It was in 1953 in Cuba where Paquito was born, that a beautiful curved soprano sax arrived at his home, a gift from his Dad, Tito, which became the best gift his father ever gave him. By the following year, at age 6, Paquito had made his debut at a party celebrating the end of the academic year at his school – performing the Habanera,“Tu”, written by the Cuban Composer Eduardo Sanchez. The rest is history!
In Cuba, his Dad’s business, while he was himself a musician, was selling instruments, books, and musical accessories in the heart of Havana where he made many friends. It was not unusual for the young Paquito to see Cachao, Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill, Bebo Valdes, Chocolate Armenteros, Ernesto Lecuona…and many more visiting, all of which influenced him greatly. In his tiny office, his father had big RCA phonographs and textbooks from the conservatory of Paris which helped initiate Paquito’s style in elements of the French school created by Marcel Mule.
But it was the 1938 recording of Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall with Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Harry James, Teddy Wilson etc. that made the young Paquito long to come to New York. His Dad also exposed him to other various styles and composers and then started getting him on radio and TV shows, into theatres and nightclubs. Paquito was probably the “smallest saxophonist in the world”!
By
Sax Jazz
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