[edit] Musical career
In 1950, when he was 19 years old, he played for J. Panama and also for a group called La Alfarona X. The group soon disbanded and Cuba enrolled in college to study law. While at college he attended a concert in which Tito Puente performed "Abaniquito". He went up to Tito and introduced himself as a student and fan and soon they developed what was to become a lifetime friendship. This event motivated Cuba to organize his own band. In 1954, his agent recommended that he change the band's name from the Jose Calderon Sextet to the Joe Cuba Sextet and the newly named Joe Cuba Sextet made their debut at the Stardust Ballroom.[1]
In 1962, Cuba recorded "To Be With You" with the vocals of Cheo Feliciano and Jimmy Sabater Sr.. The band became popular in the New York Latin community. The lyrics to Cuba's music used a mixture of Spanish and English, becoming an important part of the Nuyorican Movement.[2]
In 1965, the Sextet got their first crossover hit with the Latin and soul fusion of "El Pito (I Never Go Back To Georgia)" . The "Never Go Back To Georgia" chant was taken from Dizzy Gillespie's intro to the seminal Afro-Cuban tune, "Manteca". Sabater later revealed that "none of us had ever been to Georgia. [3]
Along with fellow Nuyorican artists such as Ray Barretto and Richie Ray, Cuba was at the forefront of the developing Latin soul sound in New York, merging American R&B styles with Afro-Cuban instrumentation. Cuba was one of the key architects behind the emerging Latin Boogaloo sound, which became a popular and influential Latin style in the latter half of the 1960s. In 1966, his band which included timbales, congas, sometimes bongos, bass, vibraphones, and the piano among its musical instruments, scored a "hit" in the United States National Hit Parade List with the song "Bang Bang" - which helped kick off the popularity of the boogaloo. He also had a #1 hit, that year in the Billboards with the song "Sock It To Me Baby". Charlie Palmieri, who was his musical director, died in 1988 of a heart attack upon his arrival to New York from Puerto Rico.[4]
[edit] Later years and death
On April 1999, Joe Cuba was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was named Grand Marshall of the Puerto Rican Day Parade celebrated in Yonkers, New York. He was also the director of the Museum of La Salsa, located in Spanish Harlem, Manhattan, New York.
Joe Cuba died on February 15, 2009 in New York City, after being removed from life support. He had been hospitalized for a persistent bacterial infection. Cuba's remains were cremated at Woodhaven Cemetery.[5] He is survived by his 2 adult children from his first wife (Nina, married in 1960), son Mitchell and daughter Lisa, 3 grandchildren Nicole, Alexis and Rebecca; and his second wife Maria (Married in 1994).
[edit] Discography
Among the songs recorded by Joe Cuba and his sextet are the following:[6]
* 1. Bang Bang
* 2. Cocinando
* 3. Ay Milagro
* 4. El Raton
* 5. Joe Cubas Latin Hustle
* 6. My Man Speedy
* 7. Quinto Sabroso
* 8. El Pito
* 9. Trip To Mamboland
* 10. Sock It To Me""
* 11. Y Tu Abuela Donde Esta
* 12. Oriza Oco
* 13. Psychedelic Baby
* 14. Pataquibiriquambambaram
* 15. Quires Volver
* 16. Yo Y Borinquen
* 17. Mi Salsa Buena
* 18. Bailadores
* 19. Joe Cubas Madness Pts 1 And 2
* 20. Oye Bien
* 21. Mujer Divina
* 22. La Tortilla
* 23. Talk About Love
* 24. Alafia
* 25. Ritmo De Joe Cuba
* 26. Hey Joe Hey Joe
* 27. Elube Chango
* 28. Wakini
* 29. No Coman Cuento
* 30. To Be With You
* 31. Mi Lindo Son
* 32. Oh Yeah
* 33. Flacos Cha Cha
* 34. La Malanga Brava
* 35. Contigo Aprendi
* 36. Ya Se Acabo
El Pito
Joe Cuba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Así se goza)
Así es que la rumba es sabrosa
(Así se goza)
Baílalo, baíla, baílalo Rosa
(Así se goza)
Mira si es que te pica la mano
Anda!
(Así se goza)
(Así se goza)
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
El compay Tomás, échale, échale!
Échale, échale
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
Juega Tommy, juega
Ay Dios!, pero esto sigue pa'lante,
pa'lante y pa'lante.
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
Que no voy más,
que no voy más.
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
I'll never go back to Georgia
I'll never go back
Ay Dios mio
Qué nota!
Ese pito!
Ese pito!
The song "El Pito" by Joe Cuba is an upbeat and lively Latin jazz track that is meant to be enjoyed through dancing and revelry. The central phrase of the song, "Así es que la rumba es sabrosa" (meaning "That's how tasty the party is"), sets the tone for the entire track. The "pito" in question is a whistle, which is used to accompany the music throughout the song.
The first few lines of the song encourage the listener to embrace the rhythm and join in the rumba. The repetition of the phrase "Así se goza" reinforces the idea that the party is something to be savored and enjoyed to the fullest. The subsequent lines encourage the listener to dance and move their body to the music. The interjection of "Anda!" (meaning "Go!") further emphasizes that the listener should not hold back from fully immersing themselves in the party atmosphere.
The latter half of the song is largely instrumental, with a trumpet taking over the melody. The lyrics are reduced to the repeated phrase "I'll never go back to Georgia," which is likely a reference to the era in which the song was written. During the 1960s, many African-Americans were migrating from the South to the North, and this song may be an expression of that sentiment.
Overall, "El Pito" is a song about living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest. The lively music and exuberant lyrics come together to create a track that is sure to get audiences dancing and having a good time.
Line by Line Meaning
Oye!, y ese pito?
Hey, what's that whistle?
(Así se goza)
Así es que la rumba es sabrosa
That's how you enjoy (the music) / that's how you have a good time / that's how the rumba becomes delicious
(Así se goza)
Baílalo, baíla, baílalo Rosa
(This is how you have fun) / Dance it, dance it, dance it, Rosa
(Así se goza)
Mira si es que te pica la mano
(This is how you have fun) / Look if your hand itches
(Así se goza)
Anda!
(This is how you have fun) / Come on!
(Así se goza)
(This is how you have fun)
I'll never go back to Georgia
I won't go back to Georgia ever again
El compay Tomás, échale, échale!
My buddy (Tomás), give it some, give it some!
Échale, échale
Give it some, give it some
Juega Tommy, juega
Play, Tommy, play
Ay Dios!, pero esto sigue pa'lante,
pa'lante y pa'lante.
Oh God! but this keeps moving forward, forward and forward
Que no voy más,
que no voy más.
I'm not going back, I'm not going back
Ay Dios mio
Qué nota!
Oh my God
What a sound!
Ese pito!
Ese pito!
That whistle!
That whistle!
Contributed by Oliver E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@reginagrimes3873
Cant believe I found this. My father came to Austin Texas from the Bronx in 1955 and this came with him. We played it often in our home at family gatherings. He passed in 2019. We are African American, but this album helped give us an acceptance and appreciation for the music of other cultures and I am grateful to him for this exposure. Thanks for posting.❤
@julianjv7325
What are you talking about, Salsa and Boogaloo are Latin genres born from the fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and American soul, Salsa dura, I am a fan of hard rock from the 70s, but in my house I grew up with this music, the fania, Héctor, Rubén and many more, it reminds me of my childhood.
@jesseayala4619
THIS TRACK IS FIRE !!! I LOVE THIS TRACK .... I FEEL THIS TRACK .... BUMP THIS TRACK FULL BLAST IN MY SOUND SYSTEM , PEOPLE ALWAYS TURNING HEADS , HONK AND GIVE ME A THUMBS UP !!!!!
@risefan2.08
Pito head
@danielarigita6543
opening minds, breaking walks ! saludos desde España a mis hermanos norteamericanos...I never come back jajajajajajajaj
@hipolitogonzalez1506
You are right! The original version of this tune was recorded in the 50's by other boricua, the great vibraphone player Peter Terrace (Dr. Pedro Gutierrez). Pete worked with big names such Machito, Joe Loco, Charlie Palmieri, among others. He got a Masters Degree in Julliard School of Music. Eventually, he traveled to Puerto Rico to work as a Medicine Doctor. He had an awesome and oustanding career in music.
@kermitefrog64
When I have gone to Puerto Rico when my wife was alive, it was common to hear this music playing. This genre of music is still heard often in my community floating through the airwaves as we have people from Puerto Rico, and many of the Central America, South America and Mexico. You just can't help but want to dance. My wife of 32 years would spontaneously break out in dance. How I miss her. She succumbed to cancer 2 years ago.
@nybornFunk
QEPD Sorry !!!
@julianjv7325
I am sorry for your loss, she is in heaven dancing and waiting for you.
@heavnnnsent
So sorry for your loss, your wife you both have great taste in, this music is the best! The fania All-Stars and Latin artists and orchestras from the 1960s is the greatest Latin music of all time. Joe Cuba, Hector lavoe, the list goes on. Check out Marc Anthony's more recent performance of "agua Neely done by Hector lavoe back in the 60smix I going to need a witch Hector lavoe did back in the 60s it's awesome