No recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan,… Read Full Bio ↴No recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan, the originator of the New York Latin Soul style that paralleled Latin boogaloo and anticipated disco. His musical experience began with street corner doo-wop in the 1950s, and came to include one of the first rap records to hit the charts, 1979's "Rap-O, Clap-O". In between these milestones, he recorded classic albums like St. Latin's Day Massacre, a perennial favorite in the salsa market, Salsoul, which gave the record label its name and helped spark the national explosion of urban dance music, and Afrofilipino, which included one of the very earliest New York disco hits, an instrumental version of Gil Scott Heron's "The Bottle".

Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.

Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.

Call My Name
Joe Bataan Lyrics

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Before the setting sun and I'll appear
And know that I'm the one who will appear

We are gathered here today
To remember the departed and have a final say
But don't believe you've seen the last of this face
I'm only missing, not gone without a trace
The time for me to rise again is near, so...

Before the setting sun and I'll appear
And know that I'm the one who will appear

My lines crossed their streets of gold
So they tried to have me buried all those years ago
But my people wouldn't let me die
I'll keep surviving by the power of their minds
There's just one thing I need to hear
All you gotta do...

Before the setting sun and I'll appear
And know that I'm the one who will appear

Overall Meaning

The above lyrics are from Joe Bataan's song "Call My Name". The song talks about a person who has passed away but is still alive in spirit and will soon return. The person's absence is being mourned by people who are gathered together, but the lyrics reassure them that the person is only missing and not gone forever. The person talks about how they were almost buried and forgotten but the power of their people's love and support kept them alive.

The lyrics could be interpreted metaphorically, with the person representing an idea or belief that has been misunderstood, suppressed or ignored by others. The person may be urging their followers to keep the faith and continue to fight for their cause because their return is imminent. The message of the song is one of resilience, hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Overall, "Call My Name" is an emotionally charged and uplifting song with a catchy melody and a powerful message. It is a testament to Joe Bataan's talent as a songwriter and his ability to capture the spirit of his community in his music.

Line by Line Meaning

Before the setting sun and I'll appear
Reassuring my audience that at any time of the day, I will always be there to protect and support them

And know that I'm the one who will appear
Encouraging my audience to look out for me as their ally whenever in need

We are gathered here today
Acknowledging the presence of my listeners as we come together for an event

To remember the departed and have a final say
Reflecting on the past experiences of those who are no longer with us and paying homage to their memory.

But don't believe you've seen the last of this face
Assuring my listeners that I am still around despite rumors of my demise

I'm only missing, not gone without a trace
Letting people know that I am untraceable because of the power of the people who support me

The time for me to rise again is near, so...
Instructing my listeners to prepare for my inevitable return and come together for our shared cause

My lines crossed their streets of gold
Suggesting that my actions have come into conflict with those in power, who have tried to suppress me

So they tried to have me buried all those years ago
Recounting the efforts of those in power to silence me and make it seem like I never existed

But my people wouldn't let me die
Highlighting the steadfast support of my followers who continue to keep my message alive

I'll keep surviving by the power of their minds
Emphasizing the influence that followers can have in maintaining an ideal or message over the years

There's just one thing I need to hear
Asking my audience to call out my name

All you gotta do...
Providing a reminder that my followers can always call on me whenever they are in need

Contributed by Asher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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