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Eddie Drennon
Musician (b. 1945 to present)
I have known Eddie Drennon since the early seventies, when this Washington D.C. native was the best "fiddle" (Violin) player in the New York/New Jersey area's thriving Latin/Salsa scene. EL GRINGO was with so many great bands, playing Charanga's(Native Cuban Music) and SALSA, that he was usually the best paid. He certainly was the most talented violinist in a great time to be a violin player. In high demand, he always worked. That let him craft the music, that he described as JAZZ N' SOUL.
Eddie came to New York in the early 60's. Soon he was entrenched in the hip, new Latin/Salsa scene.Playing violin for a Latin group wasn't difficult for Eddie, who soon spoke fluent Spanish, but with a GRINGO accent. Groups such as LA TIPICA IDEAL and CHARANGA AMERICA led to gigs with THE FANIA ALL-STARS. It was there that Rock N' Roll legend BO Diddley spotted EDDIE and got him to join his band and tour. After that he Conducted, arranged, performed and produced such stars as the Cuban Jazz Great MONGO SANTAMARIA, the Puerto Rican Superstar RAY BARRETTO and even IKE and TINA TURNER. It was after that when he met JOE BANA, and he soon was recording his own stuff. On Joe's Label,"Friends and Company Records".
In 1975, VAN McCOY had stunned the world with his "HUSTLE", and EDDIE DRENNON added some Latin flavor, a few new things and "LET'S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE" was born. It took New York City by storm, getting extensive play in Latin Oriented Clubs such as CASABLANCA, ROSELAND and CASA GALLICIA. Soon Euro-Disco Clubs such as IPANEMA and The COPACABANA were playing it also. EDDIE meantime, was producing MANHATTAN EXPRESS and ESTHER WILLIAMS who both had unexpected success.
EDDIE DRENNON'S first album was called "COLLAGE", featuring LET'S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE had other well received tracks that were also played at clubs. This album on FRIENDS & CO. is extremely rare and will cost you an ARM if you find one available. Eddie realized the limitations of the small label, and in 1977 went over to CASABLANCA Records. Expectation were high, and I know for a fact that EDDIE was disappointed in the management of CASABLANCA, which never released a 12" version of ANY EDDIE DRENNON record. The first album from CASABLANCA was "WOULD YOU DANCE TO MY MUSIC". While this may have been one of the best albums of the year, CASABLANCA dropped the ball despite various tracks getting a lot of Club play.
In 1978, "IT DON'T MEAN A THING" was the new album, but it was without his backing band BBS UNLIMITED who had been with him since the beginning. There were two songs off this album that were constantly played, DISCO JAM and the title track, IT DON'T MEAN A THING. But CASABLANCA executives continued to screw up, and no "PUSH" from them, ever materialized. Who knows why?
A disillusioned EDDIE went back to New York and New Jersey, and back to playing his beloved Violin. He also arranged and conducted for a lot of big names. Throughout the 1980's and a little of the early 90's, EDDIE went with such talent as ORQUESTRA BROADWAY, JOHNNY PACHECO, JOSE FAJARDO, LA TIPICA NOVEL, LALO RODRIQUEZ, LA LUPE and THE FANIA ALL-STARS again.
Eddie Drennon went on to teach at Fairleigh Dickinson University and in Washington D.C. at Howard University. He is now part of the instructors at the LEVINE SCHOOL OF MUSIC teaching his beloved Violin to a new generation.
EDDIE: "It Wouldn't Mean A Thing unless I Danced To Your Music"!
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May 15, 08 | 7:26 pmI was part of a local salsa band, I saw EDDIE at his best, when he played his violin. He loves salsa, and CHARANGA music. I played the Trumpet with him, the only two "Gringos" on La Tipica Novel. He gave me a love and admiration for Latin music. Without him I fear that wouldn't be true. when he played his Disco music, few expected it to be any good. He blew us away. It was a fantastic piece of orchestrated music. The way it all blended so smoothly, you would think it was the work of someone who did played DISCO all the time. This was the LOVE that EDDIE had, that made his songs come in loud and clear in your heart and soul. I later played with many Disco bands, John Davis, Silver Convention and others. EDDIE always supported me. Thank you EDDIE!
The following info on Eddie Drennon was provided by the artist himself!
Eddie Drennon (born Edward Allen Drennen in Newark, NJ)
Variants: Eddie Drennan, Eddie Drennen, Eddy Drennon, Edward Drennan and Edward Drennon
Composer of:
LET’S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE
WOULD YOU DANCE TO MY MUSIC
DISCO JAM
Featured violinist with:
BO DIDDLEY (1960-68)
ORQUESTA NOVEL (1968-84)
CHARANGA AMERICA (1984-87)
Studied violin with Louia Vaughn Jones and music composition with Mark Fax at the Howard University School of Music (1959-63); he previously studied violin with Samuel Applebaum and Ugo Carano; studied music theory and composition with Rocco Pesile and Achilles D’Amico while attending Arts High School, Newark, NJ (1954-58).
Eddie is presently a member of the Umoja String Quartet and serves on the faculty at the George Washington University and Levine School of Music.
During his career which began in 1955, Eddie toured extensively performing in West Africa, North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe. In addition to Bo Diddley, Orquesta Novel and Charanga America he worked as a freelance violinist (nightclub, studio, symphonic, television and theatre) with various groups and artists (including Lou Perez, Johnny Pacheco, Ray Barretto, Orquesta Broadway, Charanga 76, Charanga America, the Fania All Stars, Tipica Ideal, the Urban Philharmonic, Ike & Tina Turner, Buster Williams, Smokey Robinson…).
Eddie composed the music for the 1997 Helen Hayes award winning musical, TORN FROM THE HEADLINES and scored a scene for the Clint Eastwood movie IN THE LINE OF FIRE. Throughout the 1970s he composed, arranged and produced hits for Marti, TR, Casablanca and Bullseye records, including LET’S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE (Eddie Drennon& BBS Unlimited), GET DOWN DO THE LATIN HUSTLE (Eddie Drennon & BBS Unlimited), DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO (Eddie Drennon& BBS Unlimited), LAST NIGHT CHANGED IT ALL (Esther Williams), which have been sampled by contemporary artists (such as the Avalanches, Shaggy, Jamiroquai, Tupac Shakur, Biz Markie, Grandmaster Flash …). Orquesta Novel recorded several Eddie Drennon tunes including WITH A TOUCH OF BRASS, SALSA BOOGIE and DANCE, DANCE, DANCE.
At the dawn of the 21st century, Eddie Drennon compositions provided the foundation for several songs. SINCE I LEFT YOU - by the Avalanches - contains a sample from LET’S DO THE LATIN HUSTLE. FREAKY GIRL - by Shaggy - contains a sample from GET DOWN DO THE LATIN HUSTLE.
Three versions of DISCO JAM, composed by Eddie during his Casablanca years (1976-79), are currently (2009) enjoying a revival.