Detroit’s Latino community lost another great musician this past April 18. Diego Melendez passed away peacefully at the age of 72. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on December 30, 1952, Diego grew up in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. A gifted musician, Diego was best known for his talent and passion as a singer and percussionist. Diego’s life was rich with music, laughter, and a deep devotion to his wife Sonya of 41 years and to his extended family.
I first met him in the late 70’s-early 80’s when he was leading and singing with his Salsa band Orquesta K-Che. I was immediately struck with his smooth vocal approach to the music I so dearly love and would drop by to see the band perform at community dances and the occasional gig at the El Sol Restaurant Club, located by the viaduct near the Train Station. During the 70’s and early 80’s El Sol was considered the “go to” Salsa night club in the metro Detroit area.
From that point on our paths would cross frequently, which included among other venues Casa de Unidad’s annual Unity in the Community Festivals held at Southwest Detroit’s Clark Park. Often our conversations would lead into discussing Salsa music at the national and international level. Subject matter always included our perspectives on what was new in that music scene, who were the up-and-coming great singers and musicians among other aspects of that genre.
It was during this period that I hosted the Salsa/Latin Jazz program Caribe Serenade on WDTR 90.9 so I relished getting his perspectives on our beloved music! Since I also occasionally organized dances and a few festivals I would sometimes contract Diego and Orquesta K-Che for performances. He was a pleasure to work with as he was easy to deal with from a personal and professional level. I was struck by his humbleness and felt at ease with him. He had a peaceful demeanor.
One of my friends and fellow cultural organizers at the time, renowned band leader and percussionist Francisco Mora, had just started a Latin Jazz band group called Amigo In the mid 80’s. So, I introduced Diego to Franciso and they hit it off right away. Francisco recruited Diego to play percussion and sing with Amigo. For a while Amigo was smoking the Latin Jazz scene.
It so happened that Casa de Unidad, our community’s premier cultural arts organization at the time, organized a Community Appreciation Dinner for the internationally renowned master band leader and timbalero Tito Puente and ask Francisco Mora and Amigo to perform at the dinner. It was held at Hispanos Unidos Hall, now known as Candela on 25th St. and W. Vernor, on August 21st, 1984. When Tito Puente got up to perform a number of songs with Amigo, attendees went wild. I still run into people who were there that day and they burst into excited discussions about how electrifying the air was in that special and intimate setting of about 100 attendees.
Diego would go on to perform with a number of different bands, including a significant period with jazz keyboardist Lyman Woodard, a mainstay at Cobbs Corner and other jazz venues. While performing with Lyman Woodard he met Leonard King another well-known jazz drummer. Diego then recruited Leonard to play with his group, Orquesta K-Che during the late 1980’s. This led to a life-long friendship. Diego in turn would perform with Leonard King in various iterations of his bands. This included Leonard King’s big band and the classic Drummer’s Nite Out ensemble whose personnel were primarily African American and Latin percussionists.
Though in his later years I rarely heard Diego sing, but rather see him perform as a percussionist, I remember him mostly for his smooth voice of those early years.
As I (we) celebrate his life, I remember his love for our Latin Caribbean music and Latin Jazz, his wife and family and the many beautiful recollections. I celebrate him and his life!
