#RecordOfTheDay “No One To Depend On” by Coke Escovedo

Most folks know this as a Santana song, which is only half correct. Santana himself didn’t write this song, but rather Coke Escovedo who was a member of the band of the same name. After he left the group and released his first solo LP in 1975 he brought back his hit song in a more bluesy-funk version. Both are excellent, but I really love the inclusion of the powerhouse vocals of Julia Waters, who by the way has sung on over 400 albums😲, a bit more.

No One To Depend On

Chican@s in Space

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Space, the final frontier—well at least for gabachos. Chicanos and Chicanas have been traveling through the cosmos and putting down roots in the heavens for some time now. In fact some of the more notable explorers are based here in Oakland, California. Going back nearly 40 years, percussionists Pete and Coke Escovedo left Santana’s first band to form their own creation called Azteca. It was a bold project of creating a full 15-20 piece band on any given performance that fused latin rhythms, soul, funk, rock and could pretty much play anything. They made two incredible records that are a lasting testament to their innovation as multi-cultural musicians. In their 2nd record, Pyramid of the Moon, they take full flight as they lead the way through the stars for the rest of la raza to follow.

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One of those to follow was my primo Lukumi. Fans of the group BRWN BFLO know him as Giant, aka Gigante. Back in 2010 he suited up for space travel with fellow BFLO, Somos One, for his mixtape Giant vs Doom where they document their travels in his song Xican@s in Space.  (download it here for free)

Xican@s In Space Feat Somos One

Alternate live version:

Checkout his latest recordings where he mixes reality, imagination, humor and brown soul. He definitely follows the ethos that we believe in—music has no boundaries and you can use it to take you anywhere.

Safe travels,

– dj pozole