The Groove
Saturday May 6th, 2023 with Elorious Cain
JOE BATAAN

Some sources on the internet largely celebrate JOE BATAAN for his legendary LATIN albums from the 1960's and early 1970's. Even the The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. presented what they entitled “Joe Bataan: The Afro-Filipino King of Latin Soul,” back on Oct. 19, 2012 at the Baird Auditorium in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. We would be curious to know if The Smithsonian mentioned JOE BATAAN's greatest contributions to DISCO. By 1969 all of the discos in the greater New York City area that specialised in SALSA and BOOGALOO were regularly spinning JOE BATAAN records like "Subway Joe", "Gypsy Woman" and "Fuego". His SOUL hits like "The Prayer", I Wish You Love" and "Ordinary Guy" would spread his influence across The United States and Britain in the early 1970's. At one point in time, SOUL dj's in America were regularly mixing JOE BATAAN's version of DONALD HOGAN's "When We Get Married" with that sung by THE INTRUDERS. By 1973 JOE BATAAN's influence on DISCO was of legendary proportions. He released an album on a newer LATIN label called Mericana Records which was owned by Joe Cayre, Stan Cayre & Ken Cayre. - the extremely enterprising offspring of Syrian immigrants. The Cayre brothers were struck by the name of JOE BATAAN's album - "Salsoul" It would inspire them to establish a new label. The Cayre brothers had grown up in Miami where they had developed an appreciation of LATIN music. They liked JOE BATAAN's love for combining LATIN with SOUL. Their SALSOUL record label would become one of the most influential sources of quality in AMERICAN DISCO with timeless classics from artists like the SALSOUL ORCHESTRA, FIRST CHOICE, INSTANT FUNK and LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY. The influence of SALSOUL is still being felt today. JOE BATAAN had helped establish SALSOUL and provided the label with hits like his Latin version of GIL SCOTT HERON's "The Bottle", and a DISCO version of the "Chico And The Man" theme. BATAAN would release a single in 1979 which was one of a handful of early examples of RAP. His "Rap-o-clap-o" was one of those legendary recordings that helped to influence the development of HIPHOP. Again the recordings of this New York Latin artist would contribute to incredible future developments.