Picture it: Spanish Harlem, 1970s
Hommy, pronounced “OH-me,” is born deaf and blind. He’s also an absolute monster on the congas, keeping the beats bumping through the barrio nonstop. Despite the perils of his childhood and the rancor of his father, we discover that Hommy, the soul, chose to come into this life without the normal human faculties, transcending basic communication for a greater understanding of connection and humanity. Did we mention he also plays the hell out of some drums? Hommy does play that.
Inspired by The Who’s 1969 rock opera Tommy, the spectacular concept album Hommy, A Latin Opera is a mind-blowing barrage of Afro-Cuban percussion, concert strings, triumphant horns, poignant lyrics, and enchanting voices. Conceived and produced in 1973 under the Fania record label by bandleader Larry Harlow, affectionately known within salsa circles as El Judío Maravilloso (The Marvellous Jew), the album features some of salsa’s most incredible performers at the height of their careers: renowned singers Cheo Feliciano and Justo Betancourt, along with budding star Junior Gonzalez as Hommy’s singing voice, and percussionist Tony Jimenez as Hommy the super-fly drummer boy. Of course, the biggest name on the roster is Celia Cruz as “Gracia Divina” (Divine Grace, equivalent to the Acid Queen role in Tommy), who, according to legend, recorded the song divinely and gracefully in just one take.
When the album was released, six of its tracks hit the top of the Latin music charts and packed the dance floors of salsa clubs from Caracas to Queens. The musicians came together again for a live performance at a sold-out Carnegie Hall, garnering mainstream acclaim. Regarding the Divine Celia’s appearance, Billboard reported: “Mixing the quality sound she achieves with a rich emotional feeling, she brought it all home to an audience already sitting on the edge of their seats. A flaw in the production was that she was limited to one number.”
Hommy is aural ecstasy. You don’t have to know Spanish or even the storylines of Tommy or Hommy to understand this testament to the staying power of culture, talent, creativity, and a bad-ass percussionist. Mírame, óyeme, aché.
Have you heard Hommy, A Latin Opera? Listen, then buy it at the Fania Records website.