Nuyorican boogaloo cha-cha-cha

I’m labelling this week’s playlist as “Nuyorican” music, the lion’s share of the players from Puerto Rico or of Puerto Rican ancestry. Two notable exceptions are Joe Bataan, a Filipino-African American, and Mongo Santamaria born in Cuba. What they all have in common, however, was centered around the music scene of New York City where African American and Latino musicians forged a common ground in creating “boogaloo” dance music, mixing elements of R&B, Soul, and Latin dance rhythms. The boogaloo genre was fairly short-lived, enjoying popularity during the 1960’s before giving way to salsa, in what was largely an East Coast and Caribbean impulse. “Watermelon Man” and ”El Watusi” were early and major boogaloo hits, but truly, most of the titles included in the program were popular recordings in their day, whether cha-cha-chas like Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va”, or GFyEN’s guajira. I’ve gathered them here for an hour’s worth of revelation for those too young to have heard this music; for those living under a rock and who just never cared; and for those who remember it well and are all too ready to shake a tail feather (if they still can!)-JH

Al compás del mundo - programa #162, Broadcast 1-9-25 – Nuyorican music RunList

01 Richie Ray y Bobby Cruz - Cabo E

02 Joe Bataan - Subway Joe

04 Joe Cuba Sextette con Cheo Feliciano - El Ratón

05 Charlie Palmieri - Las Negritas del Carnavál

06 Joe Quijano - En Puerta de Tierra

07 Eddie Palmieri - Pa' Huele

08 Orchestra Harlow - La Juventud

09 Mongo Santamaria - Watermelon Man

10 Hector Lavoe - Mi Gente

11 Tito Puente - Oye Como Va

12 Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino - Choco's Guajira

13 Willie Colón - Tiempo Pa’ Matar

14 Willie Bobo - Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries

15 Ray Barretto - El Watusi

~v~

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