Que Viva la Musica!

Warwick - A good number of people spent last weekend remembering Ray Barretto. Some listened to his records. Others recalled what he meant to their lives growing up. Many could say precisely when they met him in Warwick, at a school function or even Circuit City and how “Mr. Hard Hands” returned their handshake. Here are just some of those recollections, beginning with Judy Battista of Jubilee Presents in Warwick and host of the Latin Jubilee Radio show on WTBQ (1100 AM), whose show this Saturday at 3 p.m. will be a further tribute to Barretto. Battista also interviewed the people for this story. • Judy Battista: When I’ve told some people that I live in Warwick, they would say, “Oh, that is where Ray Barretto lives.” And to those that do not know who Ray was, I try to explain the significance of this loss - that it is like having a member of the Beatles passing away and to some of us, a family member. When I put it in that context, they understand a bit more. Ray Barretto signified an era to most of us Latinos - especially those of us who grew up listening to his music. That is why when I met him for the first time, I felt as though I knew him already. There he was, this bigger-than-life figure in the music world, right up the road from my house in Warwick, playing in my own backyard. It was a packed house two years ago on that June Sunday afternoon as Russ Layne of Sugar Loaf Music introduced him at the Kutz Camp Concert in Warwick. As he and other talented musicians, including his son Christopher, played Latin jazz, I found myself looking around, hoping that people understood what a privilege it was to have this legend in our neck of the woods. As I stood up from my seat, and joined those that could no longer sit still to that familiar beat of “Mr. Hard Hand” beating on the congas, I thought to myself, “I believe this is what they call a full circle.” I wanted to shout out, “Hey, I grew up with this music and this man.” There he was, playing sizzling Latin Jazz to a diverse audience. I felt a sense of pride and a deeper realization of how music can cross all boundaries, how it can touch so many lives. • Tony Velez of New Windsor, leader of local Latin band, Caribe Sol: When I was a teenager, I remember hanging around my uncle house - Oreste Vilato (percussionist) and there would be Nelson Gonzalez (tres guitar player), Ray Barretto and others. These guys would spend the day jamming at my uncle’s house in the Bronx - the classic salsa sound that I now play. Barretto was very close to my uncle Oreste. He and all these masters got me connected with my Latin roots. Thank you, Ray. • Jeff and Myrna Strickland, Warwick: I remember meeting Ray and his family when we went to see his son play at la Guardia. When we shook his hands, he had a firm grip but I remember thinking why did they call him “Mr. Hard Hands” when his hands felt so soft? But that is because of the way he played those congas. He was a down-to earth-man involved in school and kids. We were very proud that he lived here in Warwick. It was like one of our own. My uncle worked with his brother in our same hometown in Puerto Rico. We felt connected to him. • Luisito Rosario of Washingtonville, musician, band leader and one of the new young singers in the Larry Harlow Legends band: I am a young singer/musician considered “old school” from the influences of Harlow, Puente, and Barretto. That generation of legends has a force that is indestructible. It just shows that when we do something out of love and passion, there is a fire that a singer, a musician or a dancer generates that influences the audience. Ray had that fire, that “it” that came out through his Congas. I consider myself lucky to have shared the stage and to be mentored by such great Latin legends. And we should enjoy and learn from them while we have them. • David Ayala, Monroe: I met Ray at an Orange County All State Jazz concert where our son Steven played trumpet and his son Christopher played the saxophone. He was very proud of his son, that he also wanted to be a musician. He was a very humble man. We introduced ourselves and he invited us to another one of his functions. My wife and I spent this past Saturday doing a personal tribute and homage to Ray. I have been a fan for years...My wife Sonia and I had a glass of wine. I played congas, listened to his music .It was our way of saying good bye. May he rest in peace. • Laura Lecour, Monroe: I spent the weekend listening to his music in his memory. I met him twice - once backstage at OCCC at a concert he did years ago and once in Circuit City. I told him that his music has been an integral part of my formative years to the point where I can remember who I danced Guararé with and how it became ‘our’ song. It’s like a family member passing; at the same time an historical figure who had enormous impact with his “hard hands.” • Terry Gaven, Realtor, Warwick: I sold Ray his house up here in Warwick. I spent a year showing him places. He wanted a nice place to live for his family. He was a very nice, down-to-earth man. I am glad he chose Warwick to live and to raise his family. Aurora Flores, former music correspondent with Billboard magazine, musician and bandleader: I first heard Ray over AM radio when I was 15. I turned my transistor to Cousin Brucie and heard the sounds of Barretto’s hit, “Watusi.” I didn’t know then that Ray Barretto had already made a name for himself on the jazz scene. All I knew was that this music belonged to my “hood” and here it was on AM radio sandwiched between James Brown and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We had arrived! His sounds are part of the soundtrack of our lives. I grew up to Ray Barretto as many Latino baby boomers did. His growth in music paralleled our growth as a community, coming of age in Nueva York.