Joe Cuba

Joe Cuba initiated his professional path in music by joining La Alfarona X during 1950. The Joe Cuba Sextet took shape in 1955, allowing his vibraharp playing to gain widespread appeal. Recording “To Be with You” for Seeco Records in 1962 marked the beginning of rising fame for the group, driven by Nick Jimenez’s arrangements together with vocals from Cheo Feliciano and Jimmy Sabater. Arrival of the boogaloo era resulted in unemployment for most prominent New York bands. Through tracks like “El Pito” and “Bang Bang,” the Cuba sound evolved in a way that generated millions in sales while sharing the pinnacle of Latin music charts with the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra.