Boogaloo Assassins – Old Love Dies Hard

Boogaloo Assassins is an 11-piece band based in Los Angeles since 2007, and it’s safe to say they’ve gone back to the roots. With their music, they respond to the times with a blend of freshness and classic flair from the West Coast, evoking the Latin music explosion of late 1960s New York. Their sound is clearly influenced by the Spanish Harlem classics, and their signature style is Latin Boogaloo—that bold, cross-cultural fusion of R&B and Cuban rhythms, sung in both English and Spanish.

Boogaloo Assassins’ shows light up Los Angeles and every venue they visit with raw energy and electrifying vibes. Their 2013 release Old Love Dies Hard feels like an LP straight out of the scorching ’70s—not by coincidence, as it was originally pressed on vinyl—yet it boasts all the vibrancy of a contemporary sound. Their style, true to their name, revolves around Boogaloo, with touches of Latin Soul and the classic salsa sound of the late ’60s.

Old Love Dies Hard was recorded analog-style at Killion Sound in Los Angeles—one of the go-to studios for top funk bands—and the result is a powerful, faithful reinterpretation of early New York Latin sounds. The album cover design pays homage to the visual aesthetics of that golden era. Featuring three lead vocalists—Charles Farrar, Chiquis Lozoya, and Robert McLachlan—the record offers refreshing vocal variety throughout. The rhythm section is made up of William Purdy (piano), Billy Goodtimes (timbales), Richi Panta (congas), Sergio Padilla (bongos), and Rich Rochelle (bass), while the horn section features Joe Bautista (saxophone) and Tommy Ouweleen (flute and sax).

Original songs like Para Mí, Mi Jeva, and Do You Wanna Dance showcase Boogaloo Assassins’ songwriting skills. Magic Rose, sung by Robert McLachlan, revives a classic popularized by Joe Bataan, while Evil Ways—made famous by Willie Bobo—is reimagined here as an instrumental featuring guest vibraphonist Garth Rodriguez.

Mi Jeva and No No No, arranged by the whole band and sung by Charles Farrar, are old-school-style guaguancós, while Do You Wanna Dance is a high-powered boogaloo with unstoppable groove.

At Latina Stereo, we’re thrilled to recommend this album by Boogaloo Assassins. Their sound is so irresistibly tight that it gets even the most discerning dancers moving. It’s no surprise that Fania Records took notice, inviting the group to perform in celebration of the label’s 50th anniversary and reissuing their LP, which was originally released under Sicario Records.