Voice of the Waterlily- Our Stories

"En Algo Nuevo" is arguably one of Tito Rodriguez's most innovative albums. It showcases Rodriguez's innovation and ability to move with the times. The two sides of Tito Rodriguez are present on this album; the romantic bolerista everyone loves and his less recognized musical genius.

Link to playlist here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4d3aBRFRCkHCAwqLyafyLC?si=53H3c2esRHS5q59cNJ2KVA

Today we are celebrating 2 years of the Voice of the Waterlily podcast.

Thank you to all who have listened, commented, messaged and expressed your support and appreciation, it really does means much to me!

link to playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1kjQiRrEPSjJrX4ZD3SohX?si=4a2f6a4bb02d4ef5&pt=85c0e043e8122c53a20f671432f4edc8

Benny Moré traveled the musical skies like a shooting star; here one moment gone the next. Rising from the poorest section of Santa Isabel de la Lajas Cuba he became a internationally known star known by many as ‘El Barbaro del Ritmo’ or by many as simply ‘El Benny’.  Bartolome Maxmiliano Gutierrez Moré was born on August 24, 1919 in La Guinea section of Santa Isabel de la Lajas, Cuba, the eldest of 18 children. His interest in music started early, he often sang, made his first instrument when he was 6 years old and created bands with his siblings. He left school in the fourth grade to cut sugarcane. When Bartolo was 17, he traveled to Havana for the first time, returning to his home town after 6 months. He soon returned to Havana with a guitar and a plan. Times were difficult for him as he tried to make a name for himself. His perserverance pais off when Conjunto Matamoros hired him as lead singer. In June of 1945 the group traveled to Mexico. Bartolo decided to stay, before they left the band members told him one thing; he needed to change his name. In Mexico Bartolo or Bartolome was a slang term for a donkey, not a great name for his artistic career. He chose the name Benny. Benny stood in MX for 7 years, making a name for himself around South America and the Caribbean but not in Cuba. Upon his returnt o his native land in April of 1952, he found himself working at radio stations again and slowly becoming known. He joined the badn of Ernesto Duarte Brito and his popularity began rise  After More discovered  Duarte Brito was not taking him to certain gigs because he was Black, he filed a complaint with RCA Victor - they ignored him- leading him to start his own band with the help of his cousin, the legendary Cuban Trumpet virtuoso, Chocolaté Armenteros. The band recorded their first song in November of 1953. ‘Manzanillo’ exploded and Benny became known throughout Cuba. Sadly Benny struggled with alcoholism and died of chirrosis of the liver at just 43 years old. Fidel Castro sent soldiers to carry his coffin and the island mourned the death of their greatest voice.

link to playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1CtbenPIUCPOPTLb5gwS0V?si=a589b2f20be54835

Today's show takes a look at the formation, contributions and legacy of one of post revolutionary Cuba's most important groups....Juan Formell's 'Los Van Van'. Los Van Van challenged long standing traditions and conventions in Cuban music, with some terming their music cruzado. Their innovation paid off, as today they remain the most popular dance band in Cuba.

Link to playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/33ofrknySO4fcusUSIqB4M?si=10409d34ac61463b

Carlos Puebla's voice became a musical chronicle of the Cuban Revolution. His music narrated the suffering of Cuba's guajiros under Batista's dictatorship. After the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, Puebla began to recount the radical changes that transformed Cuban society. His songs document urban and agrarian reform, the literacy brigades of the early 60's and even the botched Playa Girón (Bay of Pigs) invasion. Puebla wrote in honor of revolutionary heroes such as Fidel Castro, Camilo Cienfuegos and Che Guevara, writing his most famous composition, "Hasta Siempre" for the latter. Puebla also wrote songs of hope for other revolutionary movements in other countries, even those on other continents.

Link to playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qQbQTanwnLcZ3ghe3tt1Z?si=d8cbff3dd3fa49dd

 Andrés Jiménez simultaneously mixes tradition with innovation while taking on serious issues such as colonialism, poverty, Puerto Rico’s independence and so much more. His songs are poetic, narrative yet hard hitting. They convey the reality of the colonialism with tear welling pride and emotion. For the past year-and-a-half Andrés has been essential to me, his music has made me feel so many different emotions and it has made me think. It provokes thought! I love music that provokes thought and feeling…as Don Pedro Albizu Campos said, “La sabiduria sin sentimento es como una fuente sin agua”…Andrés has both of those things in his music—Sabiduria y sentimiento, wisdom/knowledge and feeling and that is what makes his music so special. Today we wish him a very happy 76th birthday and many blessing ahead. 

Feliz Cumpleaños, Don Andrés 

Playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1uiBjZF8TPonZAeyEZvwry?si=134e3f4495164bf9

NOTE: this podcast is being published off schedule due to technical issues. This is the last podcast that will be published off the usual Saturday morning schedule. 

Inspiration doesn't strike on demand and poems do not appear just because you want them to. This one is no exception. Over the past few years I yearned to write a poem about Don Pedro Albizu Campos, I even wrote a few that were reasonably good. However none captured the essence of one of the most incredible things about the remarkable Puerto Rican liberator; the power of his voice. It was something that had captivated me from the moment I heard it. What I heard was something between a thunderstorm and a gentle murmur in summer grass, a hurricane and a warm breeze. I can really find no better way to describe it than the essence or Boricua soul and the collective voice of resistance of ancestors that refused to be broken and humiliated. He spoke with such confidence in the greatness of the Puerto Rican Nation, one who truly listens cannot help but be overcome with incredible pride. On one occasion thousands stood in the pouring rain for more than two hours as he spoke. Many would remember that he spoke with an "electric, almost religious fervor" 1 that captivated people. So after years of trying to capture exactly that in a poem, it finally came to me with such ease one evening earlier this month; single line that expressed that which I was struggling to convey, "his voice was more of a storm than a man".

Feliz Cumpleaños, Don Pedro

Que Viva Don Pedro Albizu Campos

Que Viva Puerto Rico Libre

Betances: refers to Ramón Emeterio Betances (1827-1898) known as "El Padre de la Patria" and "El Padre de los Pobres" ("the father of the country" and "the father of the poor"). He was a Puerto Rican revolutionary, organizer of El Grito de Lares, abolitionist and medical doctor.

Hostos: refers to Eugenio Maria de Hostos (1839-1903) known as "El Gran Ciudadano de las Americas". He was a Puerto Rican independence advocate, lawyer, educator, novelist, sociologist and philosopher.

Lola de Tio: refers to Lola Rodríguez de Tio (1843-1924) Puerto Rican independence advocate, poet, abolitionist, advocate for women's rights and writer of the original, revolutionary version of Puerto Rico's anthem, 'La Borinquena'.

Agüeybaná: refers to Taíno cacique Agüeybaná II (El Bravo) (c. 1470-1511) who led the Taino rebellion of 1511 against the Spanish conquistadors and was killed in battle with them after being betrayed by his sister.

Hatuey: refers to Taíno cacique Hatuey (c. 1478-1512) known as "Cuba's First National Hero" who traveled from his homeland, Quisqueya (the Dominican Republic) to Cuba and waged guerilla warfare against the conquistadors before he was burned alive after refusing to be converted to christianity.

Bolívar: refers to Simón Bolívar (1783-1830) known as "the Liberator" who liberated the present-day countries of Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador from Spanish rule. He served as the 1st president of Colombia, 6th president of Peru and 1st president of Bolivia.

READ IT HERE: https://voiceofthelily.water.blog/2023/06/29/his-voice-was-more-of-a-storm-than-a-man/

Songs:

Pedro Albizu Campos - Andrés Jiménez, El Jibaro

Ya Te Veremos Libre - Carlos Puebla

Due to technical difficulties, I was not able to release a new podcast this week, however enjoy this bonus episode from last year.

José Maldonado is one of the many overlooked Boricua heroes. He was called a bandit by both the Spanish and US governments, participated in the ‘Intentona de Yauco’ and founded Salon Boricua which was later owned by Vidal Santiago Diaz. Listen to his story here.