Home > Jazz Great Ray Barretto Passes At Age 76
The Grammy-winning Latin jazz percussionist Ray Barretto who had recently undergone heart surgery died today.
He was 76 years old.
George Rivera, a friend who has been serving as a spokesman, said Barretto died at 5 a.m. with his wife and two sons by his bedside at the Hackensack University Medical Center.
Barretto had undergone heart bypass surgery in January and was operated on again two weeks later after an artery burst.
Barretto was known for integrating the conga drum into jazz.
He won a Grammy award for best Tropical Latin performance in 1989 for the song "Ritmo en el Corazon" with Celia Cruz.
His 1979 album "Ricanstruction" is considered one of the classic salsa recordings. (AP)
Forum posts
18 February 2006, 06:43
Aural Artists the world over will miss this great musical legend. Thanks Ray, you’ve brought a lot of smiles to the world.
22 February 2006, 19:10
I was wondering if his brother Richie Barretto was still alive? I knew Richie when he lived in Perth Amboy N.J.