sextet consisted of Tommy Berrios on vibes, Nick Jimenez as arranger and pianist, Jules Cordero on bass, and Jimmy Sabater on timbalero and vocals and Willie Torres on vocals.

The Joe Cuba Sextet was to Latin music as Louis Jordan and the Tymphany Five were to Rhythm and Blues. Cuba, like Jordan, took the elements of the big band and lush arrangements, but funked it out with a smaller unit. The sextet played Cha-Cha with an intense backbeat. Records like “Bang Bang” and “El Pito (I’ll Never Go Back to Georgia), ” are not only staples and standards in Latin music, but were the origins of the classic Joe Cuba “Boogaloo” sound. Bobby Marin, Latin music veteran and prominent producer who put the compilation “El Alcade Del Barrio” together states, “Cuba’s mission was to always reach out to his Latino and American music base by adding English lyrics to be appreciated by the Anglo market.” Throughout his career, Cuba performed to sold-out performances at The Apollo Theater, The Hollywood Palladium, Carnegie Hall, and the World’s Fair.

Vocalist Jimmy Sabater was the backbone of Cuba’s sound and band. His vocals, along with his percussion skills and composing, added depth to the sextet. This large sound coming from six guys was just unheard of. Sabater mastered the art of sonero while blending it with salsa. He eventually left and formed his own group, but Cuba would back and produce music for his friend throughout the years.

Producer Bobby Marin explained, “putting this project together took two years and he worked extensively with Cuba up until his untimely death.” Marin later added, “Cuba was so hands-on in re-mastering his music from Fania, Tico, and Secco Records. He was so excited about this project because he was glad to see a whole new generation get exposed to his music.”

Ironically, the project was released last week, a little over a year after he died of a persistent bacterial infection. This latest Fania Records release is one of best compilation recordings of the “Father of Latin Boogaloo.” Cuba’s legacy is thoroughly documented in this two-CD set re-mastered set. His musical vision was what made “Boogaloo” a staple of his art and Latin music today.

To order or to find out more on Fania Records and Joe Cuba, visit them on the web at www.fania.com. Reporting from Le Poisson Rouge in New York City for The Pace Report, I’m Brian Pace.

(Boogaloo Assassins from Los Angeles were the tribute band who headlined at Le Possion Rouge along with Chico Mann, DJ Bobbito Garcia and DJ Turmix.)