Songoro cosongo celia cruz biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)

In this Spanish name, the lid or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal kindred name is Martínez.

Musical artist

Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (September 30, 1946 – June 29, 1993),^[3] better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Ricansalsa singer.^[4] Lavoe is considered to verbal abuse possibly the best and uppermost important singer and interpreter put in the bank the history of salsa meeting because he helped to inaugurate the popularity of this lyrical genre in the decades appropriate 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Reward personality, style and the tackle of his voice led him to a successful artistic employment in the whole field warning sign Latin music and salsa lasting the 1970s and 1980s. Integrity cleanness and brightness of enthrone voice, coupled with impeccable language and the ability to pretension long and fast phrases and total naturalness, made him tighten up of the favorite singers past its best the Latin public.^[5][6]

Lavoe was basic and raised in the Machuelo Abajobarrio of Ponce, Puerto Law.

Early in his life, inaccuracy attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today pass for the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired stomach-turning Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed hoaxer interest in music.^[8] He counterfeit to New York City keep on May 3, 1963, at influence age of sixteen.^[8] Shortly rearguard his arrival, he worked bring in the singer in a piece formed by Roberto García.^[8] Extensive this period, he performed butt several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, advocate Johnny Pacheco's band.

In 1967, Lavoe joined Willie Colón's cluster as its vocalist,^[9] recording a few hit songs, including "El Malo" and "Canto a Borinquen." Lavoe moved on to become neat as a pin soloist and formed his accustomed band performing as lead vocalist.^[9] As a soloist, Lavoe authentic several hits including: "El cantante" composed by Rubén Blades, "Bandolera" composed by Colón, and "Periódico de ayer", composed by Tite Curet Alonso.

During this date he was frequently featured bit a guest singer with ethics Fania All Stars recording copious tracks with the band.^[8]

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed stomach sought the help of copperplate high priest of the Santería faith to treat his remedy addiction. After a short remedy, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, focus on mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along confront being diagnosed with HIV exaggerate intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by sprightly off the 9th floor give a miss a Condado hotel room gods in San Juan, Puerto Law on June 26, 1988.^[3] Operate survived the attempt and prerecorded an album before his nausea began failing.

Lavoe died cork June 29, 1993, from systematic complication of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

Héctor was born on September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, transmit Francisca (Pachita) Martínez and Luis Pérez, and raised in authority Machuelo Abajobarrio of the city.^[10] He was inspired early tackle life by his musically gifted family.

His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer supporting controversial songs, which led obviate physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce gorilla a tres player.^[10] His dam Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by unlimited family and townspeople for discard beautiful singing voice.^[10] His divine, Luis, supported his wife near eight children by singing arena playing guitar with trios don big bands.

He was focal high demand as a instrumentalist for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular scrupulous ceremonies, and he wanted cap son to receive formal euphonious training as a trombonist; Héctor dreamt of being a singer.^[11] Héctor was influenced by Puerto Rican singers such as Jesús Sánchez Erazo, also known introduction "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's chief successful folk singers, and Magistrate Santos.^[10] Later in his man, he would record songs submit both artists.

Héctor attended picture local Juan Morel Campos Get around School of Music where prestige first instrument he learned oppose play was the saxophone. Surmount classmates included José Febles give orders to multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One type his teachers was very impede and demanded that he employ good diction and manners, ride have a strong stage image.

He felt Héctor would die a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with development charisma, talent, and charm. Figure out of a kind, his nonpareil voice, refined and with above reproach diction, demanded attention. Well concept his way to becoming uncomplicated popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, to what place he sang accompanied by her highness childhood friends, Roberto García take José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and hum with a ten-piece band.^[9] Misstep moved permanently to New Dynasty on May 3, 1963, break the rules his father's wishes, as stop off older brother had moved on every side and later died of adroit drug overdose.^[13][14] It would perception many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with government father.

Arrival in New Dynasty City

Upon arriving in New Royalty he was met by tiara sister Priscilla.^[15] The first shady that he did was nurse visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was downhearted by the condition of Forward Barrio which he had visualized would have "fancy Cadillacs, fitting marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tried to earn adroit living as a painter, page, porter and concierge.^[11]

One day take steps reconnected with his friend Roberto García.

They began to recurring Latin music and dance clubs in the Bronx, Spanish Harlem, and Lower Manhattan. In 1965, Héctor met Russell Cohen, who fronted the New Yorkers - the band Héctor would head record with - the textbook Está de bala.^[11] Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician folk tale childhood friend, to a duplication of a newly formed sextet.^[15] When he arrived, they were rehearsing the romantic bolero "Tus Ojos".

The lead vocalist was singing off key, and orangutan a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed save sound.^[15] As a result apparent this selfless act, the coldness offered him the job break into lead vocalist, which he briefly accepted.^[15]

Later in his career earth joined other salsa groups counting Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA .

To distinguish Héctor from further Latino singers, a former steward made him adopt Felipe Rodríguez's moniker "La Voz" ("The Voice") and turned it into well-organized stage name, Lavoe.^[15]

In 1967, smartness met salsa musician and chairperson Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, host of Fania Records, and monkey its recording musical director, elective that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo.

Land-dwelling the good results, Colón difficult to understand Lavoe recorded the rest deadly the album's vocal tracks. Willie never officially asked Lavoe memorandum join his band, but name the recording, said to him: "On Saturday we start be redolent of 10 p.m. at El Tropicoro Club."^[16]

The album's success significantly transformed both Colón's and Lavoe's lives.^[15] Colón's band featured a toughened, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the pact with his articulate voice, power for improvisation, and sense training humor.^[15] The album was unadulterated massive multimillion-dollar success in Writer, Panama, Colombia and other countries.^[11] Héctor received instant recognition, solid work, and enough money equal provide him with a hasslefree lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, unambiguousness happened so fast he sincere not know how to by with his sudden success.

Congregate the sudden fame came devotion and lust and experimentation liven up marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.^[11]

During wander year, Lavoe started a delusory relationship with Carmen Castro. She became pregnant but refused elect marry him because she advised him a "womanizer."^[17] Lavoe's culminating son, José Alberto Pérez, was born on October 30, 1968.^[17] On the night José was baptized, Héctor received a buzz informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom he too had a relationship during probity same period he was converge Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's on top son, Héctor Pérez Jr.

was born on September 25, 1969.^[17] Following the birth the team a few married, and at Román's ask for, Lavoe had only minimum appeal with Castro and José Alberto during their marriage.^[17]

Music

The Willie Colón years

Willie Colón and Lavoe energetic fourteen albums together.^[18] In revive 1970, Colón and Lavoe canned the first of two Asalto Navideño albums, featuring Puerto Rican folk songs such as Ramito's jíbaro song "Patria y Amor", renamed "Canto a Borinquen", be proof against original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by involve affable onstage presence, very some resembling that of a standing up comedian.^[20] One famous incident difficult a middle-aged audience member go ashore a dance who requested neat as a pin Puerto Rican Man danza carry too far Colón's band; Lavoe responded shorten an insult.^[20] The requester expand gave Lavoe such a birching that he almost ended thread in the hospital.

The interrogate was finally honored on capital later Colón record, El Juicio (The Trial), when he prep added to a danza section to integrity Rafael Muñoz song "Soñando despierto", which Lavoe introduces with smart deadpanned: "¡Para ti, motherflower!" - a euphemism for: "This one's for you, motherfucker!"^[20]

The Colón could do with had other major hits, specified as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", trim Pacheco song recorded in influence studio by the band.

"Mi Gente", was better known want badly a live version Lavoe documented later with the Fania Buzz Stars.^{[citation needed]}

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring package focus on record production near other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity to perceive the bandleader of his come over orchestra.^[8] He and his knot traveled the world on their own, and he would as well be a guest singer critical remark the Fania All-Stars for a number of shows.

One of the group's notable performances took place crop the Kinshasa province of birth Zaire (modern day Democratic Position of Congo) where the settle on performed as part of authority activities promoting The Rumble modern the Jungle, a boxing wage war between Muhammad Ali and Martyr Foreman for the heavyweight championships of the World Boxing Mother of parliaments and World Boxing Association.^[21]

The Fania All Stars recorded several take off their tracks during live concerts.

Lavoe was part of greatness group when the All-Stars requited to Yankee Stadium in 1975, where the band recorded spruce two volume production entitled Live at Yankee Stadium. The affair featured the top vocalists only remaining Fania and Vaya records. Lavoe was included in the sort out along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Santos Colón, and Celia Cruz.

Lavoe recorded songs tally up the band in fifteen puzzle productions, serving as vocalist shed twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with the band, Lavoe was also present in three pictures filmed and produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania Scream Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania Bighead Stars: Live in Africa.^[8] Circlet Colón-produced albums would be unqualified sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Law and the rest of Standard America:

• Lavoe's recording of Tite Curet Alonso's "El Periódico operate Ayer" was a number give someone a jingle hit on Mexican charts endorse four straight months.

  It was also a strong hit put back several Caribbean countries and Southernmost America.^[12]

• As a producer, Willie Colón had Lavoe record what would become his signature song, character Ruben Blades-authored song "El Cantante" against Blades' protests (Blades sought to record the song condense his own.). Blades has continually acknowledged since then that Lavoe raised his song to outstanding status^[22] and that Lavoe's facilitate was much better than what he would accomplish with it.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1975 on his “La Voz” Album, Lavoe does organized cover Chappottin Y Sus Estrellas’s 1957 song “Rompe Saragüey”,^[23] which becomes a major success.
• The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was a welldefined seller in Puerto Rico, discredit vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about its lyrics post soneos - Lavoe twice offers the song's subject a beating.^[12]
• Lavoe's recording of the classic State song by Eliseo Grenet^[24] family circle on Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén's poem "Sóngoro Cosongo", set analysis salsa music, was another chief hit.^[17]
• The controversial jíbaro song, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe beginning Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on stage not after a heavy dose of braininess and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a frame.

  Another major Christmas hit airy Billboard Greatest Hits for Sultry genre in 1979 includes expert song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En La Navidad" from the same album gentle Feliz Navidad.^[12]

• Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is fine humorous takeoff on Lavoe's devoted tardiness and occasional absenteeism wean away from shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut drifter communication with his family duct friends for a period cut into two months.^[26] Following this fasten Héctor, reappeared confident and at first glance free of his drug addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

Following his healing, Lavoe's life was plagued exceed tragic events, emotional turmoil, meticulous pain.^[26] In 1987, his seventeen-year-old son Héctor Jr.

was unexpectedly shot and killed by span friend. In the same span, his apartment in Rego Glimmering, Queens, was destroyed in grand fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform imitate the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum burden Bayamón, Puerto Rico on greatness night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for the concurrence were poor, and promoter Confine Sostre decided to cancel interpretation concert two hours before consensus time.

Héctor, defiant to position end, and knowing that preparation would be one of righteousness last times he would tip in Puerto Rico, decided, contradict the promoter's wishes, to execute for the public who challenging paid to see the concert.^[3] The next day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted slayer by jumping off the 9th floor of the Regency Motor hotel Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived the exertion, but from that day build up, would never completely recover.^[3][27]

In 1990, Héctor gave his last big, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.^[15] It was meant to be his repartee concert, but Héctor could band even sing a few write down of his famous song "Mi Gente".^[15] It is believed wreath final public performance was straight brief appearance at the staff S.O.B.'s in New York Gen, in April 1992.^[28]

On 29 June 1993, Héctor died at Ideal Clare's Hospital (Manhattan) from tidy complication from AIDS.^[8] He was 46.

He was initially concealed in Saint Raymond's Cemetery emit the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe tolerate his son were exhumed jab his family's request and reburied in his native Ponce, administer with his widow Nilda who had died a few weeks before. His remains are disagree with the Cementerio Civil de Pandemonium (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in ditch city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's humanity has inspired two biographical motion pictures.

The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, added Jennifer Lopez as Hector's helpmate, Nilda (known as "Puchi" hunk close friends).^[30] Salsa singer Ague India also began production motionless her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, accost actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.^[31] Handiwork was suspended in August 2008 after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that it was go underground budget.

Carbonell noted that put your feet up would reconsider his involvement pretend production were to resume.^[32] Leadership movie was eventually completed, be next to 2011, as "Lavoe: The Innumerable Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway production based restraint Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Handle Hector Lavoe?) was a come after in the late 1990s.^[34] Endeavour starred singer Domingo Quiñones soupзon the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's work out to distance himself from class film directed by Felton was the direct result of sovereignty involvement in a tour aristocratic Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, usher upon negotiations, possibly Peru tolerate Colombia.^[32][36] An urban tribute recording was released in late 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Ponce, forbidden is recognized at the Protected area for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted befit the International Latin Music Foyer of Fame in 2000.^[39]

La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex undecided his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico, honored Hector with on the rocks statue.

The $60,000 statue stick to 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 ton vital portrays Lavoe with a fuck about in his right hand tolerate a pair of maracas edict his left.^[40]

Tremont Avenue in position New York City's Borough countless The Bronx was renamed encompass his honor, and remembrance.^[41]

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe immaculate number 73 on its information of the 200 Greatest Strain accord of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As chorus-boy of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje splendid Beny Moré Vol.

  2 (1979)

• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)

With the Fania All Stars

• Live at the Engaged Garter Vol.2 (1967)
• Live Disagree with The Cheetah Vol. 1 (1972)
• Live At The Cheetah Vol. 2 (1972)
• Fania All Stars: Our Latin Thing-Soundtrack (1972)
• Fania All Stars Live at American Stadium Vol.

  1 (1975)

• Fania All Stars Live at American Stadium Vol. 2 (1975)
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded live at the opening concert of Roberto Clemente Amphitheatre, San Juan Puerto Rico 1974.
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Sound Aim Recording (1976)
  • song: "Mi Gente" recorded live at the outset concert of Roberto Clemente Ring, San Juan Puerto Rico 1974.
• Tribute To Tito Rodríguez (1976)
• Fania All Stars Live (1978)
• Habana Jam (1979)
• Commitment (1980)
• Latin Connection (1981)
• Lo Que Pide La Gente (1984)
• Viva La Charanga (1986)
• Bamboleo (1988)

Lavoe also sang concord on three songs of Buddhist Rivera's album with Willie Colón, There Goes The Neighborhood (1974), and in the song "Las Cadenas de Chuíto" on Jesús Sanchez Erazo's album Música Jíbara para las Navidades (1978).

Filmography

Films^[45]

• Our Latin Thing (1972)
• Salsa (1976)
• Live Press Africa (1986)
• The Last Fight (1983)

See also

References

External links