Puerto Rican——Ray Barretto

Ray Barretto (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 Belgian 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. 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.

 Discography 

·  Barretto para bailar (Riverside, 1960)

·  Barretto Power (Fania, 1970)

·  Charanga moderna (Tico, 1962)

·  El Ray Criollo (United Artists, 1966)

·  Fiesta En El Barrio (United Artists, 1967)

·  Guajira y guaguancó (Tico, 1964

·  Hard Hands (Fania, 1968)

·  Head Sounds (Fania, 1969)

·  Indestructible (Fania, 1973)

·  Latino! (Riverside, 1962)

·  Moderna de Siempre (Tico, 1963)

·  On Fire Again (Encendido otra vez) (Tico, 1963)

·  Señor 007 (United Artists, 1966)

·  The Message (Fania, 1971

·  The Other Road (Fania, 1973)

·  Together (Fania, 1969)

·  The Big Hits Latin Style (Tico, 1963)

·  Viva Watusi! (United Artists, 1965)

·  Que viva la música (Fania, 1972)

Thanks for Nancy Germain' s work.

Photos by Angelica Bautista.