Musician, Bandleader. Born Gilberto Calderon, he was dubbed the "Father of Latin Boogaloo", a bilingual mix of musical influences which changed the sound of salsa music. In 1954 he formed "The Joe Cuba Sixtet", fronted by Cuba playing congas which made their debut at the Stardust Ballroom, New York. His first recording "To Be With You" (1962), a mixture of Spanish and English, became a popular new Latin style influence followed by "Bang Bang", "El Pito" and "Sock It To Me Baby", all Billboard hits in the latter half of the 1960s. Over the years his sextet worked with many artists including Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, James Brown, Judy Garland and toured world wide in the 1970s. He also was the director of the Museum of La Salsa, Manhattan, New York and was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1999. He died from complications of a bacterial infection.
Musician, Bandleader. Born Gilberto Calderon, he was dubbed the "Father of Latin Boogaloo", a bilingual mix of musical influences which changed the sound of salsa music. In 1954 he formed "The Joe Cuba Sixtet", fronted by Cuba playing congas which made their debut at the Stardust Ballroom, New York. His first recording "To Be With You" (1962), a mixture of Spanish and English, became a popular new Latin style influence followed by "Bang Bang", "El Pito" and "Sock It To Me Baby", all Billboard hits in the latter half of the 1960s. Over the years his sextet worked with many artists including Harry Belafonte, Pearl Bailey, James Brown, Judy Garland and toured world wide in the 1970s. He also was the director of the Museum of La Salsa, Manhattan, New York and was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1999. He died from complications of a bacterial infection.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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