Meet the famous, anonymous woman who inspired the classic song by Rubén Blades in our 3-part interview, including photos from her own collection. Part 1 was conducted by phone and email, from September to January 2008, where she tells us who she is, and how they met.
Part 1 1. Who is Paula C? Where are you from, what education, what work do you do, and did you do then? I was raised in Boston Massachusetts and I am Irish American. My mother was a teacher and my father was a medical doctor. I am the youngest of four children. When I was young my parents frequently visited Cuba and they brought back records. So I grew up with listening to those fabulous Cuban bands. The mambo was the dance craze at the time and my family used to dance around our living room like maniacs to those records. I think the great Machito has a daughter named Paula - a fact I loved as a kid. I went to college and received a degree in English Literature and Philosophy, and then moved to New York City. Originally I was a social worker in West Harlem but in the late 1970-early 1980’s I worked for Liberty House- a craft cooperative, which was formulated during the 1960s civil rights “freedom” rides. At that time, they sold American crafts made by individuals the freedom riders met during their time in the South. The crafts were wonderful but in many instances needed to be redesigned and marketed to attract a broader retail base, so we worked with the craftsmen to do this. I designed a line of women’s clothing for the store as part of the cooperative. A lot of famous people shopped there including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Julie Christie and the love of all of our lives - the amazing actor Raul Julia. My friend Cathy Hawkins still runs the store, which is now located at West 112th Street and Broadway. Now I work for an executive recruitment firm that has a client base of media, entertainment publishers and technology companies. 2. When and how did you meet Ruben? How did he seem to you then, as an artist and writer? He was always an ambitious artist, did everyone take him seriously? I actually met Ruben in Liberty House. At that time the store was located on Broadway and West 84 Street and he was living on West 86th Street. The store was in a building that had a parking garage on the side street. A friend of mine Karen (the daughter of a Rumba champion I might add) also worked in the store and she was dating the bass player for Mongo Santamaria. Mongo parked his van in the garage and sometimes would come into the store as we also sold a wonderful collection of African instruments. It was great fun when Mongo came in - he was a cheerful soul and he would play all the instruments and then flirt with everyone. The parking of Mongo’s van usually fell to his road guy Ralphie, who was a sweet person and real character. When Ralphie parked the van he usually hit the wall and all of our merchandise went flying off the shelves, so we got to know Ralphie really well. It was Ralphie who asked me if I had ever heard of the Panamanian singer Ruben Blades - I told him “no.” He asked me if I ever went to the local salsa clubs, like Barney Googles and the Corso? I told him “no.” About two weeks later Ruben came into the store to meet the “Italian girl named Paula” that Ralphie told him was “a big fan of his.” I guess that was about 1975. At that time Ruben was singing with Raymond [Barretto] and as an artist - he was trying to be a working musician and support himself. He wrote a great deal of music, sang coro on recordings and performed to earn his living. It wasn’t that he was so ambitious as much as he was clear about his goals and confident that he would be successful - and he single-mindedly pursued that. And he worked very hard. He told me when I first met him that he was going to be a famous singer and then go to Hollywood and make movies. I remember thinking that he may be delusional. One thing he did right from the start at Fania was to give the major artists at the time like Ismael Miranda some of his songs to record, so before he was really known as a singer he was appreciated as a composer within the company. It was his composing that got him taken seriously by Fania. I remember about Ismael in particular because he was the first singer who gave Ruben public credit for the song when he performed and Ruben never forgot that. I have always felt that Ruben was a composer who sang - rather than the other way around. People constantly called saying “I need a good tune.” That’s exactly what happened with El Cantante, Willie called him because Hector had been found OD in a car and needed a “good tune” to help him with a comeback. Ruben at first didn’t want to give him that tune - but I convinced him to do it. I adored Hector and it was a big joke between us because in fact Hector Lavoe was my favorite singer - still is. Whenever he performed I made sure I went to see him. One time when the All Stars were at Madison Square Garden, Ruben came and got me from the audience and brought me back stage - which I hated - what a scene! Without a word, he marches me over to where Hector was leaning against a door. When we get there he says to me “who is your favorite singer”? I respond Hector Lavoe. Hector smiles slightly not knowing what’s going on and then Ruben says “Hector - do you know who this is - this is my girlfriend Paula.” Then Hector really started to laugh his head off. I was mortified but in retrospect, it was a very generous gesture by Ruben. He and Hector were rivals in the business at that time. By the time Ruben came to New York he already was a well known singer in Panama. His mother Anoland, a musician herself, didn’t approve of his singing and was always pushing him to finish his degree. She knew all too well how difficult a musician’s life could be. One year during Carnival - she told me that as far as she knew Ruben had agreed not to sing while he was at the University. But one day while driving to her job in the Canal Zone - there was this huge banner over the street announcing his appearance during Carnival. She told me she got so mad she nearly drove her car off the road. As it turned out - his performance was being kept a secret from Anoland. Some guy was responsible for removing the banner in the morning before Anoland drove by and then hanging it back up after she passed by. He would repeat this process when she was about to drive home at night. But that particular morning he overslept and Anoland saw the banner and was furious. When she told me this story though, she laughed and laughed. Anoland was a wonderful woman and I miss her. Did people take him seriously? Well Ruben is extremely intelligent and was well educated. He clearly articulated his vision of what he thought should happen and he worked hard and had an incredible rapport with the audience. I don’t know about now - but then he truly appreciated the fans who loved his music and this encouraged him. Ruben is a born storyteller. I was a great admirer of what I consider to be the genius of Willie Colon and really pushed Ruben to sing with his band and to collaborate with him. Speaking of the fans - when Siembra first came out in 1978, Jerry Masucci told Ruben that it was a good album but that it wasn’t selling. Our apartment building faced several others in our Latino neighborhood. I could hear the album being played at top volume all the time - so I didn’t think Jerry was telling the truth. The first time the album was performed in Puerto Rico soon after the release - the headliner was Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound. When Willie and Ruben started playing everyone in the arena sang along and they went absolutely nuts. Because I knew Ruben so well, I could see he was touched deeply by the overwhelming response but he kept singing. I remember Ralph Mercado came running out, as did Roberto Roena. It was phenomenal. What I remember is that after the performance was over - Ruben stood by one of the exits and shook hands with everybody as they left. It took hours - but he did it. I think it was then that he knew he was on his way and he appreciated it. Latin music fans are the most loyal fans in the world. All material Copyright 2007-8 MAESTRAVIDA.COM, Alison Weinstock & Paula C.
Part 1 1. Who is Paula C? Where are you from, what education, what work do you do, and did you do then? I was raised in Boston Massachusetts and I am Irish American. My mother was a teacher and my father was a medical doctor. I am the youngest of four children. When I was young my parents frequently visited Cuba and they brought back records. So I grew up with listening to those fabulous Cuban bands. The mambo was the dance craze at the time and my family used to dance around our living room like maniacs to those records. I think the great Machito has a daughter named Paula - a fact I loved as a kid.
I went to college and received a degree in English Literature and Philosophy, and then moved to New York City. Originally I was a social worker in West Harlem but in the late 1970-early 1980’s I worked for Liberty House- a craft cooperative, which was formulated during the 1960s civil rights “freedom” rides. At that time, they sold American crafts made by individuals the freedom riders met during their time in the South. The crafts were wonderful but in many instances needed to be redesigned and marketed to attract a broader retail base, so we worked with the craftsmen to do this. I designed a line of women’s clothing for the store as part of the cooperative. A lot of famous people shopped there including John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Julie Christie and the love of all of our lives - the amazing actor Raul Julia. My friend Cathy Hawkins still runs the store, which is now located at West 112th Street and Broadway. Now I work for an executive recruitment firm that has a client base of media, entertainment publishers and technology companies. 2. When and how did you meet Ruben? How did he seem to you then, as an artist and writer? He was always an ambitious artist, did everyone take him seriously? I actually met Ruben in Liberty House. At that time the store was located on Broadway and West 84 Street and he was living on West 86th Street. The store was in a building that had a parking garage on the side street. A friend of mine Karen (the daughter of a Rumba champion I might add) also worked in the store and she was dating the bass player for Mongo Santamaria. Mongo parked his van in the garage and sometimes would come into the store as we also sold a wonderful collection of African instruments. It was great fun when Mongo came in - he was a cheerful soul and he would play all the instruments and then flirt with everyone. The parking of Mongo’s van usually fell to his road guy Ralphie, who was a sweet person and real character. When Ralphie parked the van he usually hit the wall and all of our merchandise went flying off the shelves, so we got to know Ralphie really well. It was Ralphie who asked me if I had ever heard of the Panamanian singer Ruben Blades - I told him “no.” He asked me if I ever went to the local salsa clubs, like Barney Googles and the Corso? I told him “no.” About two weeks later Ruben came into the store to meet the “Italian girl named Paula” that Ralphie told him was “a big fan of his.” I guess that was about 1975. At that time Ruben was singing with Raymond [Barretto] and as an artist - he was trying to be a working musician and support himself. He wrote a great deal of music, sang coro on recordings and performed to earn his living. It wasn’t that he was so ambitious as much as he was clear about his goals and confident that he would be successful - and he single-mindedly pursued that. And he worked very hard. 
He told me when I first met him that he was going to be a famous singer and then go to Hollywood and make movies. I remember thinking that he may be delusional. One thing he did right from the start at Fania was to give the major artists at the time like Ismael Miranda some of his songs to record, so before he was really known as a singer he was appreciated as a composer within the company. It was his composing that got him taken seriously by Fania. I remember about Ismael in particular because he was the first singer who gave Ruben public credit for the song when he performed and Ruben never forgot that. I have always felt that Ruben was a composer who sang - rather than the other way around. People constantly called saying “I need a good tune.” That’s exactly what happened with El Cantante, Willie called him because Hector had been found OD in a car and needed a “good tune” to help him with a comeback. Ruben at first didn’t want to give him that tune - but I convinced him to do it. I adored Hector and it was a big joke between us because in fact Hector Lavoe was my favorite singer - still is. Whenever he performed I made sure I went to see him. One time when the All Stars were at Madison Square Garden, Ruben came and got me from the audience and brought me back stage - which I hated - what a scene! Without a word, he marches me over to where Hector was leaning against a door. When we get there he says to me “who is your favorite singer”? I respond Hector Lavoe. Hector smiles slightly not knowing what’s going on and then Ruben says “Hector - do you know who this is - this is my girlfriend Paula.” Then Hector really started to laugh his head off. I was mortified but in retrospect, it was a very generous gesture by Ruben. He and Hector were rivals in the business at that time. By the time Ruben came to New York he already was a well known singer in Panama. His mother Anoland, a musician herself, didn’t approve of his singing and was always pushing him to finish his degree. She knew all too well how difficult a musician’s life could be. One year during Carnival - she told me that as far as she knew Ruben had agreed not to sing while he was at the University. But one day while driving to her job in the Canal Zone - there was this huge banner over the street announcing his appearance during Carnival. She told me she got so mad she nearly drove her car off the road. As it turned out - his performance was being kept a secret from Anoland. Some guy was responsible for removing the banner in the morning before Anoland drove by and then hanging it back up after she passed by. He would repeat this process when she was about to drive home at night. But that particular morning he overslept and Anoland saw the banner and was furious. When she told me this story though, she laughed and laughed. Anoland was a wonderful woman and I miss her.
Did people take him seriously? Well Ruben is extremely intelligent and was well educated. He clearly articulated his vision of what he thought should happen and he worked hard and had an incredible rapport with the audience. I don’t know about now - but then he truly appreciated the fans who loved his music and this encouraged him. Ruben is a born storyteller. I was a great admirer of what I consider to be the genius of Willie Colon and really pushed Ruben to sing with his band and to collaborate with him. Speaking of the fans - when Siembra first came out in 1978, Jerry Masucci told Ruben that it was a good album but that it wasn’t selling. Our apartment building faced several others in our Latino neighborhood. I could hear the album being played at top volume all the time - so I didn’t think Jerry was telling the truth. The first time the album was performed in Puerto Rico soon after the release - the headliner was Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound. When Willie and Ruben started playing everyone in the arena sang along and they went absolutely nuts. Because I knew Ruben so well, I could see he was touched deeply by the overwhelming response but he kept singing. I remember Ralph Mercado came running out, as did Roberto Roena. It was phenomenal. What I remember is that after the performance was over - Ruben stood by one of the exits and shook hands with everybody as they left. It took hours - but he did it. I think it was then that he knew he was on his way and he appreciated it. Latin music fans are the most loyal fans in the world. All material Copyright 2007-8 MAESTRAVIDA.COM, Alison Weinstock & Paula C.
