Remembering Ray Barretto, pioneer of Salsa and Latin culture

Warwick - After recent heart by-pass surgery and subsequent complications including pneumonia, Ray Barretto, 76, a resident of Warwick, died at the Hackensack University Medical Center on Friday, Feb. 17. Barretto, a Grammy Award-winning band leader and percussionist who released nearly two dozen albums, was an internationally known jazz artist and a pioneer of the salsa movement. Approximately 10 years ago, Barretto and his wife, Annette Rivera, purchased a home in Warwick. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Spanish Harlem, Barretto was influenced by his Puerto Rican ancestry and knowledge of Afro-Caribbean rhythms. He became one of the most influential Latin percussionists in the world of jazz, performing with many of the great jazz artists of his day, including Tito Puente, Charlie Parker and Max Roach. Just before his recent hospitalization, Barretto was honored as one of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Jazz Masters of 2006. The award is considered to be the nation’s highest jazz honor. He is survived by his wife, their four children: Chris, Raun, Ray and Kelly; and four grandchildren: Aja, Arno, and Alex Peters and Jullian Barretto. “This is an emotional time in the Latino community,” said Judy Battista, owner of Warwick’s Jubilee Presents and host of WTBQ’s (1110 AM) “Latin Jubilee” Saturday radio program. “Like Tito Puente and Celia Cruz, Ray signified an era. And we had him right here in our own backyard.” “When I’ve told some people that I live in Warwick, they would say, ‘Oh, that is where Ray Barretto lives,’” Battista added. “And to those that do not know who Ray was, I try to explain the significance of this loss - that it is like having a member of the Beatles passing away and to some of us, a family member. When I put it in that context, they understand a bit more.” Battista’s show this Saturday at 3 p.m. will be a further tribute to Barretto. Others also recalled the musician many called “Hard Hands.” Luisito Rosario of Washingtonville, musician, band leader and a young singer in the Larry Harlow Legends band, described Barretto as part of “that generation of legends that has a force that is indestructible.” “It just shows that when we do something out of love and passion, there is a fire that a singer, a musician or a dancer generates. Ray had that fire, that “it” that came out through his Congas. I consider myself lucky to have shared the stage and to be mentored by such great Latin legends.” David Ayala of Monroe met Barretto at an Orange County All State Jazz concert “where our son Steven played trumpet and his son Christopher played the saxophone. He was very proud of his son, that he also wanted to be a musician. He was a very humble man. We introduced ourselves and he invited us to another one of his functions. My wife and I spent this past Saturday doing a personal tribute. My wife Sonia and I had a glass of wine. I played congas, listened to his music. It was our way of saying good bye.” Laura Lecour of Monroe also spent the weekend listening to his music. “I met him twice - once backstage at OCCC at a concert and once in Circuit City. I told him that his music has been an integral part of my formative years to the point where I can remember who I danced Guararé with and how it became ‘our’ song. It’s like a family member passing; at the same time an historical figure who had enormous impact with his ‘hard hands.’”