Posted on January 18, 2008

In Memory of Carlos “Patato” Valdez
A Look Back at Patato y Totico
Patato y Totico (Verve 5037 – 1968/Reissued 2004)
By Tomas Peña

1968: Richard Nixon was elected as President of the United States; there were massive anti-war protests in major cities throughout the U.S; Hugh Masekela’s Grazing in the Grass and Otis Redding’s Sitting on the Dock of the Bay were climbing the charts and New York City’s street corners, parks, playgrounds and beaches were alive with the sound of rumba.

Not just any rumba … a semi-rumba that captured the vitality of an increasingly important rumba scene in New York. According to Patato Valdez, “We wanted to capture the essence of the streets with something new so we added the tres and bass …” Not just any tres and bass, but Arsenio Rodriguez (the grandaddy of Afro Cuban music) and Israel “Cachao” Lopez (a founding father of the mambo). The result was a sizzling combination of street songs, Lucumi music and Abakua chants that stirred the imaginations of musicians and dancers alike.

From the moment it was released Patato y Totico became an instant classic and made history. Least we forget this is the only recording where four seminal figures of Afro Cuban music – Patato, Totico, Arsenio and Cachao – appear together. The recording also holds the distinction of being one of the most “pirated” recordings ever. Verve (the original owner) released Patato y Totico in 1968; Mediterraneo Records (a Canadian record company) reissued a substandard version of Patato y Totico with a different cover (circa 1970?) and countless bootleg versions followed. In 2004 Verve reissued Patato y Totico with crystal clear sound and the original cover-art and liner-notes.

Is it any wonder that Patato y Totico is still a best seller after forty years?

Patato y Totico’s modernistic approach paved the way for countless generations of rumberos. In addition, it captured an era, set a new standard and earned its place in the pantheon of Afro Cuban music. Que viva la musica de Patato y Totico!

The Musicians:

Carlos Patato Valdes: Conga, percussion; Eugenio Totico Arango: Vocal; Arsenio Rodriguez: Tres; Israel Cachao Lopez: Bass; Papaito: Sticks; Francisco "Panchin" Valdez: Sticks; Hector Cadavieco: Vocal; Mario Cadavieco: Vocal; Juan "Curba" Dreke: Vocal; Tony Mayari: Vocal; Virgilio Marti: Vocal.

Song Titles:

Mas Que Nada 2:33, Ya Yo E 4:12, Ingrato Corazon 3:48, Que Linda Va 3:04; Nuestro Barrio 5:31, Agua Que Va Caer 3:12, En El Callejon 3:44, Caridad Malda, Dilo Como Yo 3:54

Suggested Listening:

Carlos Patato Valdez – Patato and his Latin Percussion Friends – LP Music Group, 1976. Reissued 2000.

Carlos Patato Valdez – Ritmo Y Candela– African Crossroads – Round World Music, 1996.

Carlos “Patato” Valdez – Masterpiece – Messidor Records, 1984