Bobby Valentín Rey Del Bajo Released 1974 Bobby Valentín: The King of the Bass Ironically, El Rey del Bajo or the King of Bass, was a 15-year-old trumpeter when he arrived in New York from his native Puerto Rico in 1956. Two years later, he made his professional debut with Joe Quijano’s band. In fact, Valentín produced some of his …

On Saturdays, he would sell chewing gum at the theatre in Coamo, a small village located in the central mountain range of Borinquen, where Roberto Valentín Fred took his first steps in popular music. Born in 1941, he grew up listening to the boleros of Trío Vegabajeño, Los Tres Ases and Los Diamantes. He developed his musical talents by playing …

In Motion Bobby Valentin With the release of the 1974 album In Motion, Bobby Valentín became the first Fania Records artist and member of the Fania All Stars to venture into creating, the following year, his own label: Bronco Records. His second contract with Fania was about to expire, and Bobby communicated his decision to Jerry Masucci. “We would sign …

In pure musical terms, salsa would never have conquered the world without the extraordinary contribution of Bobby Valentín, the virtuoso bassist, composer, arranger and bandleader born in the mountains of Orocovis, Puerto Rico, on June 9, 1941. A song may be good by itself, but it will not go very far without an appropriate arrangement and orchestration. Following on the …

During the heyday of the boogaloo and shing-a-ling era, Fania released an album titled Bad Breath by Bobby Valentín, who at the time was a trumpet player. It was Valentín’s third album, following his debut with El Mensajero, which he recorded for Fonseca Records, and the 1966 release of his first Fania LP, Young Man With A… Valentín, who formed …

After moving to Puerto Rico in 1968, Bobby Valentín made a name for himself as a salsa bandleader with the release of two albums: 1969’s Se La Comió and 1970’s classic “Algo Nuevo.” Even though he had already recorded four excellent albums in New York with vocalist Marcelino Junior Morales, it was “Algo Nuevo” that found the arranger from Orocovis …

Only a boricua who has been absent from his homeland knows what it’s like to be far away from Puerto Rico when winter arrives in New York City. Or when you’re inside a taxi or walking through the congested streets of the Bronx or the Latin barrio, and all that you see around you is skyscrapers and more skyscrapers. The …

The recording and subsequent release of “Sorpresa La Flauta” forever changed the course of my musical career. It all began with a casual conversation between Jerry Masucci, my brother Larry and myself sometime in 1971. “Why don’t we record my brother?” Larry asked Jerry (with me standing there saying nothing as I was a bit shocked). “He’s got the Harlow …