Cuban rumbero, Totico, who I first met in Carlos “Patato” Valdez’s apartment in the Bronx died on January 21, 2011 of cancer at the age of 76
NY Times Lens Blogger David Gonzalez wrote a nice on my photography over the years. You can read it here:
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/bongos-congas-and-cameras/
congahead.com‘s studio for video production came into full gear. 4 Camera HD videos with high fidelity stereo sound provided by world class audio engineer, Kamilo Kratc with video assistance from his wife, Sandra Kratc, audio assistance from new family member, DJ Javick and help from Jake Fischer.
This site wouldn’t have the capability it has without the genius of Clinton Bradley who for the last 14 years constantly improved my ability in technology.
Always props to Little Johnny Rivero who’s devotion to my cause is endless. My wife, Vivianne has provided the most delicious meals for the musical talent that has been so kind to lend their talent to congahead.com,
We had variety!
Jazz sax player James Moody passed away on December 9, 2010 in San Diego at the age of 85.
In 1989 I was invited by drummer, Zoro to a loft in Soho, NYC where he was staying with Lenny Kravitz and got to get a couple of photos of this great musician.
Venezuelan born percussionist died in Las Vegas on November 5, 2010. I first met Rudy in Puerto Rico in the 1960s. I knew him while he was a fixture on the LA music scene and later got to see him in Los Vegas. He was 73 years old.
Born roughly November 4, 1925, Carlos “Patato” Valdez was one of the most influential figures in the development of my career and that of the LP, percussion company I founded in 1964. It was love at first sight for me. He was talented, funny and a bit crazy. He helped me hone my hanging out chops in the after hour clubs in the Bronx and in the parties in his apartment. He was a part of my life for nearly 40 years. With his help I introduced a conga design that has his name and a bata drum set in fiberglass that was a bit oversized. In 1979 he was part of a band I founded that included Tito Puente and Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez called the Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble that made 3 European trips and one to Japan. If the trips themselves were costly to me, they helped me develop a global business that became a powerful brand in percussion.
Patato died in a hospital outside of Cleveland, Ohio on November 11, 2007
This is a photo from my first San Francisco Photo Shoot taken at the Mission Cultural Center. I think the year was 1985 but some of the guys in the photo might know the exact year. Some of the guys in the photo are Eric Rangél, Babatunde Lee, Michael Pluznick, John Santos, Karl Perazzo, Chalo Eduardo, Benni Duarte, Orestes Vilato, Mario Abruzo, Michael Spiro. Please get in touch with me with missing names.Thanks to Rafael Ramierez the following info was supplied:Top Row ~ Sammuel Ramirez, Rsafael Ramirez,Daryl Rogers
NPR’s Felix Contreras flattered me with a wonderful story about my photography on jazz and Latin musicians.
Click below for the story.
Classic Photos is a peek at the early years of my photography covering the jazz and emerging Latin/Salsa scenes including icons such as Tito Puente, Carlos “Patato” Valdez, Arsenio Rodriguez and more
