Larry Harlow (b. March 20, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, as Lawrence Ira Kahn… Read Full Bio ↴Larry Harlow (b. March 20, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, as Lawrence Ira Kahn - August 20, 2021) was an American salsa music performer, composer and producer. Larry Harlow was born into a musical family of Jewish-American descent.

He is a son of the late Rose and Buddy Kahn. His mother was an opera singer with the stage name Rose Sherman in New York. His father was the bandleader at the Latin Quarter (nightclub) in New York under the name Buddy Harlowe. The young Harlow, is affectionately nicknamed el Judio Maravilloso (The Marvelous Jew). Harlow is a noted salsa bandleader and multi-instrumentalist, although he primarily plays piano. He produced over 260 albums for Fania Records. He is the director of the Latin Legends of Fania, among other groups.

Larry Harlow excelled at an early age at various instruments. The music and culture of New York’s Latino community led him to Cuba where he began an intense study of Afro-Cuban music. Harlow, who is known for his innovative blend of Afro-Cuban and Jazz styles of piano playing, studied music in the 1950s in Cuba but was unable to complete his degree before the Cuban Revolution forced him to leave the island. Larry and his orchestra, Orquesta Harlow, was the second orchestra signed to the Fania Label, Harlow has also produced over 106 CD’s for various artists and over 50 CD’s on his own besides the ones he produced for Fania. Among his most popular albums were “Abran Paso” and “Tributo a Arsenio Rodriguez” with Ismael Miranda as the lead singer. Larry's opera "Hommy," which is credited for getting Celia Cruz out of retirement, was the first Latin musical performance in Carnegie Hall. In other firsts, Larry was the first ever piano player for legendary salsa group "The Fania All-stars," generally regarded as the single most important Salsa group of all time and the first Recording Producer for legendary salsa group "The Fania All-stars," he also appeared with "The Fania All-stars," in the movies Our Latin Thing (Nuestra Cosa), Live In Africa and Salsa.

Larry's further contributions to music was to insist on the creation of the Latin Grammy Award. Harlow’s 1977 salsa suite La Raza Latina, an ambitious “history of Latin music in musical genre” with Rubén Blades, was nominated for a Grammy Award. Partially in recognition of his early efforts to establish the Latin Grammy as well as for his career contributions to the genre, Larry was presented with the Trustee's Award by the Latin Recording Academy in November, 2008.
[edit] El Judio ContraAtaKa

In 1994, he teamed up with Ray Barretto, Adalberto Santiago and cuatro guitar virtuoso Yomo Toro to found the Latin Legend Band, with the aim of both educating Latino and American youth about Latin music heritage and pioneering new ideas in the music, resulting in Larry Harlow’s Latin Legends of Fania Band 2006.

In 2005 he contributed to The Mars Volta's album, Frances the Mute, in which he played a piano solo towards the end of L'Via L'Viaquez. He also played live with The Mars Volta in some of their performances.

In 2008, Larry Harlow was presented with a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Larry Harlow currently resides with his wife in New York, and still regularly performs as "Larry Harlow and the Latin Legends of Fania".

Que será lo que pelean?
Orchestra Harlow Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Life couldn't get better
Life couldn't get better

Jigumkaji no obdon shiganun odumiojyo (without you baby)

Norul mannan hu naui senghwarun kumman gathayo (baby)

Norul chum bon sungan (choum bon sungan) a miracle (a miracle)

Nan nukkyojyo gijogun baro norangol

Life couldn't get better (hey )
Nan nol pume ango nara
Purun darul hyanghe nara (ho )
Jamdun noui ib machul koya
Life couldn't get better (hey )
Noui mame munul yoro jwo
Gude ne sonul jabayo
Life couldn't get better

Meil meil pyongbomhetton nal duri ijen dalla jyossoyo (a holiday)

Sesang modun saramduri hengboghe boyoyo (I wanna thank you baby)

Norul choum bon sungan (choum bon sungan) a miracle (a miracle)
Nan nukkyojyo gijogun baro norangol

Life couldn't get better (hey )
Nan nol pume ango nara
Purun darul hyanghe nara (ho )
Jamdun noui ib machul koya
Life couldn't get better (hey )
Noui mame munul yoro jwo
Gude ne sonul jabayo
Life couldn't get better
(Life couldn't get better)

Naege wonhaneun geol, yeah
Yongwonhi hamke handangeulyaseok

Dasi taeyonado
Noreul dasi mannan sarangeul hamttoya

Nol choum bon sungan a miracle (a miracle)
I love you baby and I'm never gonna stop

Life couldn't get better (hey )
Nan nol pume ango nara
Purun darul hyanghe nara (ho )
Jamdun noui ib machul koya
Life couldn't get better (hey )
Noui mame munul yoro jwo
Gude ne sonul jabayo

Life couldn't get better (hey )
Nan nol pume ango nara
Purun darul hyanghe nara (ho )
Jamdun noui ib machul koya
Life couldn't get better (hey )
Noui mame munul yoro jwo

Gude ne sonul jabayo
Life couldn't get better

Overall Meaning

Orchestra Harlow's "Que será lo que pelean?" is filled with up-tempo salsa beats, horns, and catchy lyrics - all of which evoke feelings of happiness, joy, and celebration. The song is about two people who have found each other and are filled with gratitude for the love that they share. The lyrics express that life couldn't get better than it is now because of the love they have found, and the song encourages the listener to celebrate love, joy, and the important people in their lives.

The lyrics also express gratitude for the little things in life, such as holidays and moments spent with loved ones. The chorus of the song is particularly catchy, with the repeated phrase "life couldn't get better," creating a sense of positivity and upliftment. There is a sense of urgency in the lyrics, as if the singer wants to express their love and gratitude as much as possible before time runs out. Overall, the song is a celebration of love and life, which encourages the listener to appreciate what they have in the present moment.

Line by Line Meaning

Life couldn't get better
I am extremely happy and content with my life

Jigumkaji no obdon shiganun odumiojyo (without you baby)
Time has been dull and lifeless without you

Norul mannan hu naui senghwarun kumman gathayo (baby)
Since meeting you, my life has been filled with sweet words

Norul chum bon sungan (choum bon sungan) a miracle (a miracle)
When I kissed you, it was like experiencing a miracle

Nan nukkyojyo gijogun baro norangol
I laugh because I know we are meant to be together

Nan nol pume ango nara
I hold you close and never let you go

Purun darul hyanghe nara (ho )
We walk together in the beautiful air

Jamdun noui ib machul koya
I will make your heart full and happy

Meil meil pyongbomhetton nal duri ijen dalla jyossoyo (a holiday)
We have turned every day into a holiday since being together

Sesang modun saramduri hengboghe boyoyo (I wanna thank you baby)
Everyone in the world is happy and I want to thank you for contributing to that

Naege wonhaneun geol, yeah
What I want is you, yeah