"Bobby Sanabria - drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, recording art… Read Full Bio ↴"Bobby Sanabria - drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, recording artist, producer, educator and multiple Grammy nominee - has performed with a veritable Who's Who in the world of jazz and Latin music, as well as with his own critically acclaimed ensembles. His diverse recording and performing experience includes work with such legendary figures as Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Paquito D'Rivera, Charles McPherson, Mongo Santamar'a, Ray Barretto, Marco Rizo, Arturo Sandoval, Chico O'Farrill, Candido, Francisco Aguabella, Larry Harlow, Henry Threadgill, and the Godfather of Afro-Cuban Jazz, Mario Bauza.

Bobby, the son of Puerto Rican parents, was born and raised in the "Fort Apache" section of New York City's South Bronx. Inspired and encouraged by Maestro Tito Puente, another fellow New York-born Puerto Rican, Bobby "got serious" and attended Boston's Berklee College of Music from 1975 to 1979, obtaining a Bachelor of Music degree and receiving their prestigious Faculty Association Award for his work as an instrumentalist. Since his graduation, Bobby has become a leader in the Afro-Cuban, Brasilian and jazz fields as both a drummer and percussionist, and is recognized as one of the most articulate musician-scholars of la tradicion living today.

He has been featured on numerous Grammy-nominated albums, including The Mambo Kings and other movie soundtracks, as well as numerous television and radio work. Mr. Sanabria was the drummer with the legendary "Father of the Afro-Cuban Jazz movement", Mario Bauza's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra. With them he recorded three CD's (two of which were Grammy-nominated) which are considered to be definitive works of the Afro-Cuban big-band jazz tradition. Mr. Sanabria was also featured with the orchestra in two PBS documentaries about Bauza and also appeared on the Bill Cosby show performing with the orchestra. He also appeared and performed prominently in a PBS documentary on the life of Mongo Santamaria and on camera in the CBS television movie, Rivkin: Bounty Hunter.

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Bobby's latest recording project, "Big Band Urban Folktales", on the Jazzheads label, is proving to be his most lauded work and it has been garnering critical acclaim for its futuristic approach to the Latin jazz big band canon. "...(Mr. Sanabria) expands the possibilities, moving the sound of bands like that of (Puente, Machito), with all the heft and intricacy and clave-based dance rhythm, into the harmonically oriented sophistication of current New York jazz players. It's New York up and down, and back and forth across the last century, from the street to the mambo palaces to the conservatories."

Besame Mucho
Bobby Sanabria Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bésame
Bésame mucho
Como si fuera
Esta noche
La última vez
Bésame
Pero bésame mucho
Que tengo miedo

Tenerte
Y perderte después

Quiero tenerte muy cerca
Mirarme en tus ojos
Estar junto a ti
Piensa que tal vez mañana
Estaré muy lejos
Muy lejos de aquí

Bésame
Bésame mucho
Como si fuera esta noche
La última vez
Bésame
Pero bésame mucho
Que tengo miedo
Tenerte
Y perderte después

Bésame
Bésame
Bésame
Bésame
Bésame
Bésame
Bésame
Bésame

Ven hacia a mi
Bésame amor

El amor es solamente
Pura emoción

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bobby Sanabria's song Besame Mucho convey the intense passion and fear of losing a loved one. The phrase "besame mucho" is repeated throughout the song, meaning "kiss me a lot." The singer is asking their partner to kiss them as if it is the last time, expressing the fear of losing them. There is a sense of urgency and desperation in the lyrics, as the singer wants to hold on tightly to their lover and cherish every moment with them. They want to be close to each other, to look into each other's eyes, and to express their love for each other. However, there is also an undertone of sadness, as the singer knows that their time together may be limited and that they may have to part ways in the future.

Overall, the lyrics of Besame Mucho convey the fragility and intensity of love, highlighting the deep emotions that come with being in a loving relationship. The song is a plea for intimacy and closeness, while also acknowledging the fear and uncertainty that can accompany such intense feelings.

Line by Line Meaning

Bésame
Kiss me

Bésame mucho
Kiss me a lot

Como si fuera
As if it were

Esta noche
Tonight

La última vez
The last time

Bésame
Kiss me

Pero bésame mucho
But kiss me a lot

Que tengo miedo
Because I'm afraid

Tenerte
To have you

Y perderte después
And lose you later

Quiero tenerte muy cerca
I want to hold you close