RiceAndBeansOrchestra

Rice And Beans
Orchestra

   One of the earliest disco collectives of studio-based musicians is the latin tinged Rice And Beans Orchestra. Pepe Luis Soto is the name most connected to their releases. Puerto Rican born Soto had already been in the business for nearly a decade.
     In the 1960's he met fellow Puerto Rican Celida Ines Comacho. Celines and Pepe were married in 1968 and launched their careers on the local scene. The duo sang together and released a series of records that had moderate success during the 1960's and early 1970's under the name Celines y Pepe Luis, but the Hispanic record buying public was mainly captivated by her.
     Celines had a decent career during this time, however she could not achieve the star status that some of her latin contemporaries like Nydia Caro, Ednita Nazario, Lissette or Charytin Goyco had.
     In 1972, Celines scored a hit with "Yo Quiero Un Pincel" which won her first place in the renown "Festival De La Voz y La Cancion." The album "Celines...Es Una Cancion," which included the song, was recently re-released in CD format with the original artwork and liner notes. The album gives evidence that her music was taking a new direction, especially on the second single from it "Desesperada."
     Shortly after it's release, both her and Pepe moved to the U.S . Still recording under the name of Celines she released her first English album. The first single, "Half A Love," was a huge hit in Puerto Rico and it had marginal success in England and Ireland. Earlier English language recordings released on the Borinquen label, failed to attract attention. However with "Half A Love" the transformation from latin popstress to disco diva began. Thus Celi Bee's career was off and running and husband Pepe Luis Soto was an intregral part of her success.
     Meanwhile, Soto who had done his own work on the side, had ingrained himself into Miami's hottest music setup. Henry Stone was dominating the south with his reknowned studios and hand full of labels. The T.K. empire was a hotbed of raw talent and Stone became Disco's answer to Berry Gordy and Motown Records.
     In 1976 Soto, who had remained close to the Puerto Rican music scene, collaborated with Tato Rossi to produce his first attempt at fusing latin swing with disco aesthetics. For what would become the first Rice & Beans Orchestra album the duo chose keyboardist Hector Garrido to arrange and conduct. Hilda Harris was given the vocal features and the project was picked up by Contempo Records.
     Stone optioned the project for his T.K. label and released the first 12" single of "The Blue Danube Hustle" (TK-5). The song gained excellent club exposure and established both the group and the label's 12" commercial line. Early in 1977 T.K. released their second 12" single of "Disco Dancing" (TK-27) to even more favorable response.
     The strength of that first album combined with his burgeoning success with his wife's Buzzy Bunch releases caused Soto to drop Tato Rossi for Rice and Beans second album and go it alone.
     1977's "Cross Over" added Vivian Cherry and Ullanda McCullough to the vocalist line up and was just as the title proclaimed, an aim at crossover success. Only one 12" single was released off of it, "You've Got Magic" (TK-56). The song albeit good, was released amid a flurry of activity both within T.K. and Soto's camp. So it lingered about and effectively was the end of the Rice And Beans Orchestra.
     Well almost, Soto and arranger Hector Garrido took on the task of "Dante's Inferno" in 1978 as a Rice And Beans Orchestra release. However after completed, either Stone or Soto decided to shelve the idea. The album works as one long suite of tracks, building with heavy percussion, riffing guitar, and plenty of strings on the top, all in the best polished TK disco mode. Fortunately it has recently been issued as a CD for the fans.
     As 1978 continued Soto and wife Celi Bee celebrated larger successes. Soto continued writing and producing for Bee and others throughout the remainder of the disco era. As disco died he moved into the latin field, maintaining his studio and productions in Puerto Rico. His divorce from Celi Bee in the early 1980's left him bankrupt and emotionally void. Finding his spirituality he remarried in the 1990's and became a father. As with his previous marriage he manages and records his wife Roxio in the latin pop/gospel markets to great success as Legado.
     Our hats off to one of the disco pioneers Pepe Luis Soto and his Rice and Beans Orchestra. If you've never experienced them all three CD's are available for your listening pleasure.