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Willie Bobo

 
Artist: Willie Bobo
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Willie Bobo

Similar Artists:

Mongo Santamaria, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler, Joe Bataan, Ray Barretto, Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, Candido, Milcho Leviev, Daniel Ponce, Ralph Robles, Joey Pastrana, Toots Thielemans, Ray Rodriguez, Marcio Montarroyos, Clare Fischer, Jack Costanzo, Chano Pozo, Antonio DeJesús, Joe Torres, Shorty Rogers, Cesar Ascarrunz, Carla, Jorge Calderon, Los Dos Oros, Luis Angel, Bossa Três, Rene Toledo, Seis Del Solar, Salsa Pica, Orquesta J, Latin Percussionists, La Storia del Jazz, Eddie Bonnemere, H.M.A. Salsa-Jazz Orchestra, Gonzaguinha, Terry Gibbs, Charlie Byrd, Bobby Valentín, Irakere, Larry Harlow, Joe Cuba, Willie Colón, Mark Weinstein

Followers:

Orestes Vilató, Dafnis Prieto, Charanga America, Mayuto Correa

Performed Songs By:

Eddy del Barrio, Melvin Lastie, Sonny Henry, William Correa, Chick Corea

Worked With:

Cal Tjader, Bobby Rodriguez, Bernie Glow, Paul Chambers, Al McKibbon, Jerome Richardson, Herbie Hancock, Vince Guaraldi, Grant Green, Ron Carter, Tito Puente
See Willie Bobo Lyrics
  • Born: February 28, 1934, New York, NY
  • Died: September 15, 1983, Los Angeles, CA
  • Active: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s
  • Genres: Latin
  • Instrument: Timbales, Percussion, Conga
  • Representative Albums: "Willie Bobo's Finest Hour," "Talkin' Verve," "A New Dimension"
  • Representative Songs: "Spanish Grease," "Evil Ways," "Fried Neck Bones and Some Hom"

Biography

Willie Bobo was one of the great Latin percussionists of his time, a relentless swinger on the congas and timbales, a flamboyant showman onstage, and an engaging if modestly endowed singer. He also made serious inroads into the pop, R&B and straight jazz worlds, and he always said that his favorite song was Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Dindi." Growing up in Spanish Harlem, Bobo began on the bongos at age 14, only to find himself performing with Perez Prado a year later, studying with Mongo Santamaria while serving as his translator, and joining Tito Puente for a four-year stint at age 19. Mary Lou Williams gave Correa his nickname Bobo when they recorded together in the early '50s. After working with Cal Tjader, Herbie Mann and Santamaria with whom he recorded the evergreen Latin standard "Afro-Blue" -- Bobo stepped forward in 1963 with his first recording as a leader, with Clark Terry and Joe Farrell as sidemen. Recording for Verve in the mid-'60s, Bobo achieved his highest solo visibility with albums that enlivened pop hits of the day with Latin rhythms, spelled by sauntering originals like "Spanish Grease" and "Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries." In addition, Bobo played on innumerable sessions in New York, recording with artists like Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Herbie Hancock, Wes Montgomery, Chico Hamilton and Sonny Stitt. In 1969, he moved to Los Angeles where he led jazz and Latin jazz combos, appeared on Bill Cosby's first comedy series (1969-1971) and short-lived 1976 variety show, and recorded on his own for Sussex, Blue Note and Columbia. One of Bobo's last appearances, only three months before his death from cancer, was at the 1983 Playboy Jazz Festival where he reunited with Santamaria for the first time in 15 years. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Willie Bobo
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia

Willie Bobo was the stage name of William Correa (February 28, 1934 – September 15, 1983),[1] an American jazz percussionist.

William Correa grew up in Spanish Harlem, New York City. He made his name in Latin Jazz, specifically Afro-Cuban jazz, in the 1960s and '70s, with the timbales becoming his favoured instrument. He met Mongo Santamaria shortly after his arrival in New York and studied with him while acting as his translator, and later at age 19 joined Tito Puente for four years.

The nickname Bobo is said to have been bestowed by the jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams in the early '50s.[1]

His first major exposure was when he joined George Shearing's band on the album The Shearing Spell. After leaving Shearing, Cal Tjader asked Bobo and Santamaria to become part of the Cal Tjader Modern Mambo Quintet, who released several albums as the mambo craze reached fever pitch in the late '50s. Reuniting with his mentor Santamaria in 1960, the pair released the album Sabroso! for the Fantasy label. He later formed his own group releasing Do That Thing/Guajira with Tico and Bobo's Beat and Let's Go Bobo for Roulette, without achieving huge penetration.[1]

After the runaway success of Tjader's Soul Sauce, in which he was heavily involved, Bobo formed a new band with the backing of Verve Records, releasing Spanish Grease, of which the title track is probably his most well known tune. Highly successful at this attempt, Bobo released a further seven albums with Verve.[1]

In the early '70s, he moved out to Los Angeles, He again met up with his long time friend Richard Sanchez sr. and his son Richard Jr. and began recording in the studio. He then worked as a session musician for Carlos Santana among others, as well as being a regular in the band for Bill Cosby's variety show, Cos. In the late '70s, he recorded albums for Blue Note and Columbia Records.[1]

After a period of ill health, he died at age 49, succumbing to cancer.[2]

His son, Eric Bobo (Eric Correa), is a percussionist with crew Cypress Hill.[1]

Contents

Discography

  • Sabroso! (Fantasy, 1961)
  • Do That Thing/Guajira (Tico, 1963)
  • Bobo's Beat (Roulette, 1964)
  • Let's Go Bobo! (Roulette, 1964)
  • Spanish Grease (Verve, 1965)
  • Uno, Dos, Tres 1.2.3 (Verve, 1966)
  • Feelin' So Good (Verve, 1967)
  • Juicy (Verve, 1967)
  • Bobo Motion (Verve, 1967)
  • Spanish Blues Band (Verve, 1967)
  • A New Dimension (Verve, 1968)
  • Evil Ways (Verve, 1968)
  • Do What You Want To Do, Tomorrow Is Here (Sussex, 1971)
  • Tomorrow Is Here (Blue Note, 1977)
  • Hell Of An Act To Follow (Columbia, 1978)
  • Bobo (Columbia, 1979)
  • Lost & Found (Concord Picante, 2006)

Filmography

  • 2008 Willie Bobo: King Conga

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f allmusic Biography
  2. ^ "Willie Bobo, Drummer Who Led Latin Bands". The New York Times. 1983-09-16. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0CE3D61038F935A2575AC0A965948260. Retrieved 2007-01-23. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
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