Al Santiago - Yambu 1975 PIP MONTUND Sealed C/O T21 8-TRACK TAPE

b. Albert Santiago, 1932, Spanish Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, of Puerto Rican parentage. Pianist, saxophonist, composer, arranger, band leader, conductor, record producer, Latin retail record store owner/manager, Latin record label founder and boss, Santiago, describes himself as ‘an extrovert of manic proportions, an over-achiever, pioneer, catalyst and innovator’. Santiago was born into a musical family. His father was a professional musician who played violin, saxophones, clarinet and trombone with various Latin dance bands and his uncle led a Latin big band. His older sister studied piano with a female professional musician who worked on the New York Latin scene and frequently performed in the same band as his father. Santiago began piano tuition with the same teacher in the early 40s, but did not take to the instrument. ‘I disliked piano so much that I used to play ‘The Minute Waltz’ in 30 seconds so I could get out to play softball’, he later joked. He decided to switch to saxophone, which he found easier to play. Santiago became the band-boy for his uncle’s big band. When he was 15 years old, his uncle told him to take over his tenor saxophone chair. In 1950, Santiago’s uncle quit band leading to open the Casa Latina, which became one of New York’s leading Latin record shops. He handed his orchestra over to the 18-year-old Santiago, who found himself surrounded by ‘old men’ in their thirties and forties, including his father on saxophone. Santiago gradually introduced new younger personnel, so that eventually only his father remained as an original member. He called the band the Chack-a-nunu Boys. ‘Chack-a-nunu’ was his attempt at a verbal interpretation of the sound made by a Latin rhythm section playing alone. Between 1948 and 1960, Santiago also performed with Carlos Pizarro, El Combo Ponce, Jack Portalatin, Quique Monsanto and Pepi LaSalle. He also sat-in with various other orchestras.

Al Santiago, a figure prominent in the history of Latin music, is known for his contributions as a record producer, record label owner (Alegre Records), and educator. He significantly shaped the sound of Latin music in New York City and beyond, working with legendary artists like Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, and Johnny Pacheco. Later in his career, he transitioned to music education and clinical psychology.

Alegre Records:
In 1955, Santiago founded Alegre Records, which became a major force in Latin music, known for its vibrant sound and influential artists.
Record Production:
After selling Alegre Records, he continued as a record producer, working with a diverse range of artists, including Celia Cruz, Willie Colon, and Mongo Santamaria.
Musical Innovator:
Santiago's approach to Latin music production was innovative, and AllMusic describes him as an "extrovert of manic proportions, an over-achiever, pioneer, catalyst and innovator".
Transition to Education:
In the 1980s, Santiago shifted his focus to education, becoming a bilingual music educator and later a clinical psychologist.
Legacy:
Al Santiago's influence on Latin music continues to be recognized, with AllMusic stating that his work with Tambo captures the essence of New York salsa.

Dec 16, 1996 — Al Santiago, record producer, historian of Latin music and educator who had large impact on Latin music in New York City, dies at age 64. NYTimes

Retrieved from:
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Because this tape is sealed new and we cannot inspect for playability, we offer no warranty or guarantees on how well this tape will perform once it is opened and removed from the cellophane package. Because this sealed new 8-track tape is very old, the foam pad and glue on the foil splice most often has a tendency to deteriorate over many years of time. Always inspect and replace, if necessary, those items before playing any sealed new 8-track tape, or damage to the tape and player may occur.

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