by John Santos
Benny Velarde at the left.
The Padrino or Godfather of San Francisco Bay Area Latin Music, the SFJAZZ Beacon Award winner Benny Velarde will be honored in at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum.
Born on September 6, 1929 in Panama City, Panama, he came to San Francisco in 1945 and attended Mission High School and City College of San Francisco.
As an original touring and recording member of Cal Tjader’s first Quintet (1953), one of the first radio programmers to consistently play the hippest recordings from his own collection on the air, and a steady Bay Area bandleader from the end of the 50s up to now, NOBODY has done as much for our local scene than Benny.
Everyone with a long history around here either came through his group at some point, learned from him directly, or from someone else who learned from him. He is a true pioneer, a trailblazer, and mentor to countless musicians from several generations in the Bay Area. Benny may have been the first to incorporate the timbales into a local band when he did it with Cal Tjader in 1953.
His performing and recording credits are a who’s who of Jazz and Latin music. In addition to the highly influential Cal Tjader Quintet, Benny has played with Mongo Santamaria, Joe Henderson, Errol Garner, Stan Getz, Luis Gasca, Vince Guaraldi, Lalo Schifrin, Hadley Caliman, Toña La Negra, Elsa Aguirre, Walter Wanderly, Sal Guerrero Merced Gallegos and Ethel Smith. Benny will be honored on this date with the SFJAZZ Beacon Award for lifetime achievement.
Special guests include Patrick Morehead – piano, Jorge Pomar – bass, Ross Wilson – trombone, trumpet, Marty Wehner – trombone, Dr. John Calloway – flute, Orestes Vilató – bongos, John Santos – tumbadoras, Monchi Esteves – vocals.
Please come out and help us honor the Padrino of Bay Area Latin Music. It’s going to be a great evening with plenty of room for dancing. Thank you for helping spread the word.
At the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco. On Saturday, March 31, 2012, 8:00 p.m. $20 GA/$35 Premium GA (866) 920-5299, www.sfjazz.org.
