Pacheco inherited his passion for music from his father, Rafael Azarias Pacheco, who was the bandleader and clarinetist of the “Santa Cecilia Orchestra”. In the late 1940s, when Pacheco was 11, his family moved to New York City from his native Dominican Republic. He continued polishing his musical skills, learning to play accordion, violin, saxophone and clarinet. He attended the Juilliard School of Music to study percussion.
Playing the flute, saxophone and assorted percussion, Pacheco performed with Charlie Palmieri‘s Latin orchestra for a number of years before forming his own band in 1959. Experimentation was the focus of his new band, blending African music of Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican heritage into what came to be known as salsa.
In 1960, he organized his first orchestra, “Pacheco y Su Charanga”. The band signed with Alegre Records and its first album “Johnny Pacheco y Su Charanga” sold over 100,000 copies within the first year. Beginning then and through the end of 1963, Pacheco introduced a new dance craze called “Pachanga”. He became an internationally renowned star and toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Moreover '"Pacheco y Su Charanga", was the first Latin band to headline the Apollo in 1962 and 1963.
The early Fania All-Stars band was made up of Johnny Pacheco, musical director and flute; Larry Harlow on piano, Bobby Valentin on bass guitar, Ray Barretto on conga, (replaced by Eddie Montalvo later on) Roberto Roena on bongo, Orestes Vilato on timbales, (replaced by Nicky Marrero later on); Willie Colón, Barry Rodgers, and Renaldo Jorge(replaced by several others) on trombones, Larry Spencer , Roberto Rodriguez (replaced by Victor Paz) and Hector “Bomberito” Zarzuela on trumpets, and Yomo Toro on the cuatro (a small Puerto Rican guitar with ten strings). The lead singers included vocalists from the Colon, Pacheco, Barretto and Harlow bands. Hector Lavoe, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, were joined by Santitos Colon (from the Tito Puente band) and Jose Cheo Feliciano (from the Joe Cuba band). Early Fania All Stars guests were Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Joe Bataan, Monguito, Mongo Santamaria, Jimmy Sabater, La La, Louie Ramirez, Ralph Robles, Yomo Toro, Nicky Marrero, Ricardo Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz. The 1970’s line-up included Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Papo Lucca, Eddie Palmieri, Andy Montañez, Jorge Santana (Carlos’s brother), drummer Billy Cobham and the Cameroonian sax player Manu Dibango, who appeared as a guest in concerts and live recordings in Africa and New York.
Agua de Clavelito
Johnny Pacheco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y harás que en este momento
Mi fuerza de pensamiento
Ejerza el bien sobre ti
Chévere que chévere he
Que Chévere que chévere he
Que Chévere que chévere he
Que Chévere que chévere he
Que Chévere que chévere he
Que Chévere que chévere he
Que Chévere que chévere he
Toma el agua del clavelito
Toma el agua
Toma el agua del clavelito
Toma el agua
Toma el agua del clavelito
Toma el agua
Toma el agua del clavelito
Toma el agua
Tomate el agua del clavelito
Lo traigo coloraito
Toma el agua del clavelito
Toma el agua
Toma el agua del clavelito
Toma el agua
Clavelito a quien le doy claveles
Haaaaa haaaaa ya amaneció
En el sitial el gallo canta
Tu dulce canto por la mañana
El guajirito se levanto
Ho ho
Haaaaa haaaaa ya amaneció
En el sitial el gallo canta
Tu dulce canto por la mañana
El guajirito se levanto
Ho ho
Clavelito clavelito
Clavelito clavelito
Clavelito clavelito
Clavelito clavelito
Clavelito clavelito
Clavelito clavelito
Hay pacheco que banda tiene usted
Hay pacheco que banda tiene usted
Hay pacheco que banda tiene usted
Hay pacheco que banda tiene usted
Tiene usted tiene usted
Tiene usted tiene usted
Tiene usted tiene usted
Tiene usted tiene usted
Tiene usted tiene usted.
The lyrics to Johnny Pacheco's song Agua de Clavelito are about the power of positive thinking and the benefits that it can bring. The opening lines ask the listener to focus their thoughts on the singer, as this will allow his positive energy to influence them in a positive way. The repetition of the phrase "Que Chevere" reinforces the message of positivity and creates a joyful atmosphere for the listener.
The chorus of the song encourages the listener to drink the water of the clavelito flower. This can be interpreted in a few different ways - it could be a metaphor for something that will bring the listener health and happiness, or it could be a literal reference to a folk remedy that is popular in some cultures. Either way, the repeated call to "Toma el agua" creates a sense of urgency and excitement.
Overall, the lyrics to Agua de Clavelito are meant to inspire the listener and lift their spirits. Through the power of positive thinking and the healing properties of the clavelito flower, the singer hopes to bring joy and happiness to those who hear his message.
Line by Line Meaning
Pon tu pensamiento en mí
Think of me and you will wield positive influence over me
Y harás que en este momento
And you will cause, at this moment
Mi fuerza de pensamiento
The strength of my thoughts
Ejerza el bien sobre ti
To do good to you
Chévere que chévere he
Cool, how awesome I am
Toma el agua del clavelito
Drink clavelito's water
Lo traigo coloraito
It comes colored
Clavelito a quien le doy claveles
Clavelito, to whom should I give the carnations?
Haaaaa haaaaa ya amaneció
Haaaaa haaaaa, the dawn is here
En el sitial el gallo canta
On the perch, the rooster sings
Tu dulce canto por la mañana
Your sweet singing in the morning
El guajirito se levanto
The peasant got up
Clavelito clavelito
Clavelito, clavelito
Hay pacheco que banda tiene usted
Oh Pacheco, what a band you have
Tiene usted tiene usted
You have it, you have it
Writer(s): MIGUEL ANGEL POZO
Contributed by Jasmine R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Leoleon90
Decidme por favor qué no soy el único chico de 29 años. Que no le aburre esta canción que tiene ya 5 décadas.. Viva pacheco
@mariajosetapia7713
Creo que todos los días la escucho , tengo 27 años
@Leoleon90
@@mariajosetapia7713 enserio....que bien....a mi me encanta....me llena de energía....y tú de dónde eres
@TheSabrosuranegrura
RIP 😢🖤🇩🇴
@user-hk5vu2sp4h
Esa gente no era de este mundo, eran super cantantes y compositores viva la buena musica por siempre biva la salsa brava
@estharlyndelacruz8945
Mire si hay un Dominicano que me ha hecho sentir orgulloso ese ha sido sin lugar a dudas Johnny Pacheco. Que gran artista desde Santiago de los Caballeros para el mundo, el grande, el maestro ❤❤
@kennyreal3182
En colombia pega duro esta salsa de johnny Pacheco
@divasahibe191
a mi esposo le gustaba mucho este tema, el ya no esta,siempre que lo escucho siento mucha nostalgia.
@MarceloDiazVidal
Pacheco ya no era dominicano, era del mundo, peruano, colombiano, boricua, era de donde se gozaba su música, siempre estará vivo.
@lanzadedios001
Y te aseguro que en su país no lo escuchaban más que en otro de estos paises que mencionaste