{"id":8615,"date":"2018-05-18T16:12:45","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T20:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/?p=8615"},"modified":"2019-06-17T17:33:38","modified_gmt":"2019-06-17T21:33:38","slug":"casa-amadeo-historic-latino-music-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/2018\/05\/18\/casa-amadeo-historic-latino-music-store\/","title":{"rendered":"Casa Amadeo: a Historic Latino Music Store"},"content":{"rendered":"

Casa Amadeo is a piece of Latino music history as the oldest Latino music store in New York City. Actually, it’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places.<\/p>\n

The owner is Puerto Rican Mike Amadeo. You might have heard his name in El Gran Combo’s<\/a> song “Que Me Lo Den en Vida”. That’s because that song is one of over 200 songs Mike Amadeo has written. That’s about the same amount as Ruben Blades<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brief History of Casa Amadeo<\/h3>\n

I read about Casa Amadeo in an article on the “Welcome 2 The Bronx”<\/a> website. Mike’s father, Titi Amadeo, was an accomplished musician and songwriter. He moved his family from Bayamon, Puerto Rico to the Bronx in the late 1940’s.<\/p>\n

\"Victoria
Siblings Victoria and Rafael Hernandez were the original owners of Casa Hernandez.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This old record store located in the South Bronx was originally named Casa Hernandez. It was owned by Victoria Hernandez, the sister of the great Puerto Rican songwriter Rafael Hernandez<\/a>, who started it back in 1941.<\/p>\n

In the late 60’s Mike Amadeo bought the music store from Victoria, in a time the population began to move out of the Bronx. Drugs and crime became regular neighbors of Casa Amadeo. However, Mike persisted in keep the store at 786 Prospect Street.<\/p>\n

The store became an icon in New York City, and fans and artists visit frequently. They’ve become part of Mike’s extended family.<\/p>\n

Bronx Honors Mike and Casa Amadeo<\/h3>\n

In May 2014, the Bronx honored Mike Amadeo by naming a Prospect Street the “Miguel Angel (Mike) Amadeo Way”. You can find an article about it HERE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Mike
Mike Amadeo recieves proclamation to name Prospect Street the “Miguel Angel (Mike) Amadeo Way”.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I guess Mike’s wishes came true! El Gran Combo recorded his song “Que Me Lo Den en Vida” as part of their album “Pasaporte Musical” back in 1998. It\u2019s a song about telling whomever that if they are thinking of honoring him, to please do it while his alive to enjoy it, not after he’s dead, like is regularly done.<\/p>\n

It’s work for Rafael Ithier and El Gran Combo, as they have received numerous honors. It turns out to have also worked for Mike.<\/p>\n

Here’s an interesting video of Mike performing the song and then talking about the history of Casa Amadeo.<\/p>\n