Les Moncada Chats with Friend and Latin Musical Instrument Craftsman Peter Lugo of JCR Percussion

 

When you listen to salsa, mambo or Latin music, the instruments played, especially the percussion instruments, such as bell, bongos, congas, timbales are made by mass production companies or by craftsmen. The craftsmen take pride in the instrument they make and at time the artists or musician that purchase these instruments range from legend status to beginners.

A craftsman instrument is made with love, and sometimes especially for you or your liking. There is nothing like being able to speak to the craftsman that is making your instrument that is like no other. The percussion instrument is the utmost necessity for a percussionist.

Pete Lugo, who assists Caly Rivera at JCR Bells, in the Bronx, New York, along with Cali is one of those type of craftsmen. Mass made manufactured instruments have a tendency to sound all the same, there is no uniqueness in the instrument.

I had a chat with my friend Pete Lugo, let’s hear what he has to say.

 

 

Les Moncada – Pete, tell us a little about you growing up and where you lived and your background and how it led you to work in the bell and drum industry.

Peter Lugo – I was born in New York City, on 13 Street, went to Puerto Rico as a baby, with my mother, who was in the real estate business, and traveled extensively. Consequently I was raised mostly by my grandmother & grandfather until my grandpa passed, then I went to live in the state of Connecticut with my grandma and aunt. By the age of 12, I came back to New York with my mother, to the Bronx. I was influenced by my uncles, who were master cabinet makers and musicians. After high school I got into the carpentry trade and I worked as a form carpenter, specialized in foundations.

LM – When did you first meet Cali Rivera from JCR and how did he first start his operation.

PL – I met Caly Rivera, when I moved to the High bridge area of the Bronx, where Caly worked with his brother who owned the local hardware store. He was the counterman. That was around ‘68 or ‘69. I was working as a carpenter, and my friends started a softball team, and I became the sponsor. The team was called the crashers and we played what was called money games, where we would pool our money and we would bet the opposing team whatever monies we pooled.

 

 

I opened a sports club for the team, which did very well. Caly rented the vacant store next to my place. At that time, Caly had a very small shop in the basement of the building where I had my place. After he moved from the basement to his new store, we began relating more and I began helping him out on my time off, and I wound up learning his trade by watching what he did, and I continued helping out after work.

I had no idea that he made bells until he rented the store, since I knew him from the hardware store, but he was in a partnership at the time with Julio and Roca. Then Roca left, and then it was just Caly and Julio.

LM – Pete, how many years have you known Caly Rivera from JCR Percussion?

PL – I have known Caly now for over 45 years and have worked with him on and off, for much of that time. My primary job was building foundations. I also built cabinets and do all types of woodwork, for this is one of the reasons I became interested in instruments, it was a new challenge that I enjoyed.

 

 

LM – Pete, can you name me some of the famous musician’s names that have gone to JCR percussion to buy musical percussion instruments?

PL – Wow, there’s just too many to mention, but I would say that at one time or another, I’ve met the who’s who of percussionists from all over the world. Players from foreign countries that come to New York, stop by JCR to buy bells or just to see this legendary establishment.

I remember an anecdote from a guy from Australia, who was on tour in the states and came to JR. His greeting upon entering was “how you doing mate”. With a very heavy accent that I thought was British, he was in awe of the place, because he thought it was a factory, and he commented, “Wow I can’t believe that all those great bells come from such a small shop!” When I asked where he was from, he said Australia. I asked him, “really?” and he said “yeah mate, you guys are a legend in Australia. “

Anyway, to name a few of the stars that would buy instruments, just to name a few, the timbales legend, the late, Kako Bastar; Johnny Almendra; timbalero Endel Dueno; Giovanni Hidalgo; conguero legend, Eddie Montalvo of Eddie Montalvo Orchestra; Richie Bastar, son of the famous Kako; actor Andy Garcia; Dandy Johnny Rodriguez, formally bongo player for the Tito Puente Orchestra now with timbalero Jose Madera & The Mambo Legends Orchestra; the late great timbalero of timbaleros, Edgardo Morales; the great late, bongo legend, Baby Serrano; and so many great and not so known players.

 

 

 

LM – On our Facebook site of Timbales and Congas, Bongo, Bata and Bells & co-related sites, I saw that you are assisting some friends of mine for California and New York City with some bongo work.

PL – Yes, I did work for some of your friends of yours.

LM – What other hobbies do you have that help your instrument craftsmanship?

PL – As a hobby, I do different types of woodwork, such as jewelry boxes, restore furniture, make cabinets, cajones, and whatever involves fabricating in wood

LM – All musicians have their favorite instruments and brands, what is you favorite brand of instrument? Would it be a handmade, custom made instrument or, and would it be a mass production company instrument and tell me why.

PL – For me personally, I would prefer to have an artisan made instrument than what is currently being sold by the big companies that are mass produced from fancy looking woods from tropical countries where labor is done by exploited workers, who don’t care to produce a quality instrument. These companies look for cheap labor, then turn around and put a celebrated players name on it and charge an exorbitant amount of money for cheap tropical wood and a layer of fancy contact paper. They are what we call “pintura y capota na’ma” (just paint and coat), for my money, I would go for hand made.

LM – What is your favorite instrument to make out of all the ones you’ve made, as well as the ones you have repaired?

PL – I enjoy making cajones (box drums), whether in bongo style, or bata, or conga, or in whatever style the client wants it to be. I have a blog site where people can see my work. They can message me and I’d be happy to give them the information.

 

 

 

LM – What musical instrument have you not made, that you would like to make?

PL – I would love to make a baby bass.

LM – After making bells, bongos, timbales, and many other instruments with Cali at JCR Percussion, as maker and creator of these instruments, what feelings come over you when you know the instrument you created is being played by that famous artist?

PL – Well, it’s gratifying to walk into a club, where you have players, that are performing with an instrument you built especially for them, and you can tell by their body language and expression that they are enjoying this instrument, that you partook in fabricating, for that particular individual/musician, and that it sounds the way it was intended too.

At JCR we put together a first generation JCR bongo for Richie Bastar who was a teen at the time. He came in with his father, whom was famed timbalero, Kako Bastar, who placed an order for his son. Till this day, whenever I go to a club where he is performing with legendary Puerto Rican orchestra, El Gran Combo, when he sees me he raises his bongo and waves it around like showing me he still has it.

 

 

 

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I would like to thank Pete Lugo for his time from his busy schedule for assisting me in creating this interview for Latin musicians and Latin percussionist that are interested in the creation of Latin percussion instruments.

JCR Musical Instrument Store is located at 948 Ogden Ave, Bronx, NY 10452. Phone:(718) 293-6589.