Hermano del Tambo Provides Unity Through Music
Mario Principato had only recently returned from The 2020 NAMM Show in January, where he represented Tycoon as an endorsee when the first set of lockdowns swept through Italy. He can pinpoint the day exactly, March 8, and recalls the uncertainty, fear, and anguish surrounding his community.
Principato was determined to tap into the power of his music to do something, perhaps anything, to help face the unknown that faced the world. Principato picked up his bass and did what he does best, write a bass line.
A spark of an idea ignited, and he quickly recruited a friend who plays the Cuban tres, wrote and harmonized two choirs, recorded percussion, and realized he may have created something magical. He then sent the riff to his friends and fellow Italian percussionist, Roberto Gatti, Luca Mattioni, and Matteo Salvatori, and asked if he would play a solo and record a video. Quickly realizing the power to connect digitally across borders, Principato wrote to new friends he met at The NAMM Show, Will Calderon and Yoel del Sol, and asked if they’d consider participating in the rapidly growing endeavor.
Throughout 2020, with the irreplaceable help of Paulo la Rosa the list of influential partners continued to grow, including names like Bobby Allende, Robby Ameen, Anthony Carillo, Eugie Castrillo, David Rosado Cuba, Richie Flores, Tito de Gracia, Horacio el Negro Hernandez, Enrique Lazaga, Eliel Lazo, Los Potritos, Roberto Quintero, Little Johnny Rivero, Manolito Rodriguez, and many others, leading to the creation of Hermano del Tambor.
Two years later, Hermano del Tambor has become one of the many symbols of connection that has defined the pandemic. Principato says, “Despite the difficulties and the distance, even if we have different flags and are of different ethnicities, we are united, we are strong. This is the idea - this is the true value of Hermano del Tambor.”
The project, released in early April 2020, garnered thousands of views and engagements and resulted in a wealth of correspondence of people wanting to get involved. One of these interactions was with Bomap an instrument distributor who deals heavily in the brand Gon Bops, a subsidiary of SABIAN and “one of the oldest and most respected manufacturers of Latin instruments in the world.” Roberta Uberti, a spokesperson from Bomap said, “Mario is one of the most active and affirmed percussionists in Italy. Duing the lockdown, he had the great foresight to call the world’s greatest percussionists to ask about participating in Hermano del Tambor. We, at Bomap Musical Distribution, recognized the value of the project and of Mario’s value as an artist and invited him to join the Gon Bops family. We are excited not only for this project to continue to help the world, but for Mario’s future promoting the Gon Bops brand that we distribute.”
Since the original release, Hermano del Tambor debuted a second video with even more star power, and the third release grew even more. The message and spirit of the project, unity, love, peace and great strength is fulfilled by musicians from Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, England, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Principato hopes to continue expanding Hermano del Tambor and bring the power of music to the global stage. There may be no better words than those of Principato to encapsulate the project, “My heart continues to beat as hard as my drums thanks to Hermano del Tambor.”
For the latest from the Hermano del Tambor collaboration, please visit Principato’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/cicaboom.
For more information from Bomap, please visit them at https://www.bomap.it/.