the heart of tampa

Frank Garcia is Tampa!

Paleontologist Frank Garcia wrote a song for his beloved hometown of Tampa, called “Corazon de Tampa.”  Frank recently performed it live as part of Hispanic Heritage Day.  Friend Fred Jacobsen grabbed a bunch of Garcia’s family photos, and with the song, he put together this great video.  Take a look and a close listen:

There is an online petition to convince the city to make this Tampa’s official song.

Click below to see what Frank has to say about his creation, and a copy of the lyrics:

I have magically recreated my grandparents, my youth and my old home town of Tampa from a song. But its more than just a song, it is something that lasts.

Walking down Ybor early in the morning or late at night, dominoes can still be heard falling from a distant time, Havana tobacco leaves from the cigar factories can still permeate memories into believing nothing has changed. The stacks of Cuban sandwiches piled high can still be seen outside that Silver Ring Cafe if you just wished it; the swaying of the palms with the rhythm of the people dancing in the red brick streets is all so very there.

In a sense, I really didnt write Corazon de Tampa… Ybor city and West Tampa did. All I did was listen, look, feel and live that enchanting time. My heart did the rest.

Frank Garcia

“Corazon de Tampa”
Words & Music by
Frank Garcia © 2008
Arranged & Orchestrated by
David Hubbell

Verse #1
When I was a boy, it seems like yesterday
Running through the Spanish part of town.
Smell that Cuban coffee & Havana leaves
Hear those dominos ah-falling down.

Verse #2
Vendors in the morning start to sing their songs
of mangoes & papaya all day long.
Those Guayabara shirts so starched & colorful
Dancing to a rhythm of their own.

Chorus
Abuella – Abuello dance to the mambo
To the tunes of Tito Fuentes playing on the radio.
This paradise I revisit every time I hear her name…
Tampa ~ my Little Spanish Main.

Verse # 3
Abuella & Abuello used to roll cigars
As I dodged those big street city cars.
Those red brick streets are shining as I stroll along.
To the tune of this little Latin Song.

Verse #4
Cuban sandwiches & hot fresh deviled crabs,
Smell them outside the Silver Ring.
People all a around loving Latino Life
As my Latin heart begins to sing.

Corazon de Tampa Pg. 2

Hook:
I Love … My Tampa
Nestled `neath blue skies of the Caribbean.
I Love … My Tampa
She’s gleaming under stars when the day is done.
No matter where I go, she’ll always be with me.
In my heart, this Spanish melody.

Verse #5
Remembering my schools in side the Latin Hood
Where I learned my Spanish ABC’s.
Shining shoes outside the Quattro Julio.
Latino life was all there was for me.

Chorus:
Abuella – Abuello dance to the mambo
To the tunes of Tito Fuentes playing on the radio.
This paradise I revisit every time I hear her name…
Tampa ~ my Little Spanish Main.

Hook:
I Love … My Tampa
Nestled `neath blue skies of the Caribbean.
So all I have to do is dream & she’ll always be with me.

Tag:
In my heart this Spanish melody
In my heart this Spanish melody
In ~ my ~ heart this Span-ish ……. Memory.

Tampa Bay … My Corazon !!!