Que Viva La Musica

The late Ray Barretto, Mr. Hard Hands, Grammy winner, was a
Godfather of Latin Jazz. He not only elaborated that fusion of Latin
and Jazz sounds but also pioneered various styles ranging from
Boogaloo to Charanga to straight ahead Salsa. His long and illustrious
career began in NY where he was born and raised learning to
play the congas. He worked his way up the ranks visiting clubs and
participating in jam sessions with the best players on the scene. In
1963 he scored the first latin song ever to enter the Billboard chart
with El Watusi . He continued to record following various musical
paths and genres releasing masterpieces such as Acid and Indestructible,
and having his music sampled as of late are reminders
that the solo artist and longstanding member of the Fania All Stars
will not soon be forgotten.