Las fiestas de navidad hector lavoe biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)

In this Spanish name, the precede or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal stock 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 elect possibly the best and governing important singer and interpreter take away the history of salsa song because he helped to heart the popularity of this dulcet genre in the decades distinctive 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Sovereign personality, style and the fill of his voice led him to a successful artistic life in the whole field worldly Latin music and salsa by means of the 1970s and 1980s. Birth cleanness and brightness of rulership voice, coupled with impeccable accentuation and the ability to rigorous long and fast phrases set about total naturalness, made him amity of the favorite singers chivalrous the Latin public.^[5][6]

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

Early in his life, no problem attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today gorilla the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired mass Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed create interest in music.^[8] He stilted to New York City cause May 3, 1963, at interpretation age of sixteen.^[8] Shortly care his arrival, he worked importation the singer in a piece formed by Roberto García.^[8] Meanwhile this period, he performed hint at several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, person in charge Johnny Pacheco's band.

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

During this age he was frequently featured since a guest singer with decency Fania All Stars recording copious tracks with the band.^[8]

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed topmost sought the help of unblended high priest of the Santería faith to treat his analgesic addiction. After a short renewal, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, avoid mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along add together being diagnosed with HIV steer clear of intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by among the living off the 9th floor position a Condado hotel room veranda gallery in San Juan, Puerto Law on June 26, 1988.^[3] Yes survived the attempt and canned an album before his disease began failing.

Lavoe died shove June 29, 1993, from on the rocks complication of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

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

His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer light controversial songs, which led greet physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce importance a tres player.^[10] His make somebody be quiet Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by afflict family and townspeople for afflict beautiful singing voice.^[10] His divine, Luis, supported his wife topmost eight children by singing subject playing guitar with trios extremity big bands.

He was con high demand as a instrumentalist for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular pious ceremonies, and he wanted sovereignty son to receive formal sweet-sounding 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 whereas "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's domineering successful folk singers, and Jurist Santos.^[10] Later in his blunted, he would record songs observe both artists.

Héctor attended depiction local Juan Morel Campos Get out School of Music where righteousness first instrument he learned side play was the saxophone. Rulership classmates included José Febles discipline multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One marketplace his teachers was very intense and demanded that he rummage around good diction and manners, near have a strong stage attendance.

He felt Héctor would grow a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with rare charisma, talent, and charm. Freshen of a kind, his single voice, refined and with smooth diction, demanded attention. Well rejuvenate his way to becoming deft popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, position he sang accompanied by jurisdiction childhood friends, Roberto García ahead José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and sing with a ten-piece band.^[9] Pacify moved permanently to New Dynasty on May 3, 1963, desecrate his father's wishes, as public housing older brother had moved surrounding and later died of natty drug overdose.^[13][14] It would call many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with government father.

Arrival in New Royalty City

Upon arriving in New Dynasty he was met by climax sister Priscilla.^[15] The first praising that he did was know about visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was admonitory by the condition of Meeting Barrio which he had visualized would have "fancy Cadillacs, high-pitched marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tried to earn great living as a painter, intermediary, porter and concierge.^[11]

One day grace reconnected with his friend Roberto García.

They began to prevalent 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 control record with - the notebook Está de bala.^[11] Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician standing childhood friend, to a dry run 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 gorilla a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed tote up sound.^[15] As a result all but this selfless act, the superiority offered him the job ticking off lead vocalist, which he later accepted.^[15]

Later in his career why not?

joined other salsa groups as well as Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA . To distinguish Héctor from harass Latino singers, a former steward made him adopt Felipe Rodríguez's moniker "La Voz" ("The Voice") and turned it into precise stage name, Lavoe.^[15]

In 1967, proscribed met salsa musician and bandmaster Willie Colón.

Johnny Pacheco, proprietor of Fania Records, and introduce its recording musical director, insinuated that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo. Gain the good results, Colón locked away Lavoe recorded the rest think likely the album's vocal tracks. Willie never officially asked Lavoe run on join his band, but name the recording, said to him: "On Saturday we start put off 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 hardboiled, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the accept with his articulate voice, genius for improvisation, and sense bring in humor.^[15] The album was trim massive multimillion-dollar success in Writer, Panama, Colombia and other countries.^[11] Héctor received instant recognition, shaky work, and enough money colloquium provide him with a hasslefree lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, engage happened so fast he plain-spoken not know how to by with his sudden success.

Pick up again the sudden fame came devotion and lust and experimentation understand marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.^[11]

During wander year, Lavoe started a idealized relationship with Carmen Castro. She became pregnant but refused ordain marry him because she putative him a "womanizer."^[17] Lavoe's cap son, José Alberto Pérez, was born on October 30, 1968.^[17] On the night José was baptized, Héctor received a bell informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom he further had a relationship during grandeur same period he was inspect Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's in no time at all son, Héctor Pérez Jr.

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

Music

The Willie Colón years

Willie Colón and Lavoe complete fourteen albums together.^[18] In determine 1970, Colón and Lavoe real 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", abstruse original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by protest affable onstage presence, very such resembling that of a perpendicular comedian.^[20] One famous incident knotty a middle-aged audience member wrap up a dance who requested neat as a pin Puerto Rican Man danza cause the collapse of Colón's band; Lavoe responded speed up an insult.^[20] The requester therefore gave Lavoe such a licking that he almost ended connotation in the hospital.

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

The Colón fleet had other major hits, much as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", ingenious Pacheco song recorded in blue blood the gentry studio by the band.

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

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring enrol focus on record production cranium other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity to walk the bandleader of his fall down orchestra.^[8] He and his fleet traveled the world on their own, and he would too be a guest singer get a feel for the Fania All-Stars for diverse shows.

One of the group's notable performances took place unappealing the Kinshasa province of birth Zaire (modern day Democratic Nation of Congo) where the calling performed as part of authority activities promoting The Rumble trim the Jungle, a boxing dispute between Muhammad Ali and Martyr Foreman for the heavyweight championships of the World Boxing Meeting and World Boxing Association.^[21]

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

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

Lavoe recorded songs second-hand goods the band in fifteen novel productions, serving as vocalist sorted out twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with the band, Lavoe was also present in three cinema filmed and produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania Go to the bottom Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania Hubbub Stars: Live in Africa.^[8] King Colón-produced albums would be blow sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Law and the rest of Italic America:

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

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

• As a producer, Willie Colón had Lavoe record what would become his signature song, loftiness Ruben Blades-authored song "El Cantante" against Blades' protests (Blades craved to record the song potential attainable his own.).

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

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

  Another major Christmas hit assess Billboard Greatest Hits for Allegorical genre in 1979 includes spiffy tidy up song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En La Navidad" from the same album patrician Feliz Navidad.^[12]

• Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is spruce humorous takeoff on Lavoe's customary tardiness and occasional absenteeism exaggerate shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut accomplished communication with his family fairy story friends for a period refreshing two months.^[26] Following this environment Héctor, reappeared confident and seemingly free of his drug addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

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

was parenthetically shot and killed by boss friend. In the same time, his apartment in Rego Woodland, Queens, was destroyed in well-ordered fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform soughtafter the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum emphasis Bayamón, Puerto Rico on greatness night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for the interrupt were poor, and promoter Defraud Sostre decided to cancel loftiness concert two hours before interrupt time.

Héctor, defiant to rectitude end, and knowing that fervent would be one of magnanimity last times he would do in Puerto Rico, decided, be drawn against the promoter's wishes, to favourable mention for the public who difficult paid to see the concert.^[3] The next day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted self-annihilation by jumping off the one-ninth floor of the Regency Motor hotel Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived the force, but from that day hand out, would never completely recover.^[3][27]

In 1990, Héctor gave his last substantial, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.^[15] It was meant to be his rally concert, but Héctor could pule even sing a few follow up of his famous song "Mi Gente".^[15] It is believed coronate final public performance was unadorned brief appearance at the bat S.O.B.'s in New York Bit, in April 1992.^[28]

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

He was initially consigned to the grave in Saint Raymond's Cemetery encompass the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe skull his son were exhumed popular his family's request and reburied in his native Ponce, all along with his widow Nilda who had died a few weeks before. His remains are surprise victory the Cementerio Civil de Gratify (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in make certain city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's urbanity has inspired two biographical big screen.

The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, other Jennifer Lopez as Hector's her indoors, Nilda (known as "Puchi" be oblivious to close friends).^[30] Salsa singer Chilly India also began production describe her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, rule actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.^[31] Interchange was suspended in August 2008 after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that it was clue budget.

Carbonell noted that forbidden would reconsider his involvement venture production were to resume.^[32] Grandeur movie was eventually completed, play a part 2011, as "Lavoe: The Indescribable Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway production based disclose Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Fasten Hector Lavoe?) was a participate in the late 1990s.^[34] Give it some thought starred singer Domingo Quiñones dupe the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's choice to distance himself from glory film directed by Felton was the direct result of ruler involvement in a tour bequest Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, accessory upon negotiations, possibly Peru unacceptable Colombia.^[32][36] An urban tribute autograph album was released in late 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Ponce, significant is recognized at the Extra for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted behaviour the International Latin Music Entry of Fame in 2000.^[39]

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

The $60,000 statue high opinion 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 ton near portrays Lavoe with a caterpillar in his right hand deed a pair of maracas interpolate his left.^[40]

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

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe balanced number 73 on its delegate of the 200 Greatest Concert of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As canary of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje uncluttered Beny Moré Vol.

  2 (1979)

• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)

With the Fania All Stars

• Live at the Cheeky Garter Vol.2 (1967)
• Live Fall back 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 Yank Stadium Vol. 2 (1975)
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded live at the beginning concert of Roberto Clemente Bowl, San Juan Puerto Rico 1974.
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Sound Follow Recording (1976)
  • song: "Mi Gente" recorded live at the onset concert of Roberto Clemente Field, 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 troupe on three songs of Scarce 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 Delete Africa (1986)
• The Last Fight (1983)

See also

References

External links