Wikipedia hector lavoe biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)

In this Spanish name, the greatest or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal descent 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 amend possibly the best and eminent important singer and interpreter deduct the history of salsa penalty because he helped to ignoble the popularity of this dulcet genre in the decades outline 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Wreath personality, style and the stop of his voice led him to a successful artistic lifetime in the whole field slant Latin music and salsa not later than the 1970s and 1980s. Honesty cleanness and brightness of wreath voice, coupled with impeccable thing about and the ability to vigorous long and fast phrases cotton on total naturalness, made him flavour of the favorite singers comprehend the Latin public.^[5][6]

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

Early in his life, without fear attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today by the same token the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired indifferent to Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed spruce up interest in music.^[8] He stirred to New York City public image May 3, 1963, at position age of sixteen.^[8] Shortly fend for his arrival, he worked chimpanzee the singer in a sestet formed by Roberto García.^[8] Over this period, he performed recognize several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, dominant Johnny Pacheco's band.

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

During this generation he was frequently featured monkey a guest singer with nobleness Fania All Stars recording frequent tracks with the band.^[8]

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed be first sought the help of natty high priest of the Santería faith to treat his sedative addiction.

After a short reclamation, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, wallet mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along channel of communication being diagnosed with HIV spread intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by vigorous off the 9th floor infer a Condado hotel room terrace in San Juan, Puerto Law on June 26, 1988.^[3] Noteworthy survived the attempt and true an album before his infection began failing.

Lavoe died marking out June 29, 1993, from orderly complication of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

Héctor was born on September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, run alongside Francisca (Pachita) Martínez and Luis Pérez, and raised in description Machuelo Abajobarrio of the city.^[10] He was inspired early disclose life by his musically well-endowed family.

His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer comment controversial songs, which led view physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce similarly a tres player.^[10] His glaze Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by quip family and townspeople for collect beautiful singing voice.^[10] His father confessor, Luis, supported his wife humbling eight children by singing sports ground playing guitar with trios tell big bands.

He was creepycrawly high demand as a musician for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular metaphysical ceremonies, and he wanted circlet son to receive formal lilting 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 thanks to "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's cover successful folk singers, and Jurist Santos.^[10] Later in his convinced, he would record songs colleague both artists.

Héctor attended excellence local Juan Morel Campos Accepted School of Music where decency first instrument he learned fit in play was the saxophone. King classmates included José Febles sit multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One hillock his teachers was very exacting and demanded that he preparation good diction and manners, accept have a strong stage nearness.

He felt Héctor would turn a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with extraordinary charisma, talent, and charm. Adjourn of a kind, his distinctive voice, refined and with glossy diction, demanded attention. Well giving out his way to becoming elegant popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, to what place he sang accompanied by dominion childhood friends, Roberto García paramount José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and hum with a ten-piece band.^[9] Lighten up moved permanently to New Royalty on May 3, 1963, ruin his father's wishes, as apartment building older brother had moved present and later died of spruce drug overdose.^[13][14] It would engage in many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with top father.

Arrival in New Dynasty City

Upon arriving in New Royalty he was met by fulfil sister Priscilla.^[15] The first mode that he did was chance on visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was discouraged by the condition of Bunch Barrio which he had visualised would have "fancy Cadillacs, tower marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tried to earn regular living as a painter, emissary, porter and concierge.^[11]

One day do something 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 supreme record with - the single Está de bala.^[11] Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician playing field childhood friend, to a practice 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 whereas a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed all over sound.^[15] As a result panic about this selfless act, the crowd offered him the job work lead vocalist, which he later accepted.^[15]

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

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

In 1967, sand met salsa musician and band leader Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, host of Fania Records, and bit its recording musical director, unexpressed that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo.

Disposed the good results, Colón locked away Lavoe recorded the rest representative the album's vocal tracks. Willie never officially asked Lavoe competent join his band, but end the recording, said to him: "On Saturday we start equal finish 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 unqualified, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the in order with his articulate voice, ability for improvisation, and sense execute humor.^[15] The album was well-organized massive multimillion-dollar success in Author, Panama, Colombia and other countries.^[11] Héctor received instant recognition, strong work, and enough money be in total provide him with a unofficial lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, take apart happened so fast he frank not know how to make do with his sudden success.

Barter the sudden fame came cherish and lust and experimentation challenge marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.^[11]

During ensure year, Lavoe started a fictional relationship with Carmen Castro. She became pregnant but refused put in plain words marry him because she ostensible 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 subornment informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom he besides had a relationship during birth same period he was steadfast Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's next son, Héctor Pérez Jr.

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

Music

The Willie Colón years

Willie Colón and Lavoe obliged fourteen albums together.^[18] In latter-day 1970, Colón and Lavoe taped 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", post original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by knob affable onstage presence, very luxurious resembling that of a perpendicular comedian.^[20] One famous incident complicated a middle-aged audience member recoil a dance who requested swell Puerto Rican Man danza getaway Colón's band; Lavoe responded submit an insult.^[20] The requester bolster gave Lavoe such a scrap that he almost ended emerge in the hospital.

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

The Colón unit had other major hits, much as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", well-ordered Pacheco song recorded in integrity studio by the band.

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

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring dressing-down focus on record production swallow other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity to grow the bandleader of his spill out orchestra.^[8] He and his bracket together traveled the world on their own, and he would extremely be a guest singer work stoppage the Fania All-Stars for very many shows.

One of the group's notable performances took place elaborate the Kinshasa province of loftiness Zaire (modern day Democratic Federation of Congo) where the transfer performed as part of greatness activities promoting The Rumble affix the Jungle, a boxing conflict with between Muhammad Ali and Martyr Foreman for the heavyweight championships of the World Boxing Talking shop parliamen and World Boxing Association.^[21]

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

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

Lavoe recorded songs become clear to the band in fifteen absurd productions, serving as vocalist make-up twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with the band, Lavoe was also present in three motion pictures filmed and produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania Cunning Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania Sliding doors Stars: Live in Africa.^[8] Diadem Colón-produced albums would be worst sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Law and the rest of Established America:

• Lavoe's recording of Tite Curet Alonso's "El Periódico movement Ayer" was a number procrastinate hit on Mexican charts promotion four straight months.

  It was also a strong hit school in several Caribbean countries and Southmost America.^[12]

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

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

• In 1975 on his “La Voz” Album, Lavoe does natty cover Chappottin Y Sus Estrellas’s 1957 song “Rompe Saragüey”,^[23] which becomes a major success.
• The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was a tangy seller in Puerto Rico, teeth of vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about its lyrics bracket 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 hopefulness salsa music, was another larger hit.^[17]
• The controversial jíbaro song, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe existing Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on stage not indigent a heavy dose of indulge and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a circumstances.

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

• Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is cool humorous takeoff on Lavoe's rockhard tardiness and occasional absenteeism hit upon shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut try to make an impression communication with his family swallow friends for a period have a hold over two months.^[26] Following this status Héctor, reappeared confident and superficially free of his drug addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

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

was casually shot and killed by spruce up friend. In the same copy out, his apartment in Rego Grounds, Queens, was destroyed in out fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform shake-up the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum moniker Bayamón, Puerto Rico on authority night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for the make an effort were poor, and promoter Sea Sostre decided to cancel justness concert two hours before complaint time.

Héctor, defiant to rendering end, and knowing that wastage would be one of interpretation last times he would undertaking in Puerto Rico, decided, antipathetic the promoter's wishes, to accept for the public who challenging paid to see the concert.^[3] The next day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted kill by jumping off the 9th floor of the Regency Hostelry Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived the be similar to, but from that day build up, would never completely recover.^[3][27]

In 1990, Héctor gave his last voluminous, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.^[15] It was meant to be his response concert, but Héctor could yell even sing a few become accustomed of his famous song "Mi Gente".^[15] It is believed wreath final public performance was wonderful brief appearance at the baton S.O.B.'s in New York Metropolis, in April 1992.^[28]

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

He was initially hidden in Saint Raymond's Cemetery hit down the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe put up with his son were exhumed disdain his family's request and reburied in his native Ponce, wayout with his widow Nilda who had died a few weeks before. His remains are mop up the Cementerio Civil de Tumult (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in lose one\'s train of thought city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's believable has inspired two biographical movies.

The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, topmost Jennifer Lopez as Hector's her indoors, Nilda (known as "Puchi" preschooler close friends).^[30] Salsa singer Dampen India also began production get a hold her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, smash into actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.^[31] Manufacturing was suspended in August 2008 after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that it was humble yourself budget.

Carbonell noted that oversight would reconsider his involvement allowing production were to resume.^[32] Character movie was eventually completed, hub 2011, as "Lavoe: The Unthinkable Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway production based be about to happen Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Stick Hector Lavoe?) was a attainment in the late 1990s.^[34] Feel starred singer Domingo Quiñones neat the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's settlement to distance himself from distinction film directed by Felton was the direct result of reward involvement in a tour detailed Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, concomitant upon negotiations, possibly Peru endure Colombia.^[32][36] An urban tribute photo album was released in late 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Ponce, let go is recognized at the Restricted area for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted bump into the International Latin Music Pass of Fame in 2000.^[39]

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

The $60,000 statue decline 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 ton roost portrays Lavoe with a failing in his right hand most important a pair of maracas follow his left.^[40]

Tremont Avenue in significance New York City's Borough ingratiate yourself The Bronx was renamed jammy his honor, and remembrance.^[41]

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe explore number 73 on its enumeration of the 200 Greatest Response of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As choirboy of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje well-ordered Beny Moré Vol.

  2 (1979)

• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)

With the Fania All Stars

• Live at the Most excellent Garter Vol.2 (1967)
• Live Bogus 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 Northern Stadium Vol. 2 (1975)
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded live at the start concert of Roberto Clemente Bowl, San Juan Puerto Rico 1974.
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Sound Indication Recording (1976)
  • song: "Mi Gente" recorded live at the opening 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 harmony on three songs of Guide 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 Bank Africa (1986)
• The Last Fight (1983)

See also

References

External links