2-18-01

Yesterday I received a large settlement check from Caiman Records America Inc. I have been silent concerning this legal matter while the lawyers from both sides have been negotiating whether to go to trial or settle out of court for the past eight months. NOW I will tell the story so that other artists and composers and producers can know how some record companies in the Latin as well as the American music business operate.

In 1982 I produced a few "albums" for K-tel records. Most of us remember the "Noche Caliente " series in the early eighties. This K-Tel idea was responsible for starting the Romantic Salsa Movement in Latin Music by utilizing the popular romantic songs of Novellas and hit ballads from South America, Spain and Mexico, in Tropical formats. The original producer was Louie Ramirez from NYC who was hired by K-Tel to produce tropical arrangements with popular Salsa singers . There were 2 highly successful albums made and thousands of albums sold on late-night TV and in Supermarket promotions all over Venezuela, Mexico and the U.S.. There was NO real band called Noche Caliente, just good recordings and sexy girls on the covers and GREAT promotion. I produced the third Noche Caliente, using Menique and Tito Allen as the vocalists which also sold very well. I was then asked to produce an album of "Trio Los Ponchos" songs in Tropical format. Since I was signed to another label It was NOT a Larry Harlow album and I used the name "Los Tres" referring to the three vocalists that were being used. Orlando Watussi(Venezuela), Doris Eugenio(Colombia) and Ray Perez(Puerto Rico) were the main singers each doing three songs and one song where all three sang together. About three months after the completion of this wonderful recording, K-Tel went through a chapter 11 bankruptcy and most of their new product never got released properly.. I did find a copy of the LOS TRES album in the Dominican Republic but never heard it on the air or saw it in the record stores here in the US. That was the last time I did business with K-tel . I was paid handsomely for all of my work in the mid 80's .

Now, a few years ago, 1997 to be exact, the new President of Caiman contacts me about doing a new Noche Caliente CD with Tito Allen, Lefty Perez and Darvel Garcia as vocalists.It seems Caiman had bought the rights to the first 3 Noche Caliente CD's and had made 2 compilations that were selling well. I had been working in Puerto Rico finishing the Latin Legends first CD. I started getting arrangements , musicians, rehearsals etc. etc. and in 3 weeks completed a wonderful recording for them. It sat on the office shelf for a year.In the interim, the Caiman President asked me if he could use my photo on the cover of the Los Tres CD. No one had really promoted that CD in the 80's and he thought with Harlow's photo on the cover of this very musical CD, it might do well upon a re-release with a different name. He assured me that it would be out soon.I make a deal for my likeness and name to be used and sent them the photos . I awaited the contracts for the use of my name and likeness and the royalty agreement to be signed by both parties. NOTHING ...A new president had taken over . I met with him at Midem and he assured me that all Commitments will be honored and that the CD's will both be released ASAP. NOTHING..Still no contracts..

About six months later a receive e-mails that the Los Tres Cd , now called Larry Harlow's "ROMANCE in SALSA" is being sold in the large record shops as well as US military installations worldwide. Several weeks later the "Noche Caliente 4" came out. Now I am really mad. No one at Caiman took my calls, I tried K-Tel, but they were still in financial hell and they assured me that they did NOT make a license agreement with Caiman for the Los Tres Album. Who to believe. I contacted my lawyer and explained the situation . Was there grounds for a legal battle??? The answer was YES.

We served Caiman with papers in New York for they have offices here and do business in New York State. Where is the money we agreed on? Where are my contracts? The CD is out and being sold. Where are my royalties for the 2 compilations of Noche Caliente???? Where are my royalties for Noche Caliente 4????? Where is ANYTHING from this rip off company.. Now a fourth President take over Caiman. He assures my attorney that the paper work is on the way to me...Well it never showed up..

Both sides argued for months and finally I agreed to settle out of court 6 months later. The settlement is not worth the time and money that I spent trying to get what is due me but I feel that I have won by not letting Caiman get away with this injustice. Many record companies try these tactics on their artists with old product or sell them as cut outs or license the music to third or forth parties, where the artists and composers cannot collect their royalties. Now that we have settled, I just wanted to let the public know what was going on with these CD's and Caiman. Who knows if they will pay next years royalties on these CD's and if I will have to sue them again.