"Cachao" Lopez dies

Lonnybass · #1 03-22-2008, 09:21 PM

Mambo pioneer Israel "Cachao" Lopez dies

Cuban-born bassist, band leader and mambo pioneer Israel "Cachao" Lopez died on Saturday in Miami, media reports said. He was 89.

Lopez, who immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1962, is credited with introducing the mambo musical genre to generations of adoring fans. He died on Saturday after complications from kidney failure, the Miami Herald reported in its online edition.

Known for years by a singular name, Cachao, Lopez was a Grammy Award-winning artist whose work was chronicled in a 1993 documentary by Cuban-American actor Andy Garcia.

Lopez, a classically trained bassist, continued to perform until the final months of his life. He had lived in south Florida for the past three decades and died at Coral Gables Hospital near Miami.

Born in Havana to a musical family in 1918, Lopez took to music early and in his teens had already become an accomplished classical bassist.

His contribution to modern music began in the 1930s. Like many other jazz musicians of his day, Lopez and his brother, Orestes Lopez, improvised with traditional music. He experimented with Afro-Cuban music and developed a new sound that became the mambo.

Though originally rejected, the musical genre took flight in the 1950s and became a jazz staple through much of the next few decades. After a period of obscurity, Lopez regained international attention in the 1990s thanks in part to Garcia's work.

Lopez received a Grammy Award in 2004 for his album "Agora Si!" He also received accolades in 2006, including concerts at the Lincoln Center in New York.

Earlier this month, Lopez traveled to the Dominican Republic to receive a lifetime achievement award, the Herald reported.

Funeral services were scheduled for Wednesday. Hospital officials declined to comment and Lopez' daughter, Maria Elena Lopez, could not immediately be reached for comment.

1kinal · #2 03-22-2008, 09:43 PM

This is so sad.

Cachao was THE latin bass player.

MurvintheWalrus · #3 03-22-2008, 10:06 PM

cachao is the large man with the upright correct? That guy was beautiful on the bass and could plaay! sad first oscar peterson and now this. Hopefully with death comes rebirth for jazz musicians

Eublet · #4 03-22-2008, 10:08 PM

This is a sad day. What a legend.

Marcury · #5 03-23-2008, 12:31 AM

It's always sad to lose one of the pioneers, but 89 is a good run. RIP.

stratovani · #6 03-23-2008, 10:09 AM

Kind of ironic that he's on the cover of the latest Bass Player magazine. Hope he was able to see it. RIP Cachao.

steve66 · #7 03-23-2008, 10:11 AM

Cachao - RIP

allexcosta · #8 03-23-2008, 10:33 AM

Heading to Miami today, gotta listen to some cuban music after reading this. He was so great... Thanks for everything, Cachaito, we will always love you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmIOYByfJAQ

Mon Rominee · #9 03-23-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

Kind of ironic that he's on the cover of the latest Bass Player magazine. Hope he was able to see it. RIP Cachao.

I was thinking the same exact thing. RIP man.

fretlessman71 · #10 03-23-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

Kind of ironic that he's on the cover of the latest Bass Player magazine. Hope he was able to see it. RIP Cachao.

Not ironic at all... that issue was tantamount to a Bass Player Lifetime Achievement Award if you ask me. How timely to get that out before his passing.

Our thoughts and prayers to the Lopez family, and our ever-enduring gratitude to Cachao for what he meant to music - and bassists.

Yvon · #11 03-23-2008, 11:53 AM

just read about the news.

Very sad!

gottawalk · #12 03-23-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

Kind of ironic that he's on the cover of the latest Bass Player magazine. Hope he was able to see it. RIP Cachao.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

I was thinking the same exact thing. RIP man.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Not ironic at all... that issue was tantamount to a Bass Player Lifetime Achievement Award if you ask me. How timely to get that out before his passing.

Our thoughts and prayers to the Lopez family, and our ever-enduring gratitude to Cachao for what he meant to music - and bassists.

+1 to all this!
I, too, thought about the irony. As far as the lifetime achievement award, (which he actually received in '05 at San Francisco State University), at least if he didn't see the issue, he got quite an honor last Sept., at Miami's Carnival Center being part of the tribute to him celebrating 80 years!!! of music! He's also the focus of a documentary that's suppoed to have come out late February of this year, entitled "Cachao: Una Mas." THAT ought to be quite a film!

He'll be missed, but his legacy will live on forever!

Dr. Cheese · #13 03-23-2008, 02:45 PM

RIP Cachao! He is one of the rare musicians that has influenced millions of people whether they know it or not.

derrenleepoole · #14 03-23-2008, 02:57 PM

Damn! I'm just learning some of his bass lines from this month's BP mag. His body may be gone, but his soul and music legacy will live on. RIP!

MixBass · #15 03-23-2008, 04:10 PM

Blessings.

lefty007 · #16 03-23-2008, 06:04 PM

Bravo, Maestro. Thanks for everything you gave us.

mambo4 · #17 03-24-2008, 10:43 AM

+1 to all that.
Definately my primary inspiration when I was playing latin music. Please check out his work, if you all haven't.

Bass Boy · #18 03-25-2008, 02:10 PM

R.I.P.

JimK · #19 03-26-2008, 08:54 AM

...even ABC's Dancing With The Stars mentioned Cachao's passing (he was called "the father of the Mambo").

Cachao's Bass Player cover/feature was long past due.

pedro · #20 03-28-2008, 05:16 PM

As a fellow Cuban I take a great deal of pride in his accomplishments. He'll be sorely missed.