Joe
Arroyo
The Salsero Who Brought Colombian Music to the
Fore.
By
Benyi Arregoces Carrere
Salsa has been described as the "hottest new craze" in the
entertainment world. This popular Caribbean music has an important
representative in Colombia's Joe Arroyo, a singer, songwriter and
inventor of his very own rhythm, the "Joeson" A native of
Cartagena and resident of Barranquilla (another city on Colombia's
Caribbean coast), he has displayed enormous talent and charisma throughout
his career.
Arroyo's music is upbeat, danceable, and most of all, very Caribbean.
As with all salsa greats, his sound is unmistakable and unique. Though
Joe Arroyo began to shine at an early age while performing with bands
in Cartagena and Barranquilla, his musical career really took off
with the group Fruko y sus Tesos. Fruko was one of the greatest bands
of the 1970s, with its Colombian-style salsa mixed with elements of
that country's folk music. Arroyo began to reap success not only as
a singer but as a songwriter too. For example, the piece "Tania,"
dedicated to his daughter, is now a classic that has become a must-play
at his concerts.
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As with all salsa greats, his sound is unmistakable and unique.
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After his time with Fruko y sus Tesos, Joe Arroyo joined the group
the Latin Brothers and made recordings with other bands, thereby developing
a style of his own. He continued to play salsa but decided to hedge
his bets on Colombian folk music as well, such as cumbia, porro, and
chandés.
However, Arroyo's career as a salsero (salsa musician) was almost
cut short in 1983 when health and drug problems brought him to the
brink of death. Finally he came back and managed to resume his career.
Salsa fans continued to take pleasure in his music, and Arroyo once
again showed off his rhythmic voice and extraordinary sound.
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Arroyo has left an impressive legacy of hits for all music lovers.
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Since 1984 Joe Arroyo has taken up collecting Congo de Oro ("Golden
Congo;" "Congo" is an Afro-Latin musical style) awards.
This prize is given to the best performers in the Barranquilla Carnival's
Festival of Bands, one of the most important musical events in the
Caribbean. Arroyo has received so many Congo de Oro awards that Festival
organizers had to provide him with a "Super Congo de Oro"
so that other groups could get a chance at the prize too.
Arroyo has left an impressive legacy of hits for all music lovers.
It would be impossible to name them all here, but among the songs
he has written are "Rebelion" (Rebellion), which describes
the revolt of an African slave in Colombia; "A mi Dios todo le
debo" (I Owe Everything to You, My God), a cumbia piece in which
he thanks God for delivering him from the pit of despair; "Mary;"
and the chandes numbers "El Trato" (The Deal) and "Quien
lo sabe baila" (They Who Know, Dance). Other hits include his
own versions of traditional Colombian folk songs, such as "Falta
la Plata" (There's No Money) and the impressive cumbia number
in his latest album "La tortuga" (The Tortoise). Joe Arroyo
has indeed made a great contribution to music not only in Colombia
and the Caribbean but throughout the world.
Benyi Arregoces Carrere is the host of the website www.todosalsa.com/colaboraciones/Benyicaribe/Benyi.htm.
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