From beginnings on Fania Records to co-founding Salsoul, Joe Bataan is the musical pioneer responsible for blending Latin boogaloo and R&B.

Growing up in East Harlem, the Filipino-American musician initially led a local street gang before being incarcerated for a stolen car charge. After his release in 1965, he turned to music, forming Joe Bataan and the Latin Swingers.

Signing with Fania Records in 1966, his debut album Gypsy Woman featured a hit title track, a Latin cover of The Impressions’ classic. Over the years, he released eight albums for Fania, including the gold-certified Riot!, merging Latin rhythms with soulful ballads.

In 1973, he co-founded the Salsoul label, pioneering a fusion of salsa and soul, and achieved early hip-hop success with Rap-O Clap-O in 1979. Returning to the stage after retiring in 1981, he now returns to the stage for an incredibly rare live appearance.

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