Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers (better known as Pucho & His Latin Soul Bro… Read Full Bio ↴Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers (better known as Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers), was a 60s / early-70s band, formed by Henry Brown (b. 1 Nov 1938, best known as Henry "Pucho" Brown), in 1959. Somewhat forgotten, until 90s re-releases - few fused: jazz, Latin music, soul & funk, nearly as well.

Pucho didn't achieve the wide recognition of some other Latin jazz performers, exploring similar territory, e.g.: Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo & Cal Tjader. The timbales player / bandleader may also have been too eclectic / open (to outside influences), to achieve significant recognition amongst piers & the, then contemporary, 'serious' jazz community.

What's a weakness in one circle's view, however, is a strength for other listeners. As a result, Pucho has a wider appeal than many straight jazz performers. Fans of R&B, rock, and Latin music can immediately connect with him, especially as he's always made sure to play music that's hot and danceable. His accessibility, however, has by no means compromised the quality of his material or his Latin Soul Brothers bands, which have featured fine and versatile players.

Contrary to the assumptions of many listeners, Pucho himself is not Latino, but African-American. As a Harlem teenager, he cultivated loves for jazz, rhythm & blues, and mambo. In the late '50s, he served for several years in the band of pianist Joe Panama. When the group broke up in 1959, Pucho formed a band of his own, recruiting several alumni from Panama's outfit. Even before he'd cemented his reputation on record, Pucho's band attracted notice from top Latin jazzmen. Willie Bobo took several musicians from Pucho's band for his own group, as did Mongo Santamaria. One of the musicians that Santamaria lured away, in fact, was a young Chick Corea.

Pucho began recording in 1963, and really hit his stride between 1966 and 1970, when he cut over half a dozen albums for Prestige. On these he helped pioneer a style termed Latin boogaloo, which mixed jazz, New York-style Latin music, R&B/soul, and the sort of funk that was just emerging from James Brown and other performers. Pucho wasn't afraid to mix up his material on his LPs, which placed originals by Brown and the Latin Soul Brothers next to covers of tunes by Herbie Hancock, the Temptations, the Beatles, Duke Ellington, and John Barry.

This ensured a certain erratic flavor, but the groove was almost always on the money. The Latin Soul Brothers were at their best when they went for the hottest and funkiest grooves, as on their fine version of "Canteloupe Island," or eccentrically titled originals like "Soul Yamie" and "Vietnam Mambo." Once in a while, he even used engagingly raw soul vocals, as on the infectiously good-natured "Shuckin' and Jivin'," which could have been an R&B hit. The Latin Soul Brothers certainly couldn't have been accused of predictability, incorporating straight modern jazz chops, psychedelic flourishes, and soul-jazz organ grooves into their repertoire when the mood suited them. The constant factor was the active Latin percussion section, featuring conga, bongos, and Pucho's own timbales.

When his brand of Latin-soul-jazz fusion started to fall from commercial grace in the early '70s, Pucho disbanded the Latin Soul Brothers. For the next 20 years, he made his livelihood by performing conventional Latin music in the Catskill Mountain resorts of New York State. In the early '90s, however, Pucho's back catalog began to generate interest in Britain, where he was a hit with the acid jazz crowd, and where several albums were reissued by the Ace label. Happily, he made a return to Latin-soul-jazz-funk with his 1995 comeback effort, Rip a Dip, which found his skills intact. How'm I Doing followed in mid-2000. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Written by Richie Unterberger

Sites: Discogs.

And I Love Her
Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I give her all my love
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her to
I love her

She gives my everything
And tenderly

The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her

A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me

Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her

Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine

Will never die
And I love her, ooh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers' song And I Love Her depict a deep and passionate love that the singer feels for their significant other. The opening line reads "I give her all my love, that's all I do", which emphasizes the completeness and selflessness of their love. The next line "And if you saw my love, you'd love her to" reveals the pride the singer feels for their lover and their belief that others would feel the same way. The chorus repeatedly confirms the singer's love for their partner, saying "And I love her".

The second verse begins with "She gives me everything and tenderly" which shows that the singer feels loved and appreciated by their partner. The line "The kiss my lover brings, she brings to me" highlights the intimacy and closeness between them. The following verse portrays the singer's confidence in their relationship, asserting that "A love like ours could never die, as long as I have you near me". The final lines of the song "Bright are the stars that shine, dark is the sky, I know this love of mine will never die" amplify the intensity of their love and the permanence of their devotion to each other.

Line by Line Meaning

I give her all my love
My love for her is all-encompassing and I hold nothing back

That's all I do
My primary focus is to love and care for her

And if you saw my love
If you could witness the pureness and depth of my love for her

You'd love her to
You would understand and admire her as much as I do

I love her
Plain and simple, I love her with all my heart

She gives my everything
She provides me with all that I need, emotionally and spiritually

And tenderly
Her approach to everything is delicate and caring, including her love for me

The kiss my lover brings
The intimacy and affection that comes with her kisses

She brings to me
She provides me with all these wonderful acts of love

And I love her
I am overwhelmed with love and appreciation for her

A love like ours
Our love connection, a force that is rare and special