![Joe Bataan - Gypsy Woman](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/JoeBataan-GypsyWoman-1.jpg)
It was 1966 when Joe Bataan headlined the show at the Bronx’s Colgate Gardens. He was known locally to his Bronx fanbase. He had yet to record his first album and generally unknown. In fact, the MC mistakenly introduced him as Joe Batman. But I knew he was something special when he opened the set with his original composition of “Gypsy Woman.” It was different, yet refreshing, this new sound. The crowd of youngsters gathered around the stage to watch this teenage performer and his band of young musicians perform. The rest of the crowd danced. And I saw by the reactions that this would be big. I wanted to sign him up and produce his first album but he belonged to Al Santiago’s new label, Futura Records. I got to attend Joe’s first recording and knew it would be a killer album. But along came Johnny Pacheco who wanted Bataan for his new label, Fania, and worked out a deal to obtain the rights to this album… and the rest is history. That was 55 years ago and Bataan is still dazzling crowds around the world!
![Featured image for “Ray Barretto, Adalberto Santiago & Celia Cruz – Tremendo Trio”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/TremendoTrio-albumcover.jpg)
Ray Barretto, Adalberto Santiago & Celia Cruz – Tremendo Trio
![Featured image for “Navidades Con la Sonora Matancera”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NavidadesConLaSonoraMatancera.jpg)
Navidades Con la Sonora Matancera
![Featured image for “Bobby Cruz & Ricardo Ray – Felices Pascuas”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Felices-Pascuas-album-cover.jpg)
Bobby Cruz & Ricardo Ray – Felices Pascuas
![Featured image for “Sonora Ponceña – Navidad Criolla”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SonoraPoncena-NavidadCriolla.jpg)
Sonora Ponceña – Navidad Criolla
![Featured image for “Cheo Feliciano – Felicidades”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Cheo-Felicidades-album-cover.jpg)
Cheo Feliciano – Felicidades
![Featured image for “Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón & Yomo Toro – ASALTO NAVIDEÑO VOL. II”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AsaltoNavidenoVol.II_.jpg)
Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón & Yomo Toro – ASALTO NAVIDEÑO VOL. II
![Featured image for “Ismael Rivera – Feliz Navidad”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IsmaelRivera-FelizNavidad.jpg)
Ismael Rivera – Feliz Navidad
![Featured image for “PETE RODRIGUEZ – BOOGALOO NAVIDEÑO”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BoogalooNavideno-AlbumCover.jpg)
PETE RODRIGUEZ – BOOGALOO NAVIDEÑO
![Featured image for “Héctor Lavoe, Daniel Santos & Yomo Toro – Feliz Navidad”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FelizNavidad-albumcover.jpg)
Héctor Lavoe, Daniel Santos & Yomo Toro – Feliz Navidad
![Featured image for “Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe – Asalto Navideño”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/AsaltoNavideno-albumcover.jpg)
Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe – Asalto Navideño
![Featured image for “Orquesta Novel – Prestige”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/OrquestaNovel-Prestige-albumcover.jpg)
Orquesta Novel – Prestige
![Featured image for “Fania All Stars – Latin Connection”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Fania-All-Stars-Latin-Connection-COVER.jpg)
Fania All Stars – Latin Connection
![Featured image for “Eddie Palmieri”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EddiePalmieri-Cover.jpg)
Eddie Palmieri
![Featured image for “Johnny Pacheco & Monguito “El Único” Santamaría – Sabrosura”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Sabrosura-album-cover.jpg)
Johnny Pacheco & Monguito “El Único” Santamaría – Sabrosura
![Featured image for “Celia, Johnny And Pete”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CeliaJohnnyandPeteCover.jpg)
Celia, Johnny And Pete
![Featured image for “Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound 5”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/RobertoRoena-ApolloSound5.jpg)
Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound 5
![Featured image for “Héctor Lavoe – El Sabio”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/HectorLavoe-ElSabio.jpg)
Héctor Lavoe – El Sabio
![Featured image for “La Crema de New York – El Party”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/LaCremadeNY-Cover.jpg)
La Crema de New York – El Party
![Featured image for “Azuquita Y Su Orquesta Melao – Pura Salsa”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Azuquita-cover.jpg)
Azuquita Y Su Orquesta Melao – Pura Salsa
![Featured image for “Orquesta Harlow – Hommy (A Latin Opera)”](https://fania.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HarlowOrquesta-Hommy.jpg)