Special thanks to our Proud Community Partner: El Museo del Barrio, who supported the release of the song during Hispanic Hertage Month and helped us get the hands into the community of “El Barrio” and beyond.
Enjoy “Black is Beautiful,” the first single of the album El Barrio Project-SALSA, performed by the Folklore Urbano Orchestra.
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SHARE THE SONG and SING ALONG!
“Black is Beautiful” is the first single of the album El Barrio Project-SALSA, performed by the Folklore Urbano Orchestra, featuring Parisian vocalist Laurent Hounsavi, originally from Benin. The percussion parts by Puerto Rican/Cuban maestro Oreste Abrantes, and the legendary bass lines of Rubén Rodríguez, together with Pablo Mayor’s renowned energetic, bright horn lines executed by NYC’s elite jazz and Latin instrumentalists, reinterpret the sounds of NYC salsa while retaining its rich Puerto Rican, Cuban, and jazz roots.”
Cover art by: Gonikus Studio
Photo taken by David Bedell of East Harlem mural by Pablo Kalaka
lyrics
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL
Composed by: Cruz de Jesús Bonilla and Pablo Mayor, Arr. Pablo Mayor
You know Black is Beautiful
You know Black means free.
You know Black is wonderful
Come along with me.
Let’s spread love, love is wonderful
Let’s make love, love is beautiful
Let’s spread love, love can conquer all.
Love is God.
Come on board, we’re spreading love
With our love, we’ll have enough to be free.
You know Black is Beautiful.
You know Black is Beautiful
Come along with me.
You know Black is wonderful
Give your love, it’s free!
Let’s spread love, love is wonderful
Let’s make love, love is beautiful
Let’s spread love, love can conquer all.
Love is God.
Let’s remember when, back in the beginning,
Let’s remember when, we were dreaming and scheming,
Let’s remember when we were waiting and believing
To be free, to be free, to be free!
Let’s spread love, love is wonderful
Let’s make love, love is beautiful
Let’s spread love, love can conquer all.
Love is God.
Love is something precious. Love is all we need. (Spoken in Fon and Yoruba)
Come on board, we’re spreading love
With our love, we’ll have enough to be free.
You know Black is Beautiful.
credits
released September 29, 2020
Written by Cruz “Chino” Melao and Pablo Mayor
Recorded by Pablo Mayor at iD Studio Theater Recording Studio, Bronx, NY
Mixed and mastered by Edwin Marrero
Co-executive producers: Pablo Mayor and Nick Chavarria
copyright Folklore Urbano NYC 2020
Folklore Urbano Orchestra:
Pablo Mayor, piano
Rubén Rodriguez, bass
Oreste Abrantes, percussion
Laurent Hounsavi, lead vocals
Jainardo Batista, Deborah Resto, Laurent Hounsavi, back-up vocals
Rafi Malkiel: trombone
Antonio Orta: baritone sax
Scott Englebright: trumpet
