Huevito, one of the stars of "Masters of Rhythm:

Our stars in Masters of Rhythm are such talented and charismatic people, I'm guessing you'd like to know more about them.  Huevito (Freddy Huevito Lobatón Beltrán), for example, was born in Lima, Peru's capitol - the youngest of eight children.  From the time he was a baby, he loved the cajón (cajón drum) and all of the music and dance of his Afro-Peruvian heritage.

Huevito in a pensive moment

When he was two years old, he would climb out of his cradle and sneak in to watch his father Mario Lobatón's performing group rehearse.  The group, Gente Morena de Pancho Fierro, was well-known and to Huevito's delight, they rehearsed in the family's living room.  He would sit on a cajón and watch, and then play the cajón himself during the breaks.

His father was known as one of the three or four best and most complete dancers of zapateo fancy footwork, an artwork that Huevito has since mastered.  In fact, Huevito has won so many prizes for his zapateo that now, he no longer completes and instead, often acts as judge in competitions.

Huevito's family is from the countryside to the south of Lima, in the coastal area.  Both parents were born in Chincha - his father from Hacienda San José and his mother from Regis (both towns close to el Carmen).  This area is one in which Afro-Peruvian culture is perhaps best preserved as a living tradition, and Huevito bears the stamp of a person steeped in his culture.

He began his professional career at age 11, although from the age of four, he used to perform in his father's group.  He, along with two of his older brothers, would get up and dance - especially zapateo!

About 12 years ago, Huevito was recruited by Gabriel Alegrías Afro-Peruvian Sextet, and he moved to New York to perform with them.  He lives in New Jersey and is the group's Afro-Peruvian soul, performing on the cajón, the cajita, the quijada de burro, and doing a bit of zapateo when the music calls for it.

playing cajón - Huevito in the center with Lalo Izquierdo (l) and Cotito (r)

Apart from his love of his culture and of rhythm in general, there is one thing Huevito wants the world to know about him:  about eight years ago, he kicked a serious drug habit and has never touched drugs since then.  He thinks it's important that other people who may have become involved in drugs know that it is possible to recover from this addiction.

And on that note, I say ¡olé! Huevito.  May you continue to give us those wonderful rhythms and continue to have a stellar career.