Singer, Percussionist, Composer, Producer and Orchestra Dire… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Quijano
Singer, Percussionist, Composer, Producer and Orchestra Director
DATE OF BIRTH: September 27, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Son of José Quijano and Luz Maria Esteras, Joe Quijano was born in the capital sector of Puerta de Tierra in San Juan. At the age of eight he went to live with his family in New York. Shortly afterwards, while attending her regular academic degrees, she began learning the piano and the solfeggio in the academy that the professor Maria Luisa Lecompte maintained in Manhattan. Later, he was a disciple of Eduviges Bocanegra, who gave him classes in the study he had established in the Bronx. As a teenager, he continued his training at the Sound of Jazz School, located between 78th Street and Broadway Avenue. Finally, he expanded his studies at Columbia University. Ironically, although he became an excellent pianist, he would never perform as such in orchestra or any ensemble. He preferred to focus on percussion, having learned to play timpani, congas and bongó in an autodidactic manner since childhood.
Quijano began his musical career at the age of 13 when he joined, as a bongosero, the quintet The Mamboys From Banana Kelly Street in Bronx (1948). The group, led by teenagers Eddie Palmieri and Orlando Marín, also recorded a simple album that included the pieces "Abaniquito" and "La toalla". In 1953, when Orlando was recruited by the Army, Eddie took the lead. In parallel, since then our biography also worked "free lance" with other orchestras.
In 1956 he founded his own group, Conjunto Cachana. The name with which it baptized its famous set, corresponded then to the familiar nickname of its uncle Nicasio Quijano, who is credited to have founded the Association of Muelleros of Puerto Rico in the beginning of the decade of 1930. In Cachana Quijano had like vocalista to Paquito Guzmán. In this group it was officially released as timbalero. Although fast began to cross the crowded dance halls of the New York square, it would not be until late 1959 when he recorded for the first time. The first single (A & Q Records) included the songs "Pachanga en changa" and "Rumba en Navidad".
Later (1960), the Columbia company published its first LP, that would become classic: "The pachanga is thus danced". But prior to signing the record company in 1960, Joe Quijano had made a commitment to record some albums with the Spanoramic label. The dilemma was solved in the following way: in the recordings for this seal, the group would identify itself as Conjunto Cachana, whereas in those made for Columbia it would present like Joe Quijano and Its Orchestra. Sin and
Joe Quijano has the merit of having taken the guaguancó "Efectivamente", included in the LP "Volví a Cataño" (Spanoramic, SLP-142), published in 1965. This was the first piece that the public heard of then unknown composer Tite Curet Alonso. He also directed the rhythm section in the five recordings that Eydie Gormé recorded accompanied by the Los Panchos Trio for Columbia Records (1964-1965).
In 1967 he founded his own record label, Cesta Records. He spent an extended season of performances in San Juan, working in the Siboney Lounge of the Hotel San Jerónimo Hilton (now Condado Plaza); Chico's Bar (Hotel San Juan), 1969-1970; and in the dance halls of the Borinquen, Hyatt (1970-1973) hotels and inaugurated his Joe Quijano's Lounge in El Palmar (April 3, 1973), which he held until 1977.
He served as director of public relations for the Agency for Drug Addiction Rehabilitation (LUCHA) in New York in the transition between the 1970s and 1980s. He also performed with Charlie Palmieri at the Caribe Club of the Caribe Hilton Hotel .
In 1992, he suffered a motorcycle accident in the Piñones sector of Isla Verde, which affected his spine and, after six surgical procedures, could not fully recover. Since then, he walks supported, by a cane and has concentrated his activity in the production of danceable events of nostalgia and in the reissue of his discs in compact format. Even so, he made a successful tour of eight cities in Colombia in 1996. And in 2000 he organized a recreation of Charanga Cachana, in front of which he debuted at the Hotel Normandie in San Juan on Tuesday, October 31. At that moment, they integrated the group: Héctor «Tempo» Alomar, Harry Fraticelli, Chavela Méndez and the own Joe (singers); Eddie Perales (flutist); Manolo Navarro (pianist); Israel «Izzy» Feliú (bass player); Monchito Muñoz (timbalero); Carlos Betancourt, Carlos Gómez and Ricardo Dávila.
At the end of the first decade of the 21st century, Joe Quijano is working on a new record project.
Partial list of recordings of Joe Quijano -
"A Cataño"
"I returned to Cataño" (SLP-142), 1965. Singers: Paquito Guzmán, Willie, Chaguito and Joe. It includes his compositions "Volví a Cataño" (discharge); "To Bayamón" (son); "Acá mija" (pachanga) and "Locas por el dengue".
Productions edited under the label Cesta Records: "Introducing Joe Quijano With Strings" (CES-17), 1982.
"We II" (CES-1800BJQ), 1982. It includes his compositions "La flauta de Cachana", "Alá en mi tierra" and "I miss it".
"Basket # 13 After and Before 1960's", 2003. Compilation of themes recorded by The Mamboys of Kelly Street (1948); The Great Orchestra Cachana (1960) and Conjunto Cachana (1968).
"Untitled by Tite Curet Alonso" (2010)
Moliendo Cafe
Joe Quijano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En las que tú los cafetales vuelves a sentir
Escucharás esta canción de la vieja molienda
Que en el letargo de la noche parece decir
Cuando la tarde languidece renacen las sombras
En las que tu los cafetales vuelves a sentir
Escucharás esta canción de la vieja molienda
Una pena de amor una tristeza
Lleva el santo Manuel en su amargura
Pasa la noche cansado moliendo café
Cuando la tarde languidece renacen las sombras
En las que tú los cafetales vuelves a sentir
Escucharás esta canción de la vieja molienda
Que en el letargo de la noche parece decir
The lyrics of Joe Quijano's song "Moliendo Cafe" are rich in imagery and emotion. The song speaks of the feelings that arise as the evening moves into night, and how those feelings can be amplified by memories of love and loss. The lyrical repetition reinforces the sense of nostalgia and longing that permeates the song.
The first verse speaks of the shadows that emerge as the afternoon fades, and how they evoke memories of the coffee plantations. The second verse continues this theme, and highlights the power of music to transport us back in time. The line "escucharás esta canción de la vieja molienda" (you will hear this song from the old mill) suggests that the song itself is a conduit for these memories, and that the act of listening to it can bring back the sights, sounds, and emotions of the past.
The final verse introduces a character named Manuel who is consumed by a "pena de amor" (pain of love) and spends his nights grinding coffee. This image of a solitary figure laboring under the weight of emotional turmoil is a powerful one, and it adds another layer of depth to the song. Overall, "Moliendo Cafe" is a beautifully written and evocative piece of music that captures the bittersweet nature of memory and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando la tarde languidece renacen las sombras
As the afternoon fades away, shadows come to life
En las que tú los cafetales vuelves a sentir
Where you can feel the coffee plantations once again
Escucharás esta canción de la vieja molienda
You will hear this song from the old mill
Que en el letargo de la noche parece decir
Which, in the lethargy of the night, seems to say
Una pena de amor una tristeza
A sorrow of love, a sadness
Lleva el santo Manuel en su amargura
Carried by Saint Manuel in his bitterness
Pasa la noche cansado moliendo café
Spends the night tired, grinding coffee
Writer(s): J. Manzano
Contributed by David B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@javierpardo343
Soy caleño hincha del america escuchando este clásico desde santiago de chile... Epaaa
@oscarArleyOrtizPulgarin1995
🇦🇹
@jaimebalanta5521
Americano sinónimo de salsero👍
@mayitamayita110
Me encanta esta música de Joe Quijano. Levanta el ánimo.
@user-zl4vg2yk2b
Quien nose goso este tema en la discoteca Siboney en mi cali bella ufff sabroso. ..
@JorgeLopez-fn2wn
Joe quijano que gran cantante y director sus temas son inconfundibles y bacanisimos.soba pelao
@CASASOLA69.1B
PA LANTE UUUY OIGO ESTA CANCION ME ACUERDO DE MI THAYTA ..TRISTE GRIS..E.P.D..PAZ AMOR
@hectoremiliogarciapotes5381
No hay palabras para expresar el dolor que se siente por la partida de este fenomeno musical...El mundo salsero siempre te quiso Joe y nunca te olvidaral...Que El Toodopoderoso te acoja en tus brazos y que vivas eternamente en la divina gloria...amen.
@carmenrodriguez3219
Hector Emilio Garcia Potes hermoso homenaje al gran maestro 👍
@wilsoncastillo33
Quien escuchando esté hermoso clásico, esto es mucho super temazo