Joe Cain & His Orchestra

about

Joe Cain's (1929) primary contribution to music has been as a producer rather than a performer. Despite the fact that he doesn't speak Spanish, he's been one of the more influential producers of Latin music in America for over 40 years. Cain moved with his family to the Bronx as a kid, and was inspired to become a trumpet by the example of Harry James. After graduating from high school, he became a professional musician, first going to work in the brass section of Rey Davila's Latin band. He had a knack for Latin music, and his ability to sight-read music enabled him to land jobs with some of the best Latin bands playing in New York City at the time, including Tito Rodriguez's, Marcelino Guerra's, and Charlie Palmieri's. He would often work the first part of the evening in the orchestra of a Broadway show and then head to a club to play with a dance band into the wee hours of the morning. He also started to arrange and compose for the bands he played with, and sought out Hugo Montenegro for tutoring in the art of arrangement. Cain later acknowledged Montenegro's recommendation not to "over-arrange to compete with the singer" as the best advice he ever received. In the mid-1950s, he was hired to replace trumpeter Al Stewart in Vicentico Valdes' band, and Cain and Valdes struck up a collaboration that would last until Valdes' death in 1995. Valdes was perhaps the greatest Latin balladeer of the era, and Cain had a talent for writing slow-tempo arrangements that set his vo

top songs

albums

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Cachao's Gonna Make You Dance Vol.2

Latin Explosion

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Cachao's Gonna Make You Dance Vol. 1

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Que Paso

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A Bailar Guajira - Oye MI Tres Montuno

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Latin Explosion [LP]

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Cachao's gonna make you dance!

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Wild Rhythms Special Edition - Cha Cha Cha

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International Men Of Mystery

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The Rough Guide to Boogalo Vol.3

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Wild Rhythms Special Edition - The Cha Cha Cha

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