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The “King of Latin Soul,” Joe Bataan, epitomized the melting pot of New York City, both musically and culturally. Born Bataan Nitollano in 1942 to an African American mother and Filipino father, the Spanish Harlem-raised singer and pianist formed his first band, Joe Bataan and the Latin Swingers, in 1965. Blending mambo and pop, tinged with R&B and Latin jazz, with lyrics in English and Spanish, the group was instrumental in establishing an authentic Latin soul sound that would explode in popularity in the late ’60s. In 1966, the group signed with Fania Records and launched their career with the popular Gypsy Woman the following year. But it was their sophomore effort, 1968’s Riot! that would be their strongest seller—as well as the highest-selling Latin title of the year. Recorded against a backdrop of political and social unrest, the aptly titled album captures the full spectrum of heightened emotions: from the anger and frustration amid the war to the empowerment and joy of youth culture. Working under the direction of the great Johnny Pacheco, Bataan and Louie Gonzalez trade vocal duties in English and Spanish, respectively, as they lead the Latin Swingers through their signature “salsoul,” featuring soulful crooning, R&B, doo-wop, Latin rhythms and a powerful horn section. Among Riot!’s most enduring highlights are the ballads “Ordinary Guy” and “What Good Is a Castle,” as well as the electrifying salsa classics “Muñeca” and “Pa’ Monte” and the soulful “It’s a Good Feeling (Riot).”