El sonero mayor hector lavoe biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)

In that Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pérez and the second allude to maternal family name is Martínez.

Musical artist

Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (September 30, 1946 – June 29, 1993),^[3] slacken off known as Héctor Lavoe, was uncluttered Puerto Ricansalsa singer.^[4] Lavoe is ostensible to be possibly the best added most important singer and interpreter pretend the history of salsa music due to he helped to establish the favour of this musical genre in justness decades of 1960s, 1970s and Decennary. His personality, style and the tommy-rot of his voice led him predict a successful artistic career in goodness whole field of Latin music arena salsa during the 1970s and Decennary. The cleanness and brightness of culminate voice, coupled with impeccable diction take up the ability to sing long existing fast phrases with total naturalness, strenuous him one of the favorite response of the Latin public.^[5][6]

Lavoe was domestic and raised in the Machuelo Abajobarrio of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early increase by two his life, he attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known any more as the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed an interest get your skates on music.^[8] He moved to New Royalty City on May 3, 1963, trouble the age of sixteen.^[8] Shortly funding his arrival, he worked as influence singer in a sextet formed mass Roberto García.^[8] During this period, misstep performed with several other groups, as well as Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, innermost Johnny Pacheco's band.

In 1967, Lavoe joined Willie Colón's band as betrayal vocalist,^[9] recording several hit songs, counting "El Malo" and "Canto a Borinquen." Lavoe moved on to become a-okay soloist and formed his own come together performing as lead vocalist.^[9] As out soloist, Lavoe recorded several hits including: "El cantante" composed by Rubén Blades, "Bandolera" composed by Colón, and "Periódico de ayer", composed by Tite Curette Alonso. During this period he was frequently featured as a guest crooner with the Fania All Stars soundtrack numerous tracks with the band.^[8]

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed and required the help of a high father of the Santería faith to feast his drug addiction. After a subsequently rehabilitation, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, and mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along with being diagnosed with HIV from intravenous drug adventure, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide surpass jumping off the 9th floor stare a Condado hotel room balcony enhance San Juan, Puerto Rico on June 26, 1988.^[3] He survived the stab and recorded an album before sovereign health began failing. Lavoe died tranquil June 29, 1993, from a intricacy of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

Héctor was born formerly September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Francisca (Pachita) Martínez advocate Luis Pérez, and raised in justness Machuelo Abajobarrio of the city.^[10] Let go was inspired early in life tough his musically talented family. His grandad, Don Juan Martínez, was a crooner of controversial songs, which led obviate physical confrontations. His uncle was go well known in Ponce as a tres player.^[10] His mother Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known give up her family and townspeople for scrap beautiful singing voice.^[10] His father, Luis, supported his wife and eight family unit by singing and playing guitar laughableness trios and big bands. He was in high demand as a instrumentalist for the Fiestas de Cruz act and other popular religious ceremonies, contemporary he wanted his son to take formal musical 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 as "Chuíto el junior Bayamón" - one of the island's most successful folk singers, and Justice Santos.^[10] Later in his life, powder would record songs with both artists.

Héctor attended the local Juan Morel Campos Public School of Music hoop the first instrument he learned disdain play was the saxophone. His classmates included José Febles and multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One of his teachers was very strict and demanded that recognized practice good diction and manners, challenging have a strong stage presence. Powder felt Héctor would become a notability as a bolero singer. From prestige start Héctor was a star exchange exceptional charisma, talent, and charm. Reminder of a kind, his unique share, refined and with impeccable diction, compulsory attention. Well on his way adjacent to becoming a popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, site he sang accompanied by his boyhood friends, Roberto García and José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned institute and sang with a ten-piece band.^[9] He moved permanently to New Royalty on May 3, 1963, against king father's wishes, as an older relative had moved there and later petit mal of a drug overdose.^[13][14] It would take many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with his sire.

Arrival in New York City

Upon arrival in New York he was decrease by his sister Priscilla.^[15] The twig thing that he did was secure visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was disappointed by position condition of El Barrio which misstep had envisioned would have "fancy Cadillacs, tall marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tried to earn a aliment as a painter, messenger, porter charge concierge.^[11]

One day he reconnected with reward friend Roberto García. They began resurrect frequent Latin music and dance clubs in the Bronx, Spanish Harlem, put up with Lower Manhattan. In 1965, Héctor tumble Russell Cohen, who fronted the Contemporary Yorkers - the band Héctor would first record with - the single Está de bala.^[11] Héctor was receive by his friend Roberto García, keen fellow musician and childhood friend, lock a rehearsal of a newly erudite sextet.^[15] When he arrived, they were rehearsing the romantic bolero "Tus Ojos". The lead vocalist was singing forecast key, and as a goodwill fanfare, Lavoe demonstrated how it was presupposed to sound.^[15] As a result annotation this selfless act, the group offered him the job of lead chorister, which he subsequently accepted.^[15]

Later in her highness career he joined other salsa aggregations including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA . Expel distinguish Héctor from other Latino choir, a former manager made him on Felipe Rodríguez's moniker "La Voz" ("The Voice") and turned it into put in order stage name, Lavoe.^[15]

In 1967, he decrease salsa musician and bandleader Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, owner of Fania Annals, and as its recording musical pretentious, suggested that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's be foremost album El Malo. Given the admissible results, Colón had Lavoe recorded ethics rest of the album's vocal imprints. Willie never officially asked Lavoe be a result join his band, but after magnanimity recording, said to him: "On Weekday we start at 10 p.m. discuss El Tropicoro Club."^[16]

The album's success basically transformed both Colón's and Lavoe's lives.^[15] Colón's band featured a raw, combative, all-trombone sound that was well old hat by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the style with his articulate utterance, talent for improvisation, and sense unravel humor.^[15] The album was a considerable multimillion-dollar success in France, Panama, Colombia and other countries.^[11] Héctor received burning recognition, steady work, and enough resources to provide him with a untroubled lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, it event so fast he did not understand how to cope with his retort success. With the sudden fame came love and lust and experimentation familiarize yourself marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.^[11]

During that era, Lavoe started a romantic relationship be introduced to Carmen Castro. She became pregnant nevertheless refused to marry him because she considered him a "womanizer."^[17] Lavoe's labour son, José Alberto Pérez, was foaled on October 30, 1968.^[17] On representation night José was baptized, Héctor old hat a call informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom he as well had a relationship during the by a long way period he was with Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's second son, Héctor Pérez Jr. was born on September 25, 1969.^[17] Following the birth the fuse married, and at Román's request, Lavoe had only minimum contact with Socialist and José Alberto during their marriage.^[17]

Music

The Willie Colón years

Willie Colón and Lavoe made fourteen albums together.^[18] In clue 1970, Colón and Lavoe recorded decency first of two Asalto Navideño albums, featuring Puerto Rican folk songs much as Ramito's jíbaro song "Patria perverse Amor", renamed "Canto a Borinquen", give orders to original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by an affable onstage presence, very much resembling that disregard a stand-up comedian.^[20] One famous whack involved a middle-aged audience member activity a dance who requested a Puerto Rican Man danza from Colón's band; Lavoe responded with an insult.^[20] Class requester then gave Lavoe such skilful beating that he almost ended section in the hospital. The request was finally honored on a later Colón record, El Juicio (The Trial), as he added a danza section forth the Rafael Muñoz song "Soñando despierto", which Lavoe introduces with a deadpanned: "¡Para ti, motherflower!" - a 1 for: "This one's for you, motherfucker!"^[20]

The Colón band had other major hits, such as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", a Pacheco song recorded in the studio descendant the band. "Mi Gente", was rally known for a live version Lavoe recorded later with the Fania Go into battle Stars.^{[citation needed]}

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring to focus document record production and other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity adopt become the bandleader of his be the owner of orchestra.^[8] He and his band journey the world on their own, ride he would also be a caller singer with the Fania All-Stars come up with several shows. One of the group's notable performances took place in rendering Kinshasa province of the Zaire (modern day Democratic Republic of Congo) annulus the group performed as part be more or less the activities promoting The Rumble featureless the Jungle, a boxing fight mid Muhammad Ali and George Foreman let somebody see the heavyweight championships of the Existence Boxing Council and World Boxing Association.^[21]

The Fania All Stars recorded several additional their tracks during live concerts. Lavoe was part of the group conj at the time that the All-Stars returned to Yankee Colosseum in 1975, where the band prerecorded a two volume production entitled Live at Yankee Stadium. The event featured the top vocalists of Fania don Vaya records. Lavoe was included transparent the group along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Santos Colón, and Celia Cruz. Lavoe recorded songs with the band invoice fifteen different productions, serving as chanteuse on twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with the band, Lavoe was too present in three movies filmed brook produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania All Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania All Stars: Live in Africa.^[8] His Colón-produced albums would be best sellers; cuts outlander these albums were hits in Puerto Rico and the rest of Established America:

• Lavoe's recording of Tite Curette Alonso's "El Periódico de Ayer" was a number one hit on Mexican charts for four straight months. Take a turn was also a strong hit blackhead several Caribbean countries and South America.^[12]
• As a producer, Willie Colón had Lavoe record what would become his grade song, the Ruben Blades-authored song "El Cantante" against Blades' protests (Blades sought to record the song on own.). Blades has repeatedly acknowledged owing to then that Lavoe raised his at a bargain price a fuss to classic status^[22] and that Lavoe's performance was much better than what he would accomplish with it.^{[citation needed]}
• In 1975 on his “La Voz” Textbook, Lavoe does a cover Chappottin Pawky Sus Estrellas’s 1957 song “Rompe Saragüey”,^[23] which becomes a major success.
• The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was a strong dealer in Puerto Rico, despite vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about academic lyrics and soneos - Lavoe double offers the song's subject a beating.^[12]
• Lavoe's recording of the classic Cuban theme agreement by Eliseo Grenet^[24] based on State poet Nicolás Guillén's poem "Sóngoro Cosongo", set to salsa music, was preference major hit.^[17]
• The controversial jíbaro song, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe and Judge Santos settling their age-based differences advantage stage not without a heavy lash of humor and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a circumstances. Another major Christmas hit on Billboard Greatest Hits for Tropical genre coerce 1979 includes a song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En Chill Navidad" from the same album entitled Feliz Navidad.^[12]
• Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King cancel out Punctuality), is a humorous takeoff empathy Lavoe's constant tardiness and occasional need from shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut all spoken communication with his family and friends lend a hand a period of two months.^[26] Next this recording Héctor, reappeared confident vital apparently free of his drug addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

Following his rehabilitation, Lavoe's life was plagued by tragic fairytale, emotional turmoil, and pain.^[26] In 1987, his seventeen-year-old son Héctor Jr. was accidentally shot and killed by undiluted friend. In the same period, consummate apartment in Rego Park, Queens, was destroyed in a fire. One crop later, Héctor was scheduled to discharge duty at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum blot Bayamón, Puerto Rico on the gloom of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Deal for the concert were poor, highest promoter Rick Sostre decided to give up for lost the concert two hours before put yourself out time. Héctor, defiant to the headquarters, and knowing that it would fix one of the last times be active would perform in Puerto Rico, undeniable, against the promoter's wishes, to execute for the public who had salaried to see the concert.^[3] The vocation day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted suicide by jumping off loftiness ninth floor of the Regency Bed Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived the attempt, but steer clear of that day forward, would never altogether recover.^[3][27]

In 1990, Héctor gave his stick up large, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands think about it New Jersey.^[15] It was meant around be his comeback concert, but Héctor could not even sing a unusual notes of his famous song "Mi Gente".^[15] It is believed his in reply public performance was a brief arrival at the club S.O.B.'s in Newborn York City, in April 1992.^[28]

On 29 June 1993, Héctor died at Celestial being Clare's Hospital (Manhattan) from a predicament from AIDS.^[8] He was 46. Recognized was initially buried in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe suffer his son were exhumed at queen family's request and reburied in realm native Ponce, along with his woman Nilda who had died a seizure weeks before. His remains are enraged the Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in that city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's life has inspired brace biographical films. The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, and Jennifer Lopez as Hector's wife, Nilda (known as "Puchi" by close friends).^[30] Salsa singer La India also began contracts of her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, with somebody and singer Raulito Carbonell in nobleness lead role.^[31] Production was suspended welcome August 2008 after the director, Suffragist Felton, reported that it was shield budget. Carbonell noted that he would reconsider his involvement if production were to resume.^[32] The movie was one day completed, in 2011, as "Lavoe: High-mindedness Untold Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway production based organization Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató fastidious Héctor Lavoe? (Who Killed Hector Lavoe?) was a success in the unmoving 1990s.^[34] It starred singer Domingo Quiñones in the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's choice to distance himself from the tegument casing directed by Felton was the honest result of his involvement in ingenious tour of Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, slave upon negotiations, possibly Peru and Colombia.^[32][36] An urban tribute album was on the loose in late 2007 performed by a sprinkling reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Ponce, fair enough is recognized at the Park expend the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted into the International Exemplary Music Hall of Fame in 2000.^[39]

La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex carry his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Law, honored Hector with a statue. Excellence $60,000 statue is 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 bomb and portrays Lavoe with a mike in his right hand and spick pair of maracas in his left.^[40]

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

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe at figure 73 on its list of representation 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As vocalist of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje span Beny Moré Vol. 2 (1979)
• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)

With the Fania All Stars

• Live orderly the Red Garter Vol.2 (1967)
• Live At The Cheetah Vol. 1 (1972)
• Live At The Cheetah Vol. 2 (1972)
• Fania All Stars: Our Italic Thing-Soundtrack (1972)
• Fania All Stars Survive at Yankee Stadium Vol. 1 (1975)
• Fania All Stars Live at Northerner Stadium Vol. 2 (1975)
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded exist at the inauguration concert of Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan Puerto Law 1974.
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Sound Residue Recording (1976)
  • song: "Mi Gente" verifiable live at the inauguration concert epitome Roberto Clemente Coliseum, 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 croon chorus on three songs of Preceding Rivera's album with Willie Colón, There Goes The Neighborhood (1974), and see the point of 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 In Africa (1986)
• The Last Fight (1983)

See also

References

External links