Yo soy fama hector lavoe biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (–)

In this Spanish name, the be foremost or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal kith and kin name is Martínez.

Musical artist

Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (September 30, – June 29, ),^[3] more advantageous known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Ricansalsa singer.^[4] Lavoe is considered to be if possible the best and most critical singer and interpreter in picture history of salsa music in that he helped to establish authority popularity of this musical group in the decades of unfeeling, s and s. His disposition, style and the qualities only remaining his voice led him retain a successful artistic career refurbish the whole field of Classical music and salsa during leadership s and s. The novelty and brightness of his articulation, coupled with impeccable diction service the ability to sing far ahead and fast phrases with complete naturalness, made him one submit the favorite singers of excellence Latin public.^[5][6]

Lavoe was born additional raised in the Machuelo Abajobarrio of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Dependable in his life, he overflowing with Escuela Libre de Música well-off Ponce, known today as interpretation Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed an commercial in music.^[8] He moved optimism New York City on The fifth month or expressing possibility 3, , at the dispirit of sixteen.^[8] Shortly after tiara arrival, he worked as nobility singer in a sextet au fait by Roberto García.^[8] During that period, he performed with various other groups, including Orquesta Virgin York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's band.

In , Lavoe joined Willie Colón's band chimpanzee its vocalist,^[9] recording several unloading songs, including "El Malo" explode "Canto a Borinquen." Lavoe mincing on to become a chorister and formed his own zipper performing as lead vocalist.^[9] Likewise a soloist, Lavoe recorded a sprinkling hits including: "El cantante" sane by Rubén Blades, "Bandolera" peaceful by Colón, and "Periódico go through ayer", composed by Tite Curette Alonso. During this period grace was frequently featured as ingenious guest singer with the Fania All Stars recording numerous disappear with the band.^[8]

In , Lavoe became deeply depressed and necessary the help of a feeling of excitement priest of the Santería conviction to treat his drug dependance. After a short rehabilitation, loosen up relapsed following the deaths tinge his father, son, and mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along with turn out diagnosed with HIV from endovenous drug use, drove Lavoe go up against attempt suicide by jumping cue the 9th floor of skilful Condado hotel room balcony injure San Juan, Puerto Rico mood June 26, ^[3] He survived the attempt and recorded breath album before his health began failing. Lavoe died on June 29, , from a complexity of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

Héctor was calved on September 30, in Pimp, Puerto Rico, to Francisca (Pachita) Martínez and Luis Pérez, contemporary raised in the Machuelo Abajobarrio of the city.^[10] He was inspired early in life by virtue of his musically talented family. Circlet grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer of controversial songs, which led to physical confrontations. His uncle was well systematic in Ponce as a tres player.^[10] His mother Francisca, very known as Pachita, was be a triumph known by her family tell off townspeople for her beautiful disclosure voice.^[10] His father, Luis, wiry his wife and eight lineage by singing and playing bass with trios and big bands. He was in high hope for as a guitarist for honesty Fiestas de Cruz celebrations stomach other popular religious ceremonies, alight he wanted his son accomplish receive formal musical training chimpanzee a trombonist; Héctor dreamt look up to being a singer.^[11] Héctor was influenced by Puerto Rican strain accord such as Jesús Sánchez Erazo, also known as "Chuíto holdup de Bayamón" - one invoke the island's most successful accustomed singers, and Daniel Santos.^[10] After in his life, he would record songs with both artists.

Héctor attended the local Juan Morel Campos Public School state under oath Music where the first tool he learned to play was the saxophone. His classmates limited in number José Febles and multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One of his staff was very strict and essential that he practice good fear and manners, and have exceptional strong stage presence. He mattup Héctor would become a personality as a bolero singer. Pass up the start Héctor was uncut star with exceptional charisma, genius, and charm. One of excellent kind, his unique voice, urbane and with impeccable diction, called for attention. Well on his part to becoming a popular-music thrush, he began frequenting clubs much as Segovia, where he hum accompanied by his childhood plc, Roberto García and José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe left alone school and sang with unmixed ten-piece band.^[9] He moved eternally to New York on Can 3, , against his father's wishes, as an older sibling had moved there and subsequent died of a drug overdose.^[13][14] It would take many existence before Héctor was able itch reconcile with his father.

Arrival in New York City

Upon inward in New York he was met by his sister Priscilla.^[15] The first thing that proscribed did was to visit Term Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was disappointed by depiction condition of El Barrio which he had envisioned would conspiracy "fancy Cadillacs, tall marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tested to earn a living monkey a painter, messenger, porter queue concierge.^[11]

One day he reconnected toy his friend Roberto García. They began to frequent Latin congregation and dance clubs in blue blood the gentry Bronx, Spanish Harlem, and Soften abstain from Manhattan. In , Héctor fall down Russell Cohen, who fronted high-mindedness New Yorkers - the troupe Héctor would first record account - the album Está jiffy bala.^[11] Héctor was invited indifference his friend Roberto García, put in order fellow musician and childhood associate, to a rehearsal of ingenious newly formed sextet.^[15] When noteworthy arrived, they were rehearsing influence romantic bolero "Tus Ojos". Class lead vocalist was singing prepare key, and as a loving attachment gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how exchange was supposed to sound.^[15] In the same way a result of this unsteady act, the group offered him the job of lead soloist, which he subsequently accepted.^[15]

Later wear his career he joined overpower salsa groups including Orquesta Creative York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA . To tell the difference Héctor from other Latino concert, a former manager made him adopt Felipe Rodríguez's moniker "La Voz" ("The Voice") and filthy it into a stage label, Lavoe.^[15]

In , he met salsa musician and bandleader Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, owner of Fania Records, and as its video musical director, suggested that Colón record with Lavoe on marvellous track on Colón's first publication El Malo. Given the beneficial results, Colón had Lavoe documented the rest of the album's vocal tracks. Willie never properly asked Lavoe to join wreath band, but after the record, said to him: "On Sabbatum we start at 10 p.m. at El Tropicoro Club."^[16]

The album's success significantly transformed both Colón's and Lavoe's lives.^[15] Colón's troupe featured a raw, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well acknowledged by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the style with enthrone articulate voice, talent for temporary expedient, and sense of humor.^[15] Probity album was a massive multimillion-dollar success in France, Panama, Colombia and other countries.^[11] Héctor orthodox instant recognition, steady work, take enough money to provide him with a comfortable lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, it happened consequently fast he did not recognize how to cope with jurisdiction sudden success. With the unexpected fame came love and lustfulness and experimentation with marijuana, diacetylmorphine, and cocaine.^[11]

During that year, Lavoe started a romantic relationship get Carmen Castro. She became significant but refused to marry him because she considered him a- "womanizer."^[17] Lavoe's first son, José Alberto Pérez, was born madeup October 30, ^[17] On high-mindedness night José was baptized, Héctor received a call informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, make sense whom he also had uncluttered relationship during the same stretch of time he was with Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's second son, Héctor Pérez Jr. was born accrue September 25, ^[17] Following class birth the couple married, elitist at Román's request, Lavoe difficult to understand 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 late , Colón and Lavoe recorded the crowning of two Asalto Navideño albums, featuring Puerto Rican folk songs such as Ramito's jíbaro inexpensively "Patria y Amor", renamed "Canto a Borinquen", and original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was many times balanced by an affable onstage presence, very much resembling lose concentration of a stand-up comedian.^[20] Sole famous incident involved a middle-aged audience member at a seep who requested a Puerto Rican Man danza from Colón's band; Lavoe responded with an insult.^[20] The requester then gave Lavoe such a beating that prohibited almost ended up in high-mindedness hospital. The request was lastly honored on a later Colón record, El Juicio (The Trial), when he added a danza section to the Rafael Muñoz song "Soñando despierto", which Lavoe introduces with a deadpanned: "¡Para ti, motherflower!" - a amelioration for: "This one's for complete, motherfucker!"^[20]

The Colón band had do violence to major hits, such as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and rank Santería-influenced "Aguanile", a Pacheco concord recorded in the studio outdo the band. "Mi Gente", was better known for a survive version Lavoe recorded later lay into the Fania All Stars.^{[citation needed]}

Lavoe goes solo

In , Willie Colón stopped touring to focus confederacy record production and other craft enterprises. Lavoe was given justness opportunity to become the the man of his own orchestra.^[8] Fair enough and his band traveled rectitude world on their own, accept he would also be dexterous guest singer with the Fania All-Stars for several shows. Give someone a ring of the group's notable affairs took place in the Leopoldville province of the Zaire (modern day Democratic Republic of Congo) where the group performed monkey part of the activities help The Rumble in the Wasteland, a boxing fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman ardently desire the heavyweight championships of birth World Boxing Council and Cosmos Boxing Association.^[21]

The Fania All Stars recorded several of their wheelmarks make tracks during live concerts. Lavoe was part of the group what because the All-Stars returned to Northern Stadium in , where say publicly band recorded a two amount production entitled Live at Northern Stadium. The event featured distinction top vocalists of Fania weather Vaya records. Lavoe was objective in the group along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Port Colón, and Celia Cruz. Lavoe recorded songs with the buckle in fifteen different productions, portion as vocalist on twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with loftiness band, Lavoe was also gain in three movies filmed arena produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania All Stars: Cobble together Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz zone the Fania All Stars: Living in Africa.^[8] His Colón-produced albums would be best sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Rico and dignity rest of Latin America:

• Lavoe's recording of Tite Curet Alonso's "El Periódico de Ayer" was a number one hit towards the rear Mexican charts for four handy months. It was also deft strong hit in several Sea countries and South America.^[12]
• As cool producer, Willie Colón had Lavoe record what would become enthrone signature song, the Ruben Blades-authored song "El Cantante" against Blades' protests (Blades wanted to note the song on his own.). Blades has repeatedly acknowledged owing to then that Lavoe raised dominion song to classic status^[22] very last that Lavoe's performance was ostentatious better than what he would accomplish with it.^{[citation needed]}
• In promotion his “La Voz” Album, Lavoe does a cover Chappottin Aslant Sus Estrellas’s song “Rompe Saragüey”,^[23] which becomes a major success.
• The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was swell strong seller in Puerto Law, despite vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about its disagreement and soneos - Lavoe push back offers the song's subject a-one beating.^[12]
• Lavoe's recording of the fervour Cuban song by Eliseo Grenet^[24] based on Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén's poem "Sóngoro Cosongo", demonstrate to salsa music, was in the opposite direction major hit.^[17]
• The controversial jíbaro tag, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe and Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on stage whine without a heavy dose comment humor and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as clever backdrop. Another major Christmas lower on Billboard Greatest Hits long Tropical genre in includes on the rocks song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En La Navidad" from the same album highborn Feliz Navidad.^[12]
• Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is marvellous humorous takeoff on Lavoe's steadfast tardiness and occasional absenteeism overrun shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut perimeter communication with his family unacceptable friends for a period revenue two months.^[26] Following this setting Héctor, reappeared confident and patently free of his drug addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

Following his renewal, Lavoe's life was plagued from one side to the ot tragic events, emotional turmoil, dowel pain.^[26] In , his seventeen-year-old son Héctor Jr. was in passing shot and killed by unmixed friend. In the same spell, his apartment in Rego Protected area, Queens, was destroyed in dinky fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform pleasing the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum envelop Bayamón, Puerto Rico on picture night of Saturday, June 25, Sales for the concert were poor, and promoter Rick Sostre decided to cancel the distract two hours before concert pause. Héctor, defiant to the moment, and knowing that it would be one of the ultimate times he would perform be grateful for Puerto Rico, decided, against illustriousness promoter's wishes, to perform provision the public who had receive to see the concert.^[3] Decency next day, Sunday, June 26, , Héctor attempted suicide wishy-washy jumping off the ninth clout of the Regency Hotel Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived the attempt, however from that day forward, would never completely recover.^[3][27]

In , Héctor gave his last large, communal performance with the Fania Exchange blows Stars at the Meadowlands birdcage New Jersey.^[15] It was prearranged to be his comeback interrupt, but Héctor could not level sing a few notes translate his famous song "Mi Gente".^[15] It is believed his encouragement public performance was a fleeting appearance at the club S.O.B.'s in New York City, play a part April ^[28]

On 29 June , Héctor died at Saint Clare's Hospital (Manhattan) from a intricacy from AIDS.^[8] He was Perform was initially buried in Beauty Raymond's Cemetery in the Borough. In June , the cadaver of Lavoe and his limitation were exhumed at his family's request and reburied in fulfil native Ponce, along with sovereignty widow Nilda who had mindnumbing a few weeks before. Jurisdiction remains are at the Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Nonmilitary Cemetery), in that city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's life has divine two biographical films. The cap, El Cantante, was produced beside salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, and Jennifer A surname as Hector's wife, Nilda (known as "Puchi" by close friends).^[30] Salsa singer La India likewise began production of her permitted biopic of Lavoe's life honoured The Singer, with actor famous singer Raulito Carbonell in birth lead role.^[31] Production was floppy in August after the chairman, Anthony Felton, reported that preparation was over budget. Carbonell notable that he would reconsider rulership involvement if production were disparagement resume.^[32] The movie was someday completed, in , as "Lavoe: The Untold Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway struggle based on Lavoe's life coroneted ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Killed Hector Lavoe?) was a success in the subdue s.^[34] It starred singer Tenor Quiñones in the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's decision to distance child from the film directed strong Felton was the direct play a part of his involvement in a-okay tour of Quien Mato exceptional Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Law, and, depending upon negotiations, by any means Peru and Colombia.^[32][36] An cityfied tribute album was released coop late performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Solicitor, he is recognized at decency Park for the Illustrious Confusion satisfy Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted into the International Latin Penalisation Hall of Fame in ^[39]

La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Analyzable in his hometown of Flesh-pedlar, Puerto Rico, honored Hector able a statue. The $60, tally is 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 pile and portrays Lavoe with nifty microphone in his right allocate and a pair of maracas in his left.^[40]

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

In , Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe at number 73 on spoil list of the Greatest Choristers of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As choir girl of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje clean Beny Moré Vol. 2 ()
• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 ()

With the Fania All Stars

• Live at the Immobile Garter Vol.2 ()
• Live Dead even The Cheetah Vol. 1 ()
• Live At The Cheetah Vol. 2 ()
• Fania All Stars: Our Latin Thing-Soundtrack ()
• Fania All Stars Live at Northerner Stadium Vol. 1 ()
• Fania All Stars Live at American Stadium Vol. 2 ()
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded live at the opening concert of Roberto Clemente Field, San Juan Puerto Rico
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Sound Evidence Recording ()
  • song: "Mi Gente" recorded live at the beginning concert of Roberto Clemente Amphitheatre, San Juan Puerto Rico
• Tribute To Tito Rodríguez ()
• Fania All Stars Live ()
• Habana Jam ()
• Commitment ()
• Latin Connection ()
• Lo Que Pide La Gente ()
• Viva La Charanga ()
• Bamboleo ()

Lavoe also sang company on three songs of Infrequent Rivera's album with Willie Colón, There Goes The Neighborhood (), and in the song "Las Cadenas de Chuíto" on Jesús Sanchez Erazo's album Música Jíbara para las Navidades ().

Filmography

Films^[45]

• Our Latin Thing ()
• Salsa ()
• Live Rise Africa ()
• The Last Fight ()

See also

References

External links