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.
Soy Hijo Del Siboney
Johnny Pacheco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar.
y como se adora el sol asi se adora la luna
y como se adora el sol asi se adora la luna
y yo te quiero montuna por ser mi primer amor
y yo te quiero montuna por ser mi primer amor
cosa rica.
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar.
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar.
Un dia quise pasear y me fui de pesqueria
esto no es mentiras mias lo que les voy a contar
un caiman en alta mar con una pita pesque
la barriga le pique y eso es para que me escuche
durmiendo dentro del buche a Pacheco me encontre, cosa buena.
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar.
Yo he visto un chivo cantor un conejo maromero, un cangrejo pelotero he visto un gato nadar, he visto un perro bailar al ritmo del guaguanco, una vaca que nacio con colmillo de elefante, pero no he visto un cantante mas mentiroso que yo cosa rica.
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar.
ehhhhhh... oyeme cantar
pero y que rico y que sabrosito bongo... oyeme cantar
ven a bailar ven a gozar cosa buena... oyeme cantar
bembele bembele ven ven ven... oyeme cantar
que con pacheco yo traingo el son sabroson... oyeme cantar
The lyrics to Johnny Pacheco's "Soy Hijo Del Siboney" describe a deep appreciation for the natural world, as well as a sense of pride in the singer's hometown of Siboney. The song begins with the lines "soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar," which roughly translates to "I am the son of Siboney, listen to me sing." The singer goes on to compare the adoration of the sun and moon to the adoration of his love interest, who he calls "montuna." Overall, the song is a celebration of life and a love for the world around us.
One interesting fact about "Soy Hijo Del Siboney" is that it was written and performed by Johnny Pacheco, a famous musician and bandleader who pioneered the sound of salsa music. Pacheco was born in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City in the 1960s, where he became one of the most influential musicians in the Latin music scene. Another interesting fact is that the song features a mix of African and Latin American musical influences, including the use of bongo drums and other percussion instruments.
Line by Line Meaning
soy hijo de siboney indiana oyeme cantar
I am a proud child of Siboney, Indiana and I want you to listen to me sing.
y como se adora el sol asi se adora la luna
Just like the sun is adored, the moon is adored as well.
y yo te quiero montuna por ser mi primer amor
I love you, montuna, because you were my first love. It's a sweet thing.
cosa rica.
It's a wonderful thing.
Un dia quise pasear y me fui de pesqueria
One day I wanted to go for a walk and I went fishing.
esto no es mentiras mias lo que les voy a contar
What I'm going to tell you is not a lie.
un caiman en alta mar con una pita pesque
I caught a crocodile in the high sea with a rope.
la barriga le pique y eso es para que me escuche
I poked its belly and that's how it heard me.
durmiendo dentro del buche a Pacheco me encontre, cosa buena.
I found myself sleeping inside the crocodile's stomach. It's a good thing.
Yo he visto un chivo cantor un conejo maromero, un cangrejo pelotero he visto un gato nadar, he visto un perro bailar al ritmo del guaguanco, una vaca que nacio con colmillo de elefante, pero no he visto un cantante mas mentiroso que yo cosa rica.
I have seen a singing goat, a jumping rabbit, a crab playing ball, a swimming cat, a dog dancing to the guaguanco rhythm, and a cow born with elephant tusks, but I haven't seen a more dishonest singer than myself. It's a wonderful thing.
ehhhhhh... oyeme cantar
Hey, listen to me sing.
pero y que rico y que sabrosito bongo... oyeme cantar
But, how rich and tasty the bongo is... Listen to me sing.
ven a bailar ven a gozar cosa buena... oyeme cantar
Come dance and enjoy the good thing... Listen to me sing.
bembele bembele ven ven ven... oyeme cantar
Bembele bembele, come on, come on, come on... Listen to me sing.
que con pacheco yo traingo el son sabroson... oyeme cantar
With Pacheco, I bring the delicious sound of son... Listen to me sing.
Contributed by Penelope H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.