Barranquilla, Joe Arroyo’s adoptive city, is mourning today with deep sorrow the musician’s untimely departure in his first anniversary. Special events, including a mass at his memorial are arranged. Wilson Saoko, his longtime singing partner in Fruko y sus Tesos is scheduled for a concert at La Troja, a signature salsa bar of this city. It seems that everything has been said about the Colombian tropical and salsa music titan.
But for those Joemaniacs that want even more from his hero, here are a few musical suggestions. Those may be apart from his greatest hits, but that doesn’t diminish its quality and display of talent of the great, late Joe Arroyo.
Luz en la Inmensidad: recorded in 1977, it showcases a splendid salsa-funk fusion, whose ideas predated another Fruko y sus Tesos megahit: Palenque.
Nido de Amor: While in the 70's he was recognized as a huge salsa singer, Joe was really itching then to record in steady form Colombian tropical music. Here Joe covers a monster hit of Jorge Oñate, a legendary vallenato singer.
El Nativo: an obscure track, in which El Joe exalts his native country… in full rock’n’roll style.
Mundo Cruel/Somos Seres/Fuego en Mi Mente: for those who think that after Rebelión there are no more salsa compositions with deep meanings, they are completely mistaken. The aforementioned trilogy distils big humanitarian feelings and lyricism… not to mention romantic love.
La Sirena: a cover of a Nelson y sus Estrellas anthem, Fruko y sus Tesos manage to claim the composition with Joe’s peerless performance as theirs.
Caifaz: a mysterious throwaway of the 70’s, in which the late singer emulates Bobby Cruz’s singing with thrilling success.
Pan de Arroz: the groovy, sole foray of Joe Arroyo into Dominican merengue. A true rarity.
Traigo Bomba/La Murga: this one is one of his recorded earliest attempts to salsa singing, this time with the Supercombo los Tropicales, an orchestra with a popular format of the sixties/early seventies, full brass, precussion and electric guitar. In La Murga, a Willie Colón/Héctor Lavoe blockbuster, the Combo makes a successful medley surprisingly adding Fiesta en Corraleja, a Colombian classic fandango.
Most of these songs are available in YouTube. Now go and get’em.
But for those Joemaniacs that want even more from his hero, here are a few musical suggestions. Those may be apart from his greatest hits, but that doesn’t diminish its quality and display of talent of the great, late Joe Arroyo.
Luz en la Inmensidad: recorded in 1977, it showcases a splendid salsa-funk fusion, whose ideas predated another Fruko y sus Tesos megahit: Palenque.
Nido de Amor: While in the 70's he was recognized as a huge salsa singer, Joe was really itching then to record in steady form Colombian tropical music. Here Joe covers a monster hit of Jorge Oñate, a legendary vallenato singer.
El Nativo: an obscure track, in which El Joe exalts his native country… in full rock’n’roll style.
Mundo Cruel/Somos Seres/Fuego en Mi Mente: for those who think that after Rebelión there are no more salsa compositions with deep meanings, they are completely mistaken. The aforementioned trilogy distils big humanitarian feelings and lyricism… not to mention romantic love.
La Sirena: a cover of a Nelson y sus Estrellas anthem, Fruko y sus Tesos manage to claim the composition with Joe’s peerless performance as theirs.
Caifaz: a mysterious throwaway of the 70’s, in which the late singer emulates Bobby Cruz’s singing with thrilling success.
Pan de Arroz: the groovy, sole foray of Joe Arroyo into Dominican merengue. A true rarity.
Traigo Bomba/La Murga: this one is one of his recorded earliest attempts to salsa singing, this time with the Supercombo los Tropicales, an orchestra with a popular format of the sixties/early seventies, full brass, precussion and electric guitar. In La Murga, a Willie Colón/Héctor Lavoe blockbuster, the Combo makes a successful medley surprisingly adding Fiesta en Corraleja, a Colombian classic fandango.
Most of these songs are available in YouTube. Now go and get’em.
