LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/
Aurora Communications) - As the nation celebrates the historic election of our first African American president, on the Latin music side, we are rejoicing the return of Tite Curet Alonso's music back on the airwaves after a 14 year absence.
Emusica released the double CD set on 1.20.09, same day as the election, while the island of P.R. has been celebrating this historic release since Three Kings Day.
Below are the liner notes written for the CD. If you are interested in reading the extended, unedited version, it is posted on our website at:
https://www.zondelbarrio.com/Press.php
Catalino 'Tite' Curet Alonso: A Man & His Music
It was in Old San Juan's 'Bombonera' restaurant in 1977 when I spotted the traditional straw hat and signature daisheke on the man sitting at the counter. C. Curet Alonso was holding a note pad and tape recorder when I sat beside him. He was reserved, diffident and guarded, until we began talking about Ismael Rivera's, 'Esto Si Es Lo Mio.' That's when a glint appeared in his eyes, and a smile crossed his face, and we bonded for that moment around talk of 'Maelo, plena, bomba, poverty, race, politics, religion y música!
Curet defined a revolutionary period in Latin music. His compositions brought out the best in the interpreter. Masterworks included Hector LaVoe's 'Periodico de Ayer' or 'Juanito Alimaña,' Cheo Feliciano's 'Anacaona,' Pete El Conde's 'La Abolición,' Andy Montañez' 'El Echo de Un Tambor,' Celia Cruz' 'Isadora Duncan,' and La Lupe's 'La Tirana.'
Curet's name was ubiquitous, gracing hundreds of album credits of many of the top Latin music artists of the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. He penned more than 2,000 songs, spawning and jump-starting the artistic careers of many, from La Lupe, to Cheo Feliciano to Frankie Ruiz. The most in-demand composer of tropical music, Curet's songs were guaranteed hits, and classics today.
'You had to take a number and wait on line,' Ruben Blades told the L.A. Times when Curet passed away. 'His songs could revive any career, so there was always a fight to get new material from Tite,' recalled the Panamanian singer/songwriter whose interpretation of Curet's 'Plantación Adentro' also hit the top of the charts.
