In 1972, salsa was at its height. Larry Harlow, known as “The Marvelous Jew,” was contemplating the idea of a new musical concept for the Afro-Caribbean music scene. Inspired by the success of the rock opera “Tommy,” Harlow got ready to unveil a similar concept, designed for the salsa market.

The idea came to life in 1973 with the opera “Hommy,” Lyrics penned by Heny Álvarez told the story of a boy who was born deaf and blind, but had an enormous talent for percussion. Here, the greatest musicians of the time came together: Justo Betancourt, Cheo Feliciano, Adalberto Santiago, Junior González, and Pete “el Conde” Rodríguez, not to mention the woman who would later become the “Queen of Salsa”: Celia Cruz.

This group of artists did their duty with a recording that took a place of honor in the history of Afro-Caribbean music, with a radiant performance that captured the attention and imagination of salsa fans around the world.

This production also has the important distinction of being the first recording that earned Celia Cruz success in the US salsa market.

Almost by accident, Harlow met Celia Cruz in Mexico, and told her he wanted a female voice for his opera. At the same time, Jerry Masucci was considering Celia as an alternative to the musical authority of La Lupe, who was at that time considered “The Queen of Latin Soul.”

Celia Cruz went to New York to meet with Masucci and discuss the possibility of recording with the Fania label; when she arrived, she discovered that her meeting was in the same studio where “Hommy” was being recorded. Celia told me, “I got so angry, and I’m not an angry person. They had me all set up to sing ‘Gracia Divina,’ which I had never even heard. But I learned it and I sang it.”

“Gracia Divina” was an enormous hit, and opened the doors of success to Celia Cruz, who immediately recorded “Bemba colorá” with the Fania All Stars. The rest is history.

The musical and rhythmic variation in “Hommy” offers an amalgam of traditional Cuban music, in wonderful arrangements by Larry Harlow. This is a veritable representation of the state of salsa music in the early 1970s. During that time, violins began appearing in salsa music, and figure prominently in “Hommy.” This recording presents salsa at maximum capacity, and is an indisputable achievement of Larry Harlow’s musical magic.

The tracks “Es un varón,” “El día de Navidad,” “Quirinbomboro,” “Gracia Divina,” “Cari-Caridad,” and “Soy sensacional” were undeniable worldwide hits that became dance numbers and points of discussion among salsa musicians. This was the first time that a Spanish-language, salsa-themed opera had ever been presented to the masses.
The opera ends with a chorus of pleas to the spiritual forces of the universe to end suffering on earth and the war in Vietnam through divine grace and charity. At the same time, there is the resignation of the people, who prefer vacillation, not sermons on sensible living.

“Hommy” opened the doors for this kind of performance to the salsa market. The opera enjoyed great success in Puerto Rico. Through “Hommy,” salsa took on a sophisticated air, and this legacy opened the doors for the Afro-Caribbean musical tradition to enter the most prestigious performance halls in the world.

This is the legacy of “Hommy,” one of the best recordings of the era. It brought the best musicians of the genre together in a musical expression that transcended time; simultaneously, it introduced Celia Cruz to the salsa market and planted her firmly in the throne that she never left. More importantly, however, “Hommy” took salsa to a new level with the public, proving that the genre belonged in the best performance halls in the world. From that moment on, salsa became dancehall music, and it has this record to thank for it.


Credits:

Contributing Musicians Orchestra Harlow:
Larry Harlow - Piano
Eddie Guagua Rivera - Bass
Eddie Colon - Timbales
Tony Jimenez - Conga
Pablo Rosario - Bongo
Larry Spencer - Trumpet
Ralph Castrella - Trumpet
Sam Burtis - Trombone
Lewis Kahn - Trombone
Junior Gonzalez - Vocals & Percussion

Carmel Malin, Jesse Tryon, David Gonzalez, Alberto Iznaga, Vincent Liota, Marty Salyak, Ruben Rivera, Earl Norman, Selwart Clarke, Yoko Matsuo, Kathy Kienke, Karen Jones,
Gloria Lonzoroni, Norman Forrest - Strings
Doc Herzlin & Damion Sgabbo - French Horn
Lou Soloff & John Gatchell - Trumpets
Dave Taylor - Tuba & Bass Trombone
Harry Smyles - Oboe & English Horn
Paul Fleisher - Soprano Sax
Johnny Pacheco, Bobby Porcelli, Eddie Zervigon - Flutes
Jose Luis Cruz - Piano
Charlie Rodriguez - Tres
Angel Cachete Maldonado, Roy Markowitz, Hershel Dwellingham Sr. - Percussion

Chorus - Ya Yo El Indio, Adalberto Santiago & Marcelino Guerra


Latin Opera Creative - Larry Harlow
Words & Music - Larry Harlow & Jenaro Heny Alvarez
Interlude Music Composer - Marty Sheller
Orchestra Conduction - Larry Harlow & Marty Sheller
Arrangements - Larry Harlow, Marty Sheller, Jose Luis Cruz, Papo Lucca and Javier Vazquez
Narration - Jenaro Heny Alvarez
Starring - Orchestra Harlow -1973

Cast:
Celia Cruz - Gracia Divina
Justo Betancourt - El Padre
Cheo Feliciano - El Padrino –Tio Jose
Junior Gonzalez - Hommy Gonzalez
Pete Conde Rodriguez - Elemento Del Bonche
Jenaro Heny Alvarez - El Heladero
Adalberto Santiago - El Doctor


Producer - Larry Harlow
Executive Producer - Jerry Masucci
Original Album Design - We-2 Graphic Designs, Inc., Izzy Sanabria , Walter Velez
Original Cover Photography - Jan Blom
Original Album Inside Illustration - Little Moon
Recorded - Good Vibrations Sound Studio, N.Y.C.
Engineer - Jon Fausty
Orchestra Harlow Management - Chet Holland c/o Alpha Artists of America, N.Y.C.
Orchestra Harlow Road Manager - Willie Gonzalez


Introducing Junior Gonzalez as “Hommy”

We wish to thanks TICO RECORDS and VAYA RECORDS for their cooperation in making this recording.


Written by Juan Moreno Velázquez
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