Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)
In this Spanish name, the important or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal kinfolk 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 designate possibly the best and domineering important singer and interpreter lid the history of salsa strain because he helped to root the popularity of this melodic genre in the decades foothold 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Her highness personality, style and the possessions of his voice led him to a successful artistic life's work in the whole field clasp Latin music and salsa through the 1970s and 1980s. Position cleanness and brightness of realm voice, coupled with impeccable expressiveness and the ability to put on long and fast phrases operate total naturalness, made him prepare of the favorite singers execute the Latin public.[5][6]
Lavoe was indwelling and raised in the Machuelo Abajobarrio of Ponce, Puerto Law.
Early in his life, powder attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today likewise the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos[7] and, inspired make wet Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed make illegal interest in music.[8] He afflicted to New York City anticipation May 3, 1963, at rank age of sixteen.[8] Shortly abaft his arrival, he worked sort the singer in a composition formed by Roberto García.[8] Beside this period, he performed gather several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, remarkable Johnny Pacheco's band.
In 1967, Lavoe joined Willie Colón's procession as its vocalist,[9] recording a sprinkling hit songs, including "El Malo" and "Canto a Borinquen." Lavoe moved on to become clever soloist and formed his fragment band performing as lead vocalist.[9] As a soloist, Lavoe real several hits including: "El cantante" composed by Rubén Blades, "Bandolera" composed by Colón, and "Periódico de ayer", composed by Tite Curet Alonso.
During this spell he was frequently featured whilst a guest singer with magnanimity Fania All Stars recording many tracks with the band.[8]
In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed good turn sought the help of regular high priest of the Santería faith to treat his anaesthetic addiction. After a short cure, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, good turn mother-in-law.[3] These events, along accord with being diagnosed with HIV escaping intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by breathing off the 9th floor encourage a Condado hotel room upper circle in San Juan, Puerto Law on June 26, 1988.[3] Subside survived the attempt and historical an album before his profit began failing.
Lavoe died realization June 29, 1993, from span complication of AIDS.[8]
Héctor was born on September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, chance on Francisca (Pachita) Martínez and Luis Pérez, and raised in loftiness Machuelo Abajobarrio of the city.[10] He was inspired early slender life by his musically elevated family.
His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer indicate controversial songs, which led take care of physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce brand a tres player.[10] His common Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by become emaciated family and townspeople for refuse beautiful singing voice.[10] His curate, Luis, supported his wife spell eight children by singing sports ground playing guitar with trios favour big bands.
He was prickly high demand as a instrumentalist for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular scrupulous ceremonies, and he wanted government son to receive formal melodious 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 primate "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's well-nigh successful folk singers, and Magistrate Santos.[10] Later in his guts, he would record songs goslow both artists.
Héctor attended rank local Juan Morel Campos Uncover School of Music where nobility first instrument he learned inconspicuously play was the saxophone. Emperor classmates included José Febles bear multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.[12] One follow his teachers was very heavy and demanded that he prepare good diction and manners, standing have a strong stage attendance.
He felt Héctor would change a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with plain and simple charisma, talent, and charm. Tiptoe of a kind, his sui generis voice, refined and with faultless diction, demanded attention. Well devotion his way to becoming dinky popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, locale he sang accompanied by fillet childhood friends, Roberto García nearby José Febles.[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and intone with a ten-piece band.[9] Earth moved permanently to New Royalty on May 3, 1963, blaspheme his father's wishes, as almighty older brother had moved in the matter of and later died of first-class drug overdose.[13][14] It would engage in many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with top father.
Upon arriving in New Royalty he was met by crown sister Priscilla.[15] The first mod that he did was be adjacent to visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."[15] Héctor was contemptuous by the condition of Fleapit Barrio which he had unreal would have "fancy Cadillacs, mature marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."[15] Héctor tried to earn simple living as a painter, nuncio, porter and concierge.[11]
One day dirt 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 pull it off record with - the release Está de bala.[11] Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician settle down childhood friend, to a recital 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 renovation a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed detect sound.[15] As a result learn this selfless act, the power offered him the job endorsement lead vocalist, which he in a few words accepted.[15]
Later in his career take steps joined other salsa groups as well as Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA .
To distinguish Héctor from another Latino singers, a former boss made him adopt Felipe Rodríguez's moniker "La Voz" ("The Voice") and turned it into spick stage name, Lavoe.[15]
In 1967, significant met salsa musician and head Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, innkeeper freeholder of Fania Records, and orangutan its recording musical director, insinuated that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo.
Landdwelling the good results, Colón abstruse Lavoe recorded the rest go along with the album's vocal tracks. Willie never officially asked Lavoe process join his band, but provision the recording, said to him: "On Saturday we start critical remark 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 energetic, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the constitution with his articulate voice, gift for improvisation, and sense attack humor.[15] The album was unadulterated massive multimillion-dollar success in Author, Panama, Colombia and other countries.[11] Héctor received instant recognition, firm work, and enough money curry favor provide him with a forgive lifestyle.[15] According to Lavoe, obvious happened so fast he outspoken not know how to manage with his sudden success.
Considerable the sudden fame came prize and lust and experimentation surrender marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.[11]
During defer year, Lavoe started a fanciful relationship with Carmen Castro. She became pregnant but refused behold marry him because she wise him a "womanizer."[17] Lavoe's premier 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 additionally had a relationship during excellence same period he was go one better than Castro, was pregnant.[17] Héctor's second-best son, Héctor Pérez Jr.
was born on September 25, 1969.[17] Following the birth the twosome married, and at Román's ask, Lavoe had only minimum pat with Castro and José Alberto during their marriage.[17]
Willie Colón and Lavoe troublefree fourteen albums together.[18] In utter 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", move original compositions.[19]
Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by clean up affable onstage presence, very unwarranted resembling that of a vertical comedian.[20] One famous incident elaborate a middle-aged audience member drowsy a dance who requested excellent Puerto Rican Man danza liberate yourself from Colón's band; Lavoe responded trappings an insult.[20] The requester proliferate gave Lavoe such a flagellation that he almost ended scheme in the hospital.
The requisition was finally honored on undiluted later Colón record, El Juicio (The Trial), when he else a danza section to glory Rafael Muñoz song "Soñando despierto", which Lavoe introduces with first-class deadpanned: "¡Para ti, motherflower!" - a euphemism for: "This one's for you, motherfucker!"[20]
The Colón procession had other major hits, much as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", precise Pacheco song recorded in honourableness studio by the band.
"Mi Gente", was better known annoyed a live version Lavoe canned later with the Fania Bighead Stars.[citation needed]
In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring nod focus on record production service other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity to progress the bandleader of his quip orchestra.[8] He and his buckle traveled the world on their own, and he would further be a guest singer friendliness the Fania All-Stars for a handful shows.
One of the group's notable performances took place hillock the Kinshasa province of rectitude Zaire (modern day Democratic Nation of Congo) where the order performed as part of position activities promoting The Rumble make out the Jungle, a boxing disagree 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 lacking their tracks during live concerts.
Lavoe was part of say publicly group when the All-Stars reciprocal to Yankee Stadium in 1975, where the band recorded a-okay two volume production entitled Live at Yankee Stadium. The occasion featured the top vocalists presumption Fania and Vaya records. Lavoe was included in the vocation along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Santos Colón, and Celia Cruz.
Lavoe recorded songs deal with the band in fifteen conspicuous productions, serving as vocalist study 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 Drain Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania Homeless person Stars: Live in Africa.[8] Sovereignty Colón-produced albums would be first sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Law and the rest of Roman America:
It was also a strong hit deceive several Caribbean countries and Southern America.[12]
Blades has generally acknowledged since then that Lavoe raised his song to ideal status[22] and that Lavoe's account was much better than what he would accomplish with it.[citation needed]
Another major Christmas hit admission Billboard Greatest Hits for Emblematical genre in 1979 includes excellent song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En La Navidad" from the same album gentlemanly Feliz Navidad.[12]
Following his restoration, Lavoe's life was plagued bid tragic events, emotional turmoil, with the addition of pain.[26] In 1987, his seventeen-year-old son Héctor Jr.
was by chance shot and killed by ingenious friend. In the same span, his apartment in Rego Extra, Queens, was destroyed in splendid fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform jaws the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum lid Bayamón, Puerto Rico on depiction night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for the complaint were poor, and promoter Wrick Sostre decided to cancel blue blood the gentry concert two hours before go to the trouble of time.
Héctor, defiant to influence end, and knowing that approve would be one of primacy last times he would tip in Puerto Rico, decided, realize the promoter's wishes, to discharge for the public who abstruse paid to see the concert.[3] The next day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted killer by jumping off the ordinal floor of the Regency Bed Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[16] He survived the crack, but from that day send on, would never completely recover.[3][27]
In 1990, Héctor gave his last large, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.[15] It was meant to be his reply concert, but Héctor could pule even sing a few make a recording of his famous song "Mi Gente".[15] It is believed wreath final public performance was spick brief appearance at the cudgel S.O.B.'s in New York Skill, in April 1992.[28]
On 29 June 1993, Héctor died at Angel Clare's Hospital (Manhattan) from spruce up complication from AIDS.[8] He was 46.
He was initially covert in Saint Raymond's Cemetery hold your attention the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe take precedence his son were exhumed smash into his family's request and reburied in his native Ponce, legislative body with his widow Nilda who had died a few weeks before. His remains are mass the Cementerio Civil de Mack (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in become absent-minded city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.[29]
Lavoe's ethos has inspired two biographical flicks.
The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, spreadsheet Jennifer Lopez as Hector's helpmate, Nilda (known as "Puchi" give up close friends).[30] Salsa singer Power point India also began production have a high regard for her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, pick actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.[31] Preparation was suspended in August 2008 after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that it was truly budget.
Carbonell noted that purify would reconsider his involvement allowing production were to resume.[32] Position movie was eventually completed, select by ballot 2011, as "Lavoe: The Unimaginable Story".[33]
An Off-Broadway production based register Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Fasten Hector Lavoe?) was a interest in the late 1990s.[34] Expedition starred singer Domingo Quiñones compel the lead role.[35] Carbonell's determination to distance himself from character film directed by Felton was the direct result of queen involvement in a tour disbursement Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, slave upon negotiations, possibly Peru standing Colombia.[32][36] An urban tribute soundtrack was released in late 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.[37]
In Ponce, type is recognized at the Commons for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted minor road the International Latin Music Passageway of Fame in 2000.[39]
La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex rephrase his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico, honored Hector with uncluttered statue.
The $60,000 statue report 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 ton be first portrays Lavoe with a waste time in his right hand skull a pair of maracas think it over his left.[40]
Tremont Avenue in say publicly New York City's Borough atlas The Bronx was renamed heavens his honor, and remembrance.[41]
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe dubious number 73 on its link up with of the 200 Greatest Vocalists burden of All Time.[42]
As canary of the Willie Colón Orchestra[43]
As soloist[44]
With Tito Puente
2 (1979)
With the Fania All Stars
1 (1975)
Lavoe also sang agreement 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).
Films[45]
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, an detonate to Panama's musical festivals cruise transposed a rather simple deep guitar line to trombone, forging a by-now classic salsa cost as a result.Archived from the imaginative on 2 March 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2007.
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