King of Latin Soul Biography Boogaloo, Latin Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Salsa, Disco, Latin Funk, Latin R&B Latin Jazz, Rap …. What didn’t Joe Bataan sing? Joe Bataan was born and raised in Spanish Harlem (East Side of Manhattan New York) in 1942 to an African-American mother and Filipino father. His given name was Bataan Nitollano.
His musical experience started in the street corner singing do-wops in the 1950’s. During his teenage years, Bataan associated himself with street gangs. At the age of 15 he spent five years at Coxsackie State Prison for riding in a stolen vehicle. It is unknown if he was the driver of the stolen vehicle. In prison he learned music and six months after his release, he began to record music. Bataan visualized an incredible vision that perhaps several recording artist may have said it is impossible to do. His visual modality was to combine Latin music with Rhythm and Blues. As a result of this merger, Joe Bataan became known as the first recording artist to create authentically Latin Soul music. Although Latin Soul existed in the past before Joe Bataan ‘s merger, however these recording artists were actually Boogaloo singers. They sang English lyrics in a soulful doowop style along with Boogaloo music. Hector Rivera is one example with his Boogaloo hits in 1966 ” I wanna a chance for romance ” ” At The Party” and ” Drown my heart ” Mr. Bataan didn’t coin the phrase ” Latin Soul ” The phrase was used in the early 60’s and perhaps late 1950’s with La Lupe and Tito Puente. Mr. Bataan actually created the music as it should have sounded. By merging Latin music with R&B tunes in the late 60’s, “Latin Soul” was officially born by the creator Joe Bataan.