Cuba is considered to be the "Father of Latin Boogaloo". His parents emigrated from Puerto Rico in the late 1920s and settled in Spanish Harlem, a Hispanic ghetto located in Manhattan. Cuba was raised in an apartment building where his father had become the owner of a candy store located on the ground floor (street level floor). His father had organized a stickball (ghetto baseball) club called the Devils. Stickball was the main sport activity of the neighborhood. After Cuba broke a leg he took up playing the conga and continued to practice with the conga between school and his free time. Eventually he graduated from high school and joined a band.
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. Whilst 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.
In 1962, Cuba recorded "To Be With You" with the vocals of Cheo Feliciano and Jimmy Sabater. 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. In 1967, his band which included timbales, vibraphones, and the piano among its musical instruments, scored a "hit" in the United States National Hit Parade List with the song "Bang Bang" - a song which ushered in the Latin Boogaloo era. He also had a #1 hit, that year in the Billboards with the song "Sock It To Me Baby".
Then came what is considered to be his "greatest" hit, "El Pito (I Never Go Back To Georgia)". It is said that during the 1960s, while Joe Cuba and his sextet were on tour, they had an engagement in Georgia. He personally suffered the racial discrimination which was rampant in the south at that time. This experience inspired him to write the song which includes his trademark whistle.
Charlie Palmieri was his musical director, when in 1988 he died of a heart attack upon his arrival to New York from Puerto Rico. Joe Cuba and his sextet have sold millions of records over the years.
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 currently is the director of the Museum of La Salsa, located in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York. He is also in the stickball hall of fame.
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. 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).
Cachondea
Joe Cuba Sextet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
como efecto de los golpes camina cachondeado.
antes roncaba de guapo pero ahora mismo esta
recojiendo galletasos por todita la cuidad y camina de lao.
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde,
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
lao tu estas flojo pana mio, cuidado que tu eres un bacalao, salao.
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde,
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
ehh, vagabundo.
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde,
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
la rumba buena te llama y no la puede gozar,
la bebida te ha gastado la rodilla de bailar y camina de lao.
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde,
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
al bailar la rumba buena, bailaba toda la gente
yo se lo dije a vicente que la rumba suena y camina de lao
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde,
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
ajaaaa!!
euasaha...
y diceeee.
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde,
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
ehhh, vagabundo.
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
y al son de la rumba mamá, vagabundo la rumba buena.
vagabundo la rumba buena te esta llamando.
eeee la rumba buena te llama y tu camina de lado, camina
mi vagabundo.
vagabundo, vagabundo la rumba suena y tu tienes tu morena, oye veras...
The song "Cachondea" by Joe Cuba Sextet is a festive and rhythmic composition that describes the story of a man who has been left deserted after facing the consequences of his choices. The first verse talks about how the man, nicknamed "cuco el bravo," has been left behind as a result of his fighting, causing him to walk with a noticeable limp. The song delves into his past as a tough guy, but now he has to deal with the consequences of his actions.
The chorus repeats the phrase "como que te cachondea vagabundo" which translates to "why are you teasing me, vagabond." The lyrics convey the message that the man's actions have consequences, and he must deal with the aftermath of his choices.
The song also mentions the joy of dancing to the beat of the rumba and how everyone dances when the music is playing. Towards the end of the song, the rhythm builds up, and the chorus becomes more animated, expressing the importance of enjoying oneself and having fun in life.
Overall, "Cachondea" is a song about facing the consequences of one's actions and the importance of enjoying life and dancing to the beat of the rumba.
Line by Line Meaning
A cuco el bravo me dicen lo dejaron tirao, como efecto de los golpes camina cachondeado.
They call me Brave Duke, they left me thrown, and as a result of the beatings, I walk limping.
antes roncaba de guapo pero ahora mismo esta recojiendo galletasos por todita la cuidad y camina de lao.
Before, I boasted of being tough, but now I'm picking up punches all around town and walking crooked.
como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachonde, como que te cachondea vagabundo, como que te cachondea.
Why are you playing around, you bum? Why are you joking, homeless? Why are you playing around, you bum? Why are you joking, homeless?
como que te cachondea men, como que te va de lao tu estas flojo pana mio, cuidado que tu eres un bacalao, salao.
Why are you slacking, buddy? Why are you limping? You're weak, my friend, be careful because you're in trouble.
la rumba buena te llama y no la puede gozar, la bebida te ha gastado la rodilla de bailar y camina de lao.
The good rhythm calls you, but you can't enjoy it, your knee is worn down from dancing while drinking and walking crooked.
al bailar la rumba buena, bailaba toda la gente yo se lo dije a vicente que la rumba suena y camina de lao
Everyone was dancing to the good rhythm, and I told Vincent that the rhythm sounds good and makes you walk crooked
euasaha...
y diceeee.
ehhh, vagabundo.
vagabundo, vagabundo la rumba suena y tu tienes tu morena, oye veras...
Vagabond, vagabond, the rhythm sounds and you have your brown-haired one, you'll see.
Contributed by Avery P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.