Barry Yourgrau writes, performs & attempts humor in multimedia. His early works A Man Jumps Out of An Airplane & Wearing Dad's Head are considered surreal classics. His book Haunted Traveller plays with imaginary travels. Fans know him too from MTV, NPR & the film The Sadness of Sex in which he starred. For kids (?) there's recent NASTYbooks series. South African-born BY lives in NYC, travels a lot. Has great nostalgia for years in LA. More info @ www.yourgrau.com & www.nastybook.com.
Happy Music Cuba: Pototo and Filomeno Ride the Bus
With Orquesta Melodias del 40
When comedians turn to making music, some wondrously hip and debonair stuff results. Makes the heart warm; I like to think of it as a species of Happy Music.
In Cuba in the late Fifties, here are two famous comedians, Pototo (the small one) and Filomeno (tall one), taking a musical Havana bus ride. This was part of a great epoch of Cuban entertainment, even if still the dark hours, the last, of Batista’s regime.
The band playing behind this sneaky swaying twosome is the great charanga (flute and violins) outfit, Orquesta Melodias de 40, who took their name from a Fred Astaire film, Broadway Melody of 40.
After a brief bit from a musical tv show, Pototo and Filomeno ride the sweltering bus singing, “Ahorita Va Llover"—right now it’s gonna rain. I believe this is from the film, Ole… Cuba! with Celia Cruz etc. (But I’m not positive.)
Check out the streets of Havana. Dig them straw hats. Hark to the thunder. Eat your heart out, Buena Vista Social Club and Rat Packers everywhere.
