Negrón Jr., the co-founder percussionist/vocalist of De La Buena Band passed away in Milwaukee.
By H. Nelson Goodson
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
May 25, 2023
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that Cecilio "Babaceeloe" Jóse Negrón, 47, had passed away at around 9:11 a.m. at his home. The circumstances leading to his untimely death is unknown and an autopsy has been scheduled.
According to his family, Negrón Jr. had complained about having stomach aches and vomiting before his death, which is consistent with food poisoning symptoms.
Negrón Jr. was well known for his love of drums, Latin Jazz and Salsa music. He was the charismatic co-founder percussionist/vocalist for the band De La Buena and on occassion played the Guiro (serrated gourd and played by scraping a stick along its surface) and Bongos (one of a pair of small tuned drums, played by beating with the fingers) along side with his father Cecilio J. Negrón, 70, at local events, who is also a well known local percussionist with the band Caché MKE.
In April, both Negrón Jr. and the other co-founder pianist/arranger/band leader David Wake including band players from De La Buena celebrated 20 years of success in playing Afro-Cuban and Latin Jazz in Wisconsin and the U.S.. (YouTube: https://youtu.be/oatjD74C83I)
Negrón Jr. also taught teens to play as percussionists (congas) at drumming work shops at the United Community Center (UCC).
According to Negrón Jr.'s bio personal website excerpt (cecilionegronjr dot com); At the age of five, Negrón Jr. expounded on his studies of music, attending the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music where he learned Suzuki method on piano. As a student at Nathan Hale High School, Negrón Jr. studied in the school music program learning music theory and how to read music. He also learned to play drum-set and concert percussion, earning him top honors in solo and state competitions.
Negrón Jr. began playing professionally by the age of 16, giving him the ability to apply what he was learning in school and gain first-hand experience. At the age of 21, he began his solo career, developing himself as a solo artist and educator. In 2000, Negrón Jr. started working with the Milwaukee Public Theatre, teaching arts residencies, drumming, and touring in several theatre productions.
Since then, he was responsible for co-founding youth and adult performance ensembles and several bands that have been performing locally and abroad for over 15 years. He has taught thousands of Milwaukee youths of all ages in both public and private schools, as well as numerous organizations all over Wisconsin. He also helped to develop and create various curriculums used in different educational, recreational, and community organizations. As an educator, Negrón Jr. understood the importance of always remaining teachable and is a forever student, continuing his studies under world-renowned, master drummers, as well as attending educational drumming workshops locally, in Puerto Rico, and across the country.
As a community drum facilitator, Negrón Jr. curated and managed his own multi-cultural musical ensembles, drumming workshops, drum circles, and many other varieties of community drumming.
With his extensive repertoire as a performer throughout the United States, Europe, and Puerto Rico, Negrón Jr. commanded audiences everywhere he performed. His musical genius can be found with many successful local and national acts of a variety of genres, including co-founding Latin Jazz powerhouse De La Buena, his father's Salsa ensemble Caché MKE, leading his own project CNJ Latin Jazz, Nwa Na Agbe, Urbanites, Bahia, Kings Go Forth, the Paul Spencer Group, and One Drum.
Negrón Jr. also performed drumming with La Tinta and Septeto Charambó.
Negrón Jr. was also an accomplished studio recording artist with over 12 albums, he has had the pleasure to record on. As an avid music producer who has managed, Negrón Jr. consulted on and produced several projects. He thoroughly enjoyed the creative process of making original music and collaborating with other artists to ensure their talented vision and unique expressions were executed.
A Gofundme was created for Cecilio J. Negrón Jr.'s children at link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cecilionegronjr
A celebration of the life of Cecilio J. Negrón Jr., 47, is scheduled for Sunday, June 18, 2023 at the McKinley Marina, 1700 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., according to family.
Time schedule at McKinley Marina from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Lineup:
• DJ Absolut
• Drum Circle
• Duo Experiencia
• Bohemia
• Cache MKE
• United Community Center Mariachi Juvenil
• Gego y Nony
• Septeto Charambo
• Descarga Musical (Jam Session)
Update: The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office on November 14, 2023 determined that Cecilio J. Negron Jr. had died of natural causes citing cause of death "Acute Mayocardial Infarct" due to acute coronary artery thrombus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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