{"id":6776,"date":"2015-08-08T09:35:05","date_gmt":"2015-08-08T13:35:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/?p=6776"},"modified":"2021-11-16T12:51:16","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T16:51:16","slug":"bobby-valentins-bronco-and-va-a-la-carcel-40-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/2015\/08\/08\/bobby-valentins-bronco-and-va-a-la-carcel-40-years-later\/","title":{"rendered":"Bobby Valentin’s “Bronco” and “Va a la Carcel” 40 Years Later"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 1975, Puerto Rican bandleader Bobby Valentin<\/a> left Fania Records<\/a> to start his own records label, and released his debut double-album “Va a la Carcel<\/em>“.<\/p>\n

Bobby Valentin; A Star in Fania since 1966<\/h3>\n

After growing up in Puerto Rico until his teenage years, Bobby Valentin’s family moved to New York, where Bobby continued studying music. He had learned to play the guitar from his father, but picked up the trumpet at New York. It was as a trumpet player that he worked with greats like Tito Rodriguez, Willie Rosario, and others.<\/p>\n

In 1965, the then 23 year-old formed his own band, and began recording with brand new Fania Records label. He would continue to record a total of 9 albums with Fania (his very first album, “Ritmo Pa’ Goza, El Mensajero<\/em>” was edited by Fonseca Records).<\/p>\n

Bobby Valentin was part of the Fania All Stars from the start of the group, and would make many arrangements for this group as well as for many artists under Fania.<\/p>\n

Valentin Creates Bronco Records<\/h3>\n
\"Bobby<\/a>
Bobby Valentin debut recording for his new records label Bronco, “Va a la Carcel” was a huge hit for the Puerto Rican Salsa bandleader.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was 10 years after forming his band, and 8 years after joining Fania, that Bobby Valentin became perhaps the 1st of the principal Fania Records artists to jump ship and create his own record label.<\/p>\n

The debut album for his newly formed record label would be Bobby Valentin “Va a la Carcel<\/em>“, an album recorded “live” at the Oso Blanco State Penitentiary in the outskirts of San Juan. The concept of the album, although intriguing, was not original. A few years earlier (1972) Eddie Palimieri had recorded a live album at the Sing Sing Prison in New York.<\/p>\n

The main difference between Valentin’s “Va a la Carcel<\/em>” and Palmieri’s “Sing Sing<\/em>” was that Bobby’s album was of brand new songs, while Eddie’s was mostly a concert made of his previously recorded hits. This was a significant difference.<\/p>\n

Va a la Carcel, Vol. 1<\/h3>\n

The timing was impeccable for “Va a la Carcel<\/em>“. Bobby Valentin’s band was very popular after the hits with Fania, particularly “Soy Boricua<\/em>“, “Pirata de la Mar<\/em>“, “Aqui No Me Quedo<\/em>“, and “Safa Diablo<\/em>“, all from his last 3 recordings. Bobby Valentin’s last recording for Fania was “In Motion<\/em>” (1974 – which we can only wonder if it had a subliminal message of leaving Fania), in which he brought back his previous lead singer Frankie Hernandez to join Marvin Santiago, who had replaced him in 1971.<\/p>\n

\"Bobby<\/a>
“Va a la Carcel” was recorded “Live” at Puerto Rico’s “Oso Blanco”, which did not provided the best acoustics for the recording, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The combination really exploded in “Va a la Carcel<\/em>“. Both singers were now seasoned singers and had entered their respective peaks as vocalists. To reinforce the band, Valentin brought in master trombonist, and fellow Fania All Stars member Barry Rogers, Puerto Rican trumpet master Juancito Torres, and added Paquito Guzman on coro. This proved to work exceptionally well, as Barry provided a potent sound in the trombone and his solos where some of the best he recorded.<\/p>\n

Vol. 1 starts with an introduction by Bobby Valentin, thanking the personnel involved in the recording, and presenting the 1st song, “Prestame Tu Caballo<\/em>“, a fiery Salsa that showcases Marvin Santiago’s at the time still potent, if always raspy, voice, and his wonderful ability to sing around the clave, with witty “soneos”.<\/p>\n

Here’s “Prestame Tu Caballo<\/em>“, with a humongous trombone solo by Barry Roger. Seems like the echo on the place actually made the trombone sound bigger!<\/p>\n