GOLDEN ERA RECORDED MUSIC project (Oct 23, 2019): Drumming Music

The GOLDEN ERA RECORDED MUSIC project continues this (Wednesday) evening with the drumming music of OLATUNJI and TITO PUENTE on vinyl LP.

BABATUNDE OLATUNJI (1927-2003) was born in Nigeria, West Africa and came to the U. S. in 1950. He first attended Morehouse College (Atlanta) then moved on to New York City and attended NYU. There he started a small percussion ensemble to earn tuition money and soon developed a following for his drumming events with voices, soon dubbed "West African Drumming." Columbia records took notice and signed him to a recording contract in 1957. The two albums we will be sampling, DRUMS OF PASSION and ZUNGO!, came soon thereafter. Prepare for some hair-raising energy!

TITO PUENTE (1923-2000), although often thought of as a Cuban expatriate, was actually born in New York City and grew up in Spanish Harlem. Musical from childhood, Tito switched from piano lessons at age 10 to his true love, percussion. With his GI Bill stipend from World War II service, he studied at Julliard; conducting, orchestration and music theory were all part of his conservatory training. By 1955, he was hugely popular in New York night club circles, providing his original mambo and cha-cha numbers for dancers who could not get enough. A recording contract with RCA spawned several notable LPs with more serious extended versions of his compositions.

We meet from 7 to 8 pm at the FIBHORN GALLERY, 21 Thomson Avenue, Glens Falls. Coffee, Tea and comestibles. Free and open to the public.