José Manuel Calderón – The Genetics of Bachata
Album
José Manuel Calderón made history on 30 May 1962 by recording the first guitar boleros recognized as bachata. This anthology collects his foundational 1960s recordings, where his velvety baritone balances against weeping requinto guitar phrasing. By replacing traditional maracas with a metallic güira, Calderón established the crisp rhythmic foundation that would define Dominican guitar music.