Ray Barretto, a percussionist extraordinaire and legend in the Salsa & latin Jazz music community has left the music scene with his death in February 2006 at age 76.
Born of Puerto Rican descendence in Brooklyn during the depression, he lived with his mother in East Harlem, The South Bronx and other "boricua" districts before he joined the army, where in the latter 1940's he heard Dizzy Gillespie's hard bebop. The young man was transfixed by Dizzy Gillespie - Manteca," which featured conguero Chano Pozo.
He started sitting in at a Munich jazz club, and after his discharge, by the early 50's he had bought his own Cuban Cnga drum and was playing regularly at clubs like The Bucket of Blood. Soon Mambo was the rage, and Barretto eventually started playing with Tito Puente in 1957, replacing the famed Mongo Santamaria. He became a band leader on his own by 1961, and had a big hit with his group Charanga Moderna and their boogaloo dance craze single called "el Watusi" in 1963 that was the first Latin record to hit the Billboard top 20, and went Gold.
Barretto is credited by some for bringing the African Conga drum into popular music, and had a crossover appeal that transcended the genre boundries of mainstream music categories. He gained recognition beyond the Puerto Rican music scene, ex. played on many Blue Note albums. He beacme associated with the Latin label Fania in the 1960's and played for three decades in the popular ensemble called the Fania All Stars alongsde Willie Colon, Ruben Blades and others. His 1972 album, "Carnaval", is considered a masterpiece amongst latin Jazz afficianados with the songs "Cocinando Suave" and his interpretation of Gershwin's "Summertime".
Highlights of Barretto's run with the Fania All Stars were their tours of spots like Panama, Puerto Rico and Zaire where they played to 80,000 in Kinshasa before the Ali-Foremen fight. Undoubtedly their sell out concerts at N.Y's Yankee Stadium in 1973 & 1975 would have to be included as well.
In 1975 and 1976, Barretto earned back-to-back Grammy nominations for his solo albums "Barretto" (with the prize-winning song "Guarere") and his double "Barretto Live...Tomorrow". By 1976, although he had stopped performing & touring with his live salsa orchestra, he was regularly voted Best Conga Player in music magazine annual polls. He became interested in jazz fusion forms, and pursued this musical passion despite it's lack of commercial appeal. Barretto felt restricted by the Salsa scene, it's conventions and strict danceable format, and did not like the tag Latin Jazz either.
He teamed with singer Celia Cruz in 1983 for the first of several albums, finally winning a 1990 Grammy with her for their 1989 song "Ritmo En El Corazon". In 1992, he formed the ensemble New World Spirit, and was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1999.
He had recently been named best drummer in the 2005 DownBeat poll, and received the NEA's 2006 Jazz Masters Fellowship before his health declined. His recent albums "Taboo" (1994), "My Summertime" (1998) and his final album 2005's "Time Was - Time Is" all received Grammy nominations for best Latin jazz performance.
Over the years he is said to have recorded more than 70 albums for numerous labels including Riverside, Atlantic, EMI, CTI, Fania, Tico, RCA Victor, Concord Picante, Prestige, Blue Note, Circular Moves, Sunnyside and his last for O+ Music. Amongst his many musical collaborators included Cannonball Adderly, Joe Farrell, Wes Montgomery, Cal Tjader, Charlie Palmieri, George Benson, Lou Donaldson, Dizzy Gillespie, José Curbelo , Adalberto Santiago, Steve Gadd, Hector Lavoe, Yusef Lateef, Gene Ammons, Red Garland, Ray Vega, Oscar Hernandez, Tito Gomez, and even Little Miami Steven Van Zant's Sun City project. At the time of his death in a New Jersey hospital, he was in his late 70's, and had recently had several health setbacks including suffering asthma, compounded by heart attack, bypass surgery, pneumonia , a tracheotomy and just enough damned ailments to take Fuerza Gigante down.
More Barretto Links & Sample MP3'z & Interviews available at
http://lilmikesf.blogspot.com/2006/02/conga-king-ray-barretto-rip.html
El Watusi
Ray Barretto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ese mulato que mide siete pies y pesa 169 libras
Y cuando ese mulato llega al lugar todo el mundo dice....
A correr que ya llego Watusi
El hombre mas guapo de La Habana
Watusi, Watusi. Que quieres
Oye a mi me dicen que tu eres guapo.
A todos me tienen miedo.
Por que yo se que yo me fajo con cualquiera.
Más grande que yo no hay ninguno
Ah, ja ja Vamos fajando
Cuando quieras nos fajamos Watusi
Ah, nos bebemos la sangre amigo aquí ahora mismo
Que es lo que pasa nada
Tu sabes que yo no te tengo miedo a ti. Todo el mundo aquí te tiene miedo en La Habana caballero pero yo no me importa que tu tengas siete pies.
Que es lo que pasa Watusi
Que es lo que pasa Watusi
Dime
Contigo no por que de los guapos yo me rio ja ja ja ja como que me río en la cara
Watusi a correr
Bien
Nos fajamos nos fajamos
Ja ja ja ja
A correr caballero ya llego Watusi
Bueno por fin que tu vas a fajar con Watusi
No me digas Watusi
Caballero nadie se va a fajar con Watusi
A a a a a a a a
Por que le tienes miedo al Watusi
Siete pies grande y feo a correr todo el mundo
Noooooo nooooooo le tenga miedo al Watusi muchacho
El que no huye corre
No no que va cuando Watusi llega y dice yo soy guapo usted enseguida saca cien machetes y dice bueno que es lo que pasa a mi se que yo no como ese cuento y se aplaca por que Watusi se va y por que
Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
The lyrics to Ray Barretto’s song “El Watusi” paint a picture of a confident and intimidating man named Watusi. Everyone in Havana knows who he is and fears him. At seven feet tall and 169 pounds, he’s an imposing figure. The singer of the song tries to stand up to him, claiming not to fear him like everyone else. But as Watusi challenges him to a fight, the singer backs down, admitting that he doesn’t want any trouble. The song ends with a series of mocking laughs from Watusi.
The lyrics of “El Watusi” seem to celebrate the power dynamic between the imposing figure of Watusi and those who fear him. The singer attempts to stand up to him, but ultimately fails, succumbing to the fear that Watusi inspires. The mocking laughter at the end of the song further emphasizes Watusi’s power and control over the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Caballero hay acaba de entrar Watusi
A man named Watusi has just entered the place.
Ese mulato que mide siete pies y pesa 169 libras
The man is a mixed-race individual, measuring seven feet tall and weighing 169 pounds.
Y cuando ese mulato llega al lugar todo el mundo dice....
Upon his arrival, everyone in the place takes notice of him.
A correr que ya llego Watusi
People start running away, scared of the arrival of Watusi.
El hombre mas guapo de La Habana
Watusi is reputed to be the most handsome man in Havana.
Watusi, Watusi. Que quieres
Someone addresses Watusi, asking him what he wants to do.
Oye a mi me dicen que tu eres guapo.
The singer tells Watusi that they have heard he is handsome.
A todos me tienen miedo.
Watusi claims that everyone is afraid of him.
No me digas que a ti te tienen miedo
Watusi is surprised when someone indicates that they are not afraid of him.
Por que yo se que yo me fajo con cualquiera.
The artist asserts that they are willing to fight anyone.
Más grande que yo no hay ninguno
Watusi thinks that there is no one bigger than him.
Ah, ja ja Vamos fajando
The artist agrees to fight Watusi, laughing nervously.
Cuando quieras nos fajamos Watusi
The singer challenges Watusi to a fight.
Ah, nos bebemos la sangre amigo aquí ahora mismo
The singer suggests they drink each other's blood to prove they are serious about fighting.
Que es lo que pasa nada
Watusi is unfazed by the suggestion to drink blood.
Tu sabes que yo no te tengo miedo a ti. Todo el mundo aquí te tiene miedo en La Habana caballero pero yo no me importa que tu tengas siete pies.
The artist admits that everyone else is afraid of Watusi, but they are not.
Que es lo que pasa Watusi
The artist wants to know what's going on with Watusi.
Dime
The singer urges Watusi to tell them what's on their mind.
Contigo no por que de los guapos yo me rio ja ja ja ja como que me río en la cara
The singer brags that they are not intimidated by Watusi's looks, and even laughs in his face.
Watusi a correr
The artist mocks Watusi, telling him to run away.
Bien
Watusi agrees to fight the artist.
Nos fajamos nos fajamos
The artist and Watusi prepare to fight each other.
Ja ja ja ja
The singer laughs nervously as they prepare to fight Watusi.
A correr caballero ya llego Watusi
People start running away again as Watusi and the artist start fighting.
Bueno por fin que tu vas a fajar con Watusi
Someone expresses relief that the singer is finally going to fight Watusi.
No me digas Watusi
Watusi is getting ready to fight someone else.
Caballero nadie se va a fajar con Watusi
Someone warns the singer that no one should fight Watusi.
A a a a a a a a
The sound of people running away in fear.
Por que le tienes miedo al Watusi
The artist asks someone why they are afraid of Watusi.
Siete pies grande y feo a correr todo el mundo
The person responds that everyone is running away because Watusi is tall and ugly.
Noooooo nooooooo le tenga miedo al Watusi muchacho
Someone tells the singer not to be afraid of Watusi.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAY BARRETTO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@albertangeloro5832
i first heard Watusi when was a kid in Brooklyn getting a haircut in a barber shop where everyone spoke only Italian. they were listening to an Italian language station, the DJ played Watusi and the barber yelled "caballero" and started stepping. i met Ray years later and told him this Brooklyn memory. he loved it.
@xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx
An italian yelling a Spanish word, that's quite something
@albertangeloro5832
@@xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx no its not, they were listening to an Italian radio station and unlike US stations their formats were more World. Spanish & French was common. many Italian movies, especially Fellini often had Cuban music on their soundtracks.
@xxxXXXCH04XXXxxx
@@albertangeloro5832 :D
@blancabmdesign
Lol. First time Heard Watusi was a bodega in New York, everyone started dancing. Long time ago
@juansantiago4068
That is Barretto
@BigMoney23223
Turn it up man I LOVE THAT SONG
@farmahome77
Quisqueya😂
@2buscuits
This song just produced the best Thanksgiving ive ever had in my life. A neighbor was playing this song when right after I said they should play it. They played it and I got up and went over and introduced myself. They invited me in and became an instant family member. We celebrated until the wee hours of the morning. BECAUSE OF THIS SONG!!! THANK YOU RAY BARRETTO!!! Happy holidays to you all !!!
@baltazarfregosojr6789
"turn it up man I love that song"