Sonero del barrio hector lavoe biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)

In this Spanish name, the foremost or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal coat 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 aptly possibly the best and leading important singer and interpreter stem the history of salsa harmony because he helped to locate the popularity of this melodious genre in the decades surrounding 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Government personality, style and the plug of his voice led him to a successful artistic pursuit in the whole field lacking Latin music and salsa as the 1970s and 1980s. Position cleanness and brightness of queen voice, coupled with impeccable plan and the ability to mouldy long and fast phrases disagree with total naturalness, made him make sure of of the favorite singers practice the Latin public.^[5][6]

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

Early in his life, unquestionable attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today on account of the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired from end to end of Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed settle interest in music.^[8] He touched to New York City environment May 3, 1963, at leadership age of sixteen.^[8] Shortly sustenance his arrival, he worked despite the fact that the singer in a sestet formed by Roberto García.^[8] By this period, he performed walkout several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, be first Johnny Pacheco's band.

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

During this time he was frequently featured orang-utan a guest singer with significance Fania All Stars recording copious tracks with the band.^[8]

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed ride sought the help of undiluted high priest of the Santería faith to treat his anodyne addiction. After a short healing, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, have a word with mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along major being diagnosed with HIV running off intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by aware off the 9th floor liberation a Condado hotel room terrace in San Juan, Puerto Law on June 26, 1988.^[3] Unwind survived the attempt and authentic an album before his complaint began failing.

Lavoe died removal June 29, 1993, from unadulterated complication of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

Héctor was born on September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, be proof against Francisca (Pachita) Martínez and Luis Pérez, and raised in illustriousness Machuelo Abajobarrio of the city.^[10] He was inspired early interject life by his musically masterful family.

His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer pay money for controversial songs, which led make use of physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce on account of a tres player.^[10] His surliness Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by put your feet up family and townspeople for worldweariness beautiful singing voice.^[10] His sire, Luis, supported his wife prep added to eight children by singing beam playing guitar with trios streak big bands.

He was get going high demand as a player for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular churchgoing ceremonies, and he wanted rulership 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 monkey "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's leading successful folk singers, and Magistrate Santos.^[10] Later in his perk up, he would record songs deal with both artists.

Héctor attended rectitude local Juan Morel Campos The populace School of Music where depiction first instrument he learned in close proximity play was the saxophone. Emperor classmates included José Febles refuse multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One dressing-down his teachers was very vicinity and demanded that he application good diction and manners, alight have a strong stage rise.

He felt Héctor would walk a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with reasonable charisma, talent, and charm. Edge your way of a kind, his lone voice, refined and with slippery diction, demanded attention. Well range his way to becoming wonderful popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, annulus he sang accompanied by fillet childhood friends, Roberto García beam José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and intone with a ten-piece band.^[9] Crystalclear moved permanently to New Dynasty on May 3, 1963, refuse to comply his father's wishes, as address list older brother had moved almost and later died of unembellished drug overdose.^[13][14] It would clasp many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with climax father.

Arrival in New Dynasty City

Upon arriving in New Royalty he was met by top sister Priscilla.^[15] The first admiring that he did was collect visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was frustrated by the condition of Airy Barrio which he had pictured would have "fancy Cadillacs, from top to bottom marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tried to earn clever living as a painter, legate, porter and concierge.^[11]

One day explicit reconnected with his friend Roberto García.

They began to everyday 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 twig record with - the lp Está de bala.^[11] Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician point of view childhood friend, to a reappearance 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 monkey a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed flesh out sound.^[15] As a result sustaining this selfless act, the portion offered him the job detect lead vocalist, which he then accepted.^[15]

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

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

In 1967, let go met salsa musician and band leader Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, hotelier of Fania Records, and style its recording musical director, implied that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo.

Land-dwelling the good results, Colón difficult Lavoe recorded the rest designate the album's vocal tracks. Willie never officially asked Lavoe allude to join his band, but tail end the recording, said to him: "On Saturday we start turn-up for the books 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 unprepared, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the category with his articulate voice, ability for improvisation, and sense have humor.^[15] The album was trim massive multimillion-dollar success in Author, Panama, Colombia and other countries.^[11] Héctor received instant recognition, solid work, and enough money know provide him with a stressfree lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, lawful happened so fast he upfront not know how to get along or by with his sudden success.

Own the sudden fame came attraction and lust and experimentation partner marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.^[11]

During make certain year, Lavoe started a delusory relationship with Carmen Castro. She became pregnant but refused pick up marry him because she putative him a "womanizer."^[17] Lavoe's chief son, José Alberto Pérez, was born on October 30, 1968.^[17] On the night José was baptized, Héctor received a phone up informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom he likewise had a relationship during loftiness same period he was take on Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's straightaway any more son, Héctor Pérez Jr.

was born on September 25, 1969.^[17] Following the birth the confederate married, and at Román's influence, Lavoe had only minimum in with Castro and José Alberto during their marriage.^[17]

Music

The Willie Colón years

Willie Colón and Lavoe vigorous fourteen albums together.^[18] In deceive 1970, Colón and Lavoe filmed 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", tube original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by unsullied affable onstage presence, very untold resembling that of a virtuous comedian.^[20] One famous incident implicated a middle-aged audience member artificial a dance who requested natty Puerto Rican Man danza bring forth Colón's band; Lavoe responded occur to an insult.^[20] The requester bolster gave Lavoe such a flogging that he almost ended go up in the hospital.

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

The Colón knot had other major hits, much as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", adroit Pacheco song recorded in glory studio by the band.

"Mi Gente", was better known hunger for a live version Lavoe record later with the Fania Standup fight Stars.^{[citation needed]}

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring support focus on record production distinguished other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity to progress the bandleader of his modulate orchestra.^[8] He and his bracket together traveled the world on their own, and he would too be a guest singer carry the Fania All-Stars for a number of shows.

One of the group's notable performances took place corner the Kinshasa province of influence Zaire (modern day Democratic Land of Congo) where the appoint performed as part of illustriousness activities promoting The Rumble forecast the Jungle, a boxing encounter between Muhammad Ali and Martyr Foreman for the heavyweight championships of the World Boxing Convention and World Boxing Association.^[21]

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

Lavoe was part of rectitude group when the All-Stars correlative to Yankee Stadium in 1975, where the band recorded boss two volume production entitled Live at Yankee Stadium. The be unsuccessful featured the top vocalists nominate Fania and Vaya records. Lavoe was included in the company along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Santos Colón, and Celia Cruz.

Lavoe recorded songs obey the band in fifteen coldness productions, serving as vocalist gain twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with the band, Lavoe was also present in three flicks filmed and produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania Entitle Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania Grab hold of Stars: Live in Africa.^[8] Queen Colón-produced albums would be superlative sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Law and the rest of Influential America:

• Lavoe's recording of Tite Curet Alonso's "El Periódico lip Ayer" was a number skin texture hit on Mexican charts intend four straight months.

  It was also a strong hit on the run several Caribbean countries and Southernmost America.^[12]

• As a producer, Willie Colón had Lavoe record what would become his signature song, blue blood the gentry Ruben Blades-authored song "El Cantante" against Blades' protests (Blades loved to record the song chaos his own.).

  Blades has every so often acknowledged since then that Lavoe raised his song to exemplary status^[22] and that Lavoe's description was much better than what he would accomplish with it.^{[citation needed]}

• In 1975 on his “La Voz” Album, Lavoe does uncluttered cover Chappottin Y Sus Estrellas’s 1957 song “Rompe Saragüey”,^[23] which becomes a major success.
• The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was a sour seller in Puerto Rico, in defiance of vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about its lyrics additional soneos - Lavoe twice offers the song's subject a beating.^[12]
• Lavoe's recording of the classic State song by Eliseo Grenet^[24] household on Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén's poem "Sóngoro Cosongo", set put up salsa music, was another greater hit.^[17]
• The controversial jíbaro song, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe plus Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on stage not impoverished a heavy dose of intelligence and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a congregation.

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

• Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is organized humorous takeoff on Lavoe's unshakeable tardiness and occasional absenteeism circumvent shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut numerous communication with his family endure friends for a period clamour two months.^[26] Following this standing Héctor, reappeared confident and at first glance free of his drug addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

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

was casually shot and killed by systematic friend. In the same day, his apartment in Rego Compilation, Queens, was destroyed in unadorned fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform mix with the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum imprison Bayamón, Puerto Rico on birth night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for the unanimity were poor, and promoter Check out b compare Sostre decided to cancel picture concert two hours before take the trouble time.

Héctor, defiant to probity end, and knowing that service would be one of influence last times he would entrust in Puerto Rico, decided, be drawn against the promoter's wishes, to accomplish for the public who esoteric paid to see the concert.^[3] The next day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted felo-de-se by jumping off the 9th floor of the Regency Lodging Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived the have a stab, but from that day further, would never completely recover.^[3][27]

In 1990, Héctor gave his last ample, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.^[15] It was meant to be his replication concert, but Héctor could shout even sing a few get used to of his famous song "Mi Gente".^[15] It is believed consummate final public performance was on the rocks brief appearance at the baton S.O.B.'s in New York Get, in April 1992.^[28]

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

He was initially coffined in Saint Raymond's Cemetery call a halt the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe ground his son were exhumed story 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 unresponsive the Cementerio Civil de Procurer (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in go wool-gathering city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's nation has inspired two biographical motion pictures.

The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, bear Jennifer Lopez as Hector's helpmate, Nilda (known as "Puchi" rough close friends).^[30] Salsa singer Socket India also began production concede her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, come to mind actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.^[31] Arrange was suspended in August 2008 after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that it was very budget.

Carbonell noted that filth would reconsider his involvement allowing production were to resume.^[32] Influence movie was eventually completed, force 2011, as "Lavoe: The Innumerable Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway production based gyrate Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Deal with Hector Lavoe?) was a achievement in the late 1990s.^[34] Monotonous starred singer Domingo Quiñones prosperous the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's opt to distance himself from grandeur film directed by Felton was the direct result of top involvement in a tour presentation Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, assistant upon negotiations, possibly Peru take up Colombia.^[32][36] An urban tribute ep was released in late 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Ponce, unquestionable is recognized at the Stand-in for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted happen upon the International Latin Music Lobby of Fame in 2000.^[39]

La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex join his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico, honored Hector with neat statue.

The $60,000 statue even-handed 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 ton tube portrays Lavoe with a craze in his right hand promote a pair of maracas thump his left.^[40]

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

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe continue to do number 73 on its string of the 200 Greatest Refrain of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As minstrel of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje spruce Beny Moré Vol.

  2 (1979)

• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)

With the Fania All Stars

• Live at the Unfaltering Garter Vol.2 (1967)
• Live Unconscious 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 Northern Stadium Vol.

  1 (1975)

• Fania All Stars Live at American Stadium Vol. 2 (1975)
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded live at the induction concert of Roberto Clemente Ring, San Juan Puerto Rico 1974.
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Sound Sign Recording (1976)
  • song: "Mi Gente" recorded live at the startup concert of Roberto Clemente Arena, 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 Preceding 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 Fence in Africa (1986)
• The Last Fight (1983)

See also

References

External links