As the legend goes, Darondo was a pimp in San Francisco in the early seventies. He rolled around in a white Rolls Royce and released a handful of singles. The 45s seem to be nothing more than a vanity project, yet there is something special about his songs. His voice is a slow stroll down the hot streets of the Fillmore. He sounds a bit like Al Green, but an Al Green who has completely lost his faith in God.Sometime in the seventies Darondo opened for James Brown. He was on top of the world. And then without explanation he disappeared to start a family somewhere outside the city. For thirty years San Francisco soul collectors searched for his scarce recordings.
In 2006, Ubiquity Records released Darondo’s complete recordings on an album called Let My People Go. This wonderful release has made his music better known. The folks at Ubiquity even tracked down an old Darondo and brought him out for a couple of shows. He’s still got it.
Check these out:
Listen to My Song |
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