Afro-Cuban Soul Vol. 1

Also known as Les Chakachas or Los Chakachas, they were formed by band leader Gaston Bogaert, ex-Los Juano Boengs and ex-The Continentals, percussion (conga & tumba); Tito Puente’s singer wife Kari Kenton, vocals & maracas; Vic Ingeveldt (Dutchman from Liege), saxophone; Charlie Lots, trumpet; Christian Marc, piano; Henri Breyre, guitar & backing vocals; and Bill Raymond, bass guitar. All were native in Schaarbeek (a district of Brussels), or nearby Charleroi; Willebroek and Liege.

 During the 1950s, Tito Puente was at the height of his popularity, and helped to bring Afro-Cuban and Caribbean sounds, like mambo, son, and cha-cha-cha, to mainstream audiences (he was so successful playing popular Afro-Cuban rhythms that many people mistakenly identify him as Cuban). Dance Mania, possibly Puente’s most well known album was released in 1958.^[1] Later, he moved into more diverse sounds, including pop music, bossa nova and others, eventually settling down with a fusion of Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres that became known as “salsa” (a term that he disliked). In 1979 Puente won the first of five Grammy Awards for the albums A Tribute to Benny Moré, On Broadway, Mambo Diablo, and Goza Mi Timbal. In 1990, Puente was awarded the “James Smithson Bicentennial Medal.” He was also awarded a Grammy at the first Latin Grammy Awards, winning Best Traditional Tropical Album for Mambo Birdland. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. After a heart attack following a show in Puerto Rico, Puente had heart surgery in New York City, from which he never recovered. He died on May 31, 2000, just a few months after shooting for the music video Calle 54, in which Puente was wearing an all-white outfit with his band.