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.
Copacabana
Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star
Tony always tended bar
Across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana
Music and passion were always in fashion
At the copa they fell in love
His name was Rico
He wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
And when she finished,he called her over
But Rico went a bit to far
Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who?
At the copa she lost her love
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl,
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola,
Still in dress she used to wear,
Faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined,and drinks herself half-blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she's lost her mind
At the copa don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
The song Copacabana by Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers tells the story of Lola, a showgirl at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City. The lyrics portray Lola as a beautiful and flamboyant dancer who was trying to make a name for herself in show business. She was known for her yellow feathers in her hair and a dress that was cut down to there. She would merengue and do the cha-cha with her bartender boyfriend, Tony, while they worked from 8 pm until 4 am every night. The lyrics describe their intense love for each other, and how they were always happy just to have each other.
However, their love story takes a dramatic turn when Rico, a man wearing a diamond, sees Lola's performance and tries to hit on her. Tony gets angry, and a fight breaks out, resulting in chairs being smashed, and a single gunshot. The fate of the two men was left ambiguous. The song's last verse describes Lola as an older woman still wearing her faded feathers in her hair and the dress she used to wear. She is now sitting at the disco, drinking herself half-blind, and reminiscing about the good old days. The song ends with a warning not to fall in love at the Copacabana.
Line by Line Meaning
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
Introducing Lola, who used to work as a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
Description of Lola's appearance, with yellow feathers in her hair and a short dress
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
Lola's dancing skills, including Merengue and Cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star
Lola's attempt to be a star performer
Tony always tended bar
Tony's job as a bartender
Across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4
Lola and Tony's work schedule, from 8 PM to 4 AM
They were young and they had each other
Lola and Tony's young age and love for each other
Who could ask for more?
Rhetorical question about having everything one needs
At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana)
Introduction to the Copacabana club with its name being sung twice
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
Comparison to other popular spots and highlighting Copacabana's heat
Music and passion were always in fashion
Emphasis on music and passion being popular at Copacabana
At the copa they fell in love
Lola and Tony's love story set at Copacabana
His name was Rico
Introduction of Rico, another character in the story
He wore a diamond
Description of Rico's diamond accessory
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there
Rico's arrival to the club and sighting of Lola's dance
And when she finished,he called her over
Rico's invitation to Lola after her dance ends
But Rico went a bit to far
Rico's behavior becoming inappropriate
Tony sailed across the bar
Tony's reaction of punching Rico for his behavior
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
Fight scene breaking out with punches and chairs being smashed
There was blood and a single gun shot
Violent outcome with blood and a gunshot sound
But just who shot who?
Ambiguity on who got shot in the end
At the copa she lost her love
Lola losing Tony as a result of the fight
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl,
Reiteration of Lola's identity and profession
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
30 years ago, when Lola and Tony were young, Copacabana used to be a show venue
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola,
The club has now become a disco, but Lola doesn't enjoy it anymore
Still in dress she used to wear, Faded feathers in her hair
Lola's attire remaining the same, but with her feathers now faded
She sits there so refined,and drinks herself half-blind
Lola sitting elegantly, but drinking excessively
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Lola losing both her youth and love (Tony) over time
Now she's lost her mind
Lola's mental state of being lost
At the copa don't fall in love
Final advice not to fall in love at Copacabana
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Barry Manilow, Bruce H. Sussman, Jack A. Feldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind