HOT SALSA : Azuquita

Contact :

Camilo AZUQUITA
5, passage des Orteaux
75020 PARIS
FRANCE

Tel/fax
(33) (0) 1 43 71 78 69

c.azuquita@lemel.fr

CD selection :

Azuquita (photo Frémaux)

La Foule
(Frémaux/
Night and day ; 1994)

To order

In those days, Caribbean music is synonymous with reggae: the world has ears only for Bob Marley, first star of the Third World, which then put a spell on the planet with its minced syncopations.

Thus 75 000 people came for Marley and his Wailers and discovered Azuquita at the Le Bourget concert in 1981, where our salsero ensured the first part of the show.

It is also the time of revival for the Chapelle des Lombards, which thanks to Azuquita and to the enthusiasm of his friend Pierre Goldman - the brother of Jean-Jacques, who will be assassinated by a commando of extremists named Police Honour - resounds to the latin rhythms and becomes the salsa temple in France.

Before throwing its bag in Paris, Azuquita roved about the world and had met with the big names. Born in Panama, he begins his professional career in Peru at the age of 15. The meeting with Rafaël Cortijo in 1966 leads him to Puerto Rico, and is concretized with some common recordings, in which takes part Ismaël Rivera.

In 1968 and 1969, the scenes of New York accomodate him, while Azuquita (" sweetie ") - so nicknamed for his suave voice - perfects his art in contact with Kako y su combo and Sonora Matancera.

Feeling ready, he goes back to Puerto Rico to form his own band, roams through California from1972 to 1976, records for Fania with the Tipica 73 which he accompanies at the time of a European tour in 1977... for finally rejoining Paris in 1979.

His band then rounds Europe, supporting the voice of Luis Camilo Argúmedes Rodríguez, alias Azuquita, by a powerful salsa.