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
Llanto de cocodrilo
Ray Barretto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
por vivir como un cangrejo dando marcha para atras
no quiero nada de ti largate dejame en paz
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
diciendo que me queria pero que descanse en paz
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
si por cosas de la vida has pensado darte un ti
ati te resare como resa un cocodrilo
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
y cuando se este muriendo yo sere tu confesor
en vez de aliviar tus penas aumentare tu dolor
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
coco cocococo con llanto de cocodrilo
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
The lyrics to Ray Barretto's "Llanto de cocodrilo" depict a situation where two people are hurting each other in a relationship. The title itself translates to "Crocodile Tears" which means the act of faking or insincere crying. The line "Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo, tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo" (I will cry with crocodile tears, you will cry with crocodile tears) portrays the hypocrisy and irony of the situation. Though both parties are hurt, they are not truly empathetic towards each other, but rather putting on a façade of sadness.
The verses detail that the reason for their strained relationship is attributed to one of them, who is living like a crab, taking steps backwards and not making any progress. The singer tells this person that they want nothing to do with them and to leave them alone. The pre-chorus mentions that if one of them were to pass away, the other would send a letter saying they loved the one who passed but now they should rest in peace.
The chorus continues to build on the idea of crying with fake tears and warns the other person that if they were to do something foolish, the singer would pray for them like a crocodile, who is known to prey on its own kind. The last verse paints a picture of the singer and the other person on their deathbeds, with the singer offering to be the other's confessor. But instead of providing solace, the singer would add to the other's agony.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo te llorare con llanto de cocodrilo
I will fake being upset over your departure
tu me lloraras con llanto de cocodrilo
You will also fake being upset over my departure
por vivir como un cangrejo dando marcha para atras
Because you are living backwards like a crab
no quiero nada de ti largate dejame en paz
I don't want anything from you, go away and leave me alone
Se que si muero primero una carta mandara
I know that if I die first, you will send a letter
diciendo que me queria pero que descanse en paz
Saying that you loved me but I should rest in peace
si por cosas de la vida has pensado darte un ti
If you have thought about taking your own life
ati te resare como resa un cocodrilo
I will pray for you like a crocodile (which is known for its insincere tears)
y cuando se este muriendo yo sere tu confesor
And when you are dying, I will be your confessor
en vez de aliviar tus penas aumentare tu dolor
Instead of easing your pains, I will increase your suffering
coco cocococo con llanto de cocodrilo
Crocodile tears, crocodile tears
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@zecalimazeca
Llanto de cocodrilo Saludos desde Brazil. Amo este genero de musica. Unicos por la musica.
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo Tú me llorarás Con llanto de cocodrilo
Te fuiste como el cangrejo Dando marcha para atrás
No quiero nada de ti Lárgate y déjame en paz
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo Tú me llorarás Con llanto de cocodrilo
Se que si muero primero Una carta mandarás
Diciendo que me querías Pero que descanse en paz
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo Tú me llorarás Con llanto de cocodrilo
Si por cosas de la vida Haz pensado en darte un tiro, pum
Me avisas, que rezaré Como reza un cocodrilo
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo
Ay, tú me llorarás, camará Con llanto de cocodrilo
Y cuando te estés muriendo Yo seré tu confesor
En vez de aliviar tu fe Aumentaré tu dolor PUENTE
Tú ves cómo lloro Con llanto de cocodrilo
Yo aposté, tú quieres Con llanto de cocodrilo
Ay, vete, yo no te boté Con llanto de cocodrilo
Adiós muchacho, compañero de mi vida Con llanto de cocodrilo MAMBO
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, ea Con llanto de cocodrilo
No ves que tengo el corazón ya destrozado Con llanto de cocodrilo
Como me llevas te llevaré Con llanto de cocodrilo
Llorar, por qué lloras si te he perdido Con llanto de cocodrilo MAMBO
Si tu me tiras te tiro Con llanto de cocodrilo
A mi nadie importa así yo seguiré Con llanto de cocodrilo
Lo tuyo es paquete, mulato, lo mío es caché Con llanto de cocodrilo
Y miles canciones te cantaré, e eh Con llanto de cocodrilo MAMBO
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh Con llanto de cocodrilo
Para que aprendas lo que es el bembé Con llanto de cocodrilo
Ay, ven a la escuela y te enseñaré Con llanto de cocodrilo
No me llores más, no me llores más, no me llores más Con llanto de cocodrilo
@enriqueseda779
Barretto siempre fué un Superman
@jorgenazario611
Puerto Rico where salsa is from.🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
@MariaRodriguez-nq6iu
Nada como la salsa 😍😍
@JoseHernandez-cr8wi
Gracias maestro RAY BARRETO #1 !!!!!!!
@enriqueseda779
Tito Allen sustituyó muy bien a Adalberto Santiago. Bravo.
@jammendez4200
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
@hectorviteri6936
Duro Duro. Desde PANAMÁ
@zecalimazeca
Llanto de cocodrilo Saludos desde Brazil. Amo este genero de musica. Unicos por la musica.
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo Tú me llorarás Con llanto de cocodrilo
Te fuiste como el cangrejo Dando marcha para atrás
No quiero nada de ti Lárgate y déjame en paz
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo Tú me llorarás Con llanto de cocodrilo
Se que si muero primero Una carta mandarás
Diciendo que me querías Pero que descanse en paz
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo Tú me llorarás Con llanto de cocodrilo
Si por cosas de la vida Haz pensado en darte un tiro, pum
Me avisas, que rezaré Como reza un cocodrilo
Yo te lloraré Con llanto de cocodrilo
Ay, tú me llorarás, camará Con llanto de cocodrilo
Y cuando te estés muriendo Yo seré tu confesor
En vez de aliviar tu fe Aumentaré tu dolor PUENTE
Tú ves cómo lloro Con llanto de cocodrilo
Yo aposté, tú quieres Con llanto de cocodrilo
Ay, vete, yo no te boté Con llanto de cocodrilo
Adiós muchacho, compañero de mi vida Con llanto de cocodrilo MAMBO
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, ea Con llanto de cocodrilo
No ves que tengo el corazón ya destrozado Con llanto de cocodrilo
Como me llevas te llevaré Con llanto de cocodrilo
Llorar, por qué lloras si te he perdido Con llanto de cocodrilo MAMBO
Si tu me tiras te tiro Con llanto de cocodrilo
A mi nadie importa así yo seguiré Con llanto de cocodrilo
Lo tuyo es paquete, mulato, lo mío es caché Con llanto de cocodrilo
Y miles canciones te cantaré, e eh Con llanto de cocodrilo MAMBO
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh Con llanto de cocodrilo
Para que aprendas lo que es el bembé Con llanto de cocodrilo
Ay, ven a la escuela y te enseñaré Con llanto de cocodrilo
No me llores más, no me llores más, no me llores más Con llanto de cocodrilo
@ronnykelvincastillopena5586
La verdad que esta salsa es dura de rumba y mucho mas, todavia suena como si fuera de hoy. Rey barreto duro duro.desde la republica dominicana un saludo
@gerryrodriguez8715
Temazo con Tito Allen 🎉🎉Ray Barreto