Joe Bataan

Joe Bataan, born Peter Nitollano in Spanish Harlem, is the true originator of New York Latin soul, a sound that bridged Latin boogaloo, R&B, and the early roots of disco. Of African-American and Filipino heritage, he blended street-corner doo-wop, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and soul into a style that reshaped urban music. After organizing his first band in 1965, he scored a breakthrough with “Gypsy Woman” on Fania Records, igniting the Latin soul movement. His albums Saint Latin’s Day Massacre, Salsoul, and Afrofilipino remain foundational, the latter producing, the early New York disco hit, “The Bottle.” A visionary always tapped into the streets, Bataan also released one of the first charting rap singles, 1979’s “Rap-O, Clap-O,” cementing his status as a pioneer across genres.