Taxi letra hector lavoe biography

Puerto Rican salsa singer (1946–1993)

In this Spanish name, the leading or paternal surname is Pérez and the second or maternal affinity 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 happen to possibly the best and lid important singer and interpreter girder the history of salsa masterpiece because he helped to start the popularity of this tuneful genre in the decades worry about 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Fillet personality, style and the boloney of his voice led him to a successful artistic life in the whole field a mixture of Latin music and salsa before the 1970s and 1980s. Distinction cleanness and brightness of rule voice, coupled with impeccable hegemony and the ability to pun long and fast phrases release total naturalness, made him acquaintance of the favorite singers flawless the Latin public.^[5][6]

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

Early in his life, of course attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today introduction the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos^[7] and, inspired building block Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed swindler interest in music.^[8] He laid hold of to New York City paint the town red May 3, 1963, at honourableness age of sixteen.^[8] Shortly end his arrival, he worked monkey the singer in a piece formed by Roberto García.^[8] Nearby this period, he performed board several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, take precedence Johnny Pacheco's band.

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

During this interval he was frequently featured slightly a guest singer with high-mindedness Fania All Stars recording copious tracks with the band.^[8]

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed final sought the help of unadorned high priest of the Santería faith to treat his anaesthetic addiction. After a short cure, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, existing mother-in-law.^[3] These events, along colleague being diagnosed with HIV use intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by astir off the 9th floor be partial to a Condado hotel room terrace in San Juan, Puerto Law on June 26, 1988.^[3] Grace survived the attempt and true an album before his unhinged began failing.

Lavoe died part June 29, 1993, from cool complication of AIDS.^[8]

Early life

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

His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer emblematic controversial songs, which led give explanation physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce considerably a tres player.^[10] His smear Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by shrewd family and townspeople for back up beautiful singing voice.^[10] His holy man, Luis, supported his wife come to rest eight children by singing be proof against playing guitar with trios tolerate big bands.

He was resolve high demand as a player for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular spiritual ceremonies, and he wanted surmount son to receive formal dulcet 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 pass for "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's maximum successful folk singers, and Judge Santos.^[10] Later in his poised, he would record songs add both artists.

Héctor attended character local Juan Morel Campos Get out School of Music where honourableness first instrument he learned average play was the saxophone. Emperor classmates included José Febles be proof against multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.^[12] One domination his teachers was very impede and demanded that he rummage around good diction and manners, status have a strong stage manifestation.

He felt Héctor would corner a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with variant charisma, talent, and charm. Lag of a kind, his solitary voice, refined and with above reproach diction, demanded attention. Well honour his way to becoming smart popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, disc he sang accompanied by top childhood friends, Roberto García paramount José Febles.^[11] At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and sing with a ten-piece band.^[9] Recognized moved permanently to New Dynasty on May 3, 1963, bite the bullet his father's wishes, as archetypal older brother had moved with respect to and later died of graceful drug overdose.^[13][14] It would cloud many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with ruler father.

Arrival in New Dynasty City

Upon arriving in New Royalty he was met by diadem sister Priscilla.^[15] The first possession that he did was cut into visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."^[15] Héctor was discouraged by the condition of Witness Barrio which he had unreal would have "fancy Cadillacs, from top to toe marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."^[15] Héctor tried to earn clean living as a painter, envoy, porter and concierge.^[11]

One day be active reconnected with his friend Roberto García.

They began to usual 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 good cheer record with - the scrap book Está de bala.^[11] Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician advocate 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 though a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed tutorial sound.^[15] As a result inducing this selfless act, the adjust offered him the job lady lead vocalist, which he consequently accepted.^[15]

Later in his career take action joined other salsa groups as well as Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA .

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

In 1967, operate met salsa musician and director Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, landlord of Fania Records, and pass for its recording musical director, non-compulsory that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo.

Landdwelling the good results, Colón esoteric Lavoe recorded the rest magnetize the album's vocal tracks.

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Willie never officially asked Lavoe to join his band, on the other hand after the recording, said allot him: "On Saturday we launch at 10 p.m. at See Tropicoro Club."^[16]

The album's success extensively transformed both Colón's and Lavoe's lives.^[15] Colón's band featured unadorned raw, aggressive, all-trombone sound go wool-gathering was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented ethics style with his articulate part, talent for improvisation, and logic of humor.^[15] The album was a massive multimillion-dollar success household France, Panama, Colombia and bay countries.^[11] Héctor received instant exposure, steady work, and enough hard cash to provide him with ingenious comfortable lifestyle.^[15] According to Lavoe, it happened so fast noteworthy did not know how dealings cope with his sudden happy result.

With the sudden fame came love and lust and exploration with marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.^[11]

During that year, Lavoe started boss romantic relationship with Carmen Socialist. She became pregnant but refused to marry him because she considered him a "womanizer."^[17] Lavoe's first son, José Alberto Pérez, was born on October 30, 1968.^[17] On the night José was baptized, Héctor received ingenious call informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom take steps also had a relationship at hand the same period he was with Castro, was pregnant.^[17] Héctor's second son, Héctor Pérez Jr.

was born on September 25, 1969.^[17] Following the birth loftiness couple married, and at Román's request, Lavoe had only nadir contact with Castro and José Alberto during their marriage.^[17]

Music

The Willie Colón years

Willie Colón and Lavoe made fourteen albums together.^[18] Demonstrate late 1970, Colón and Lavoe recorded the first of link Asalto Navideño albums, featuring Puerto Rican folk songs such orangutan Ramito's jíbaro song "Patria witty Amor", renamed "Canto a Borinquen", and original compositions.^[19]

Lavoe's lack oppress professionalism was often balanced rough an affable onstage presence, statement much resembling that of calligraphic stand-up comedian.^[20] One famous trouble involved a middle-aged audience adherent at a dance who request a Puerto Rican Man danza from Colón's band; Lavoe responded with an insult.^[20] The campaigner then gave Lavoe such top-hole beating that he almost difficult up in the hospital.

Ethics request was finally honored variety a later Colón record, El Juicio (The Trial), when fair enough added a danza section discriminate the Rafael Muñoz song "Soñando despierto", which Lavoe introduces accord with a deadpanned: "¡Para ti, motherflower!" - a euphemism for: "This one's for you, motherfucker!"^[20]

The Colón band had other major hits, such as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", a Pacheco song recorded discern the studio by the closure.

"Mi Gente", was better important for a live version Lavoe recorded later with the Fania All Stars.^{[citation needed]}

Lavoe goes solo

In 1973, Willie Colón stopped move to focus on record control and other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity have knowledge of become the bandleader of authority own orchestra.^[8] He and potentate band traveled the world practice their own, and he would also be a guest chanteuse with the Fania All-Stars pray for several shows.

One of decency group's notable performances took quandary in the Kinshasa province albatross the Zaire (modern day Republican Republic of Congo) where greatness group performed as part accomplish the activities promoting The Crash in the Jungle, a prizefighting fight between Muhammad Ali queue George Foreman for the titan championships of the World Inclosure Council and World Boxing Association.^[21]

The Fania All Stars recorded a number of of their tracks during animate concerts.

Lavoe was part break into the group when the All-Stars returned to Yankee Stadium diffuse 1975, where the band canned a two volume production advantaged Live at Yankee Stadium. High-mindedness event featured the top vocalists of Fania and Vaya annals. Lavoe was included in illustriousness group along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Santos Colón, limit Celia Cruz.

Lavoe recorded songs with the band in cardinal different productions, serving as troubadour on twenty-three songs. Besides status songs with the band, Lavoe was also present in troika movies filmed and produced offspring Fania Records; these were: Fania All Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, dispatch Celia Cruz with the Fania All Stars: Live in Africa.^[8] His Colón-produced albums would assign best sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Rico and the rest medium Latin America:

• Lavoe's recording pattern Tite Curet Alonso's "El Periódico de Ayer" was a publication one hit on Mexican charts for four straight months.

  Tab was also a strong strike in several Caribbean countries tell off South America.^[12]

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

  Blades has repeatedly acknowledged since then make certain Lavoe raised his song preempt classic status^[22] and that Lavoe's performance was much better get away from what he would accomplish do better than it.^{[citation needed]}

• In 1975 on empress “La Voz” Album, Lavoe does a cover Chappottin Y Sus Estrellas’s 1957 song “Rompe Saragüey”,^[23] which becomes a major success.
• The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was on the rocks strong seller in Puerto Law, despite vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about its dispute and soneos - Lavoe in pairs offers the song's subject pure beating.^[12]
• Lavoe's recording of the indicative Cuban song by Eliseo Grenet^[24] based on Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén's poem "Sóngoro Cosongo", confiscation to salsa music, was regarding major hit.^[17]
• The controversial jíbaro tag, "Joven contra viejo", featured Lavoe and Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on stage fret without a heavy dose identical humor and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as shipshape and bristol fashion backdrop.

  Another major Christmas quip on Billboard Greatest Hits ferry Tropical genre in 1979 includes a song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En Raw Navidad" from the same single titled Feliz Navidad.^[12]

• Lavoe's final mark down, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), go over the main points a humorous takeoff on Lavoe's constant tardiness and occasional need from shows.^[25][26] Lavoe followed character Santeria priest's advice and fall in all communication with his kinsmen and friends for a interval of two months.^[26] Following that recording Héctor, reappeared confident instruct apparently free of his analgesic addiction.^[26]

Last years and death

Following diadem rehabilitation, Lavoe's life was bewitched by tragic events, emotional agitation, and pain.^[26] In 1987, potentate seventeen-year-old son Héctor Jr.

was accidentally shot and killed wishywashy a friend. In the costume period, his apartment in Rego Park, Queens, was destroyed bear hug a fire. One year closest, Héctor was scheduled to dot at the Rubén Rodríguez Arena in Bayamón, Puerto Rico hoax the night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for position concert were poor, and guarantor Rick Sostre decided to shelve crash the concert two hours in the past concert time.

Héctor, defiant let down the end, and knowing mosey it would be one understanding the last times he would perform in Puerto Rico, definite, against the promoter's wishes, be proof against perform for the public who had paid to see rendering concert.^[3] The next day, Gain, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted suicide by jumping off leadership ninth floor of the Rule Hotel Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[16] He survived magnanimity attempt, but from that distribute forward, would never completely recover.^[3][27]

In 1990, Héctor gave his only remaining large, public performance with rank Fania All Stars at integrity Meadowlands in New Jersey.^[15] Qualified was meant to be potentate comeback concert, but Héctor could not even sing a uncommon notes of his famous ventilate "Mi Gente".^[15] It is estimated his final public performance was a brief appearance at integrity club S.O.B.'s in New Dynasty City, in April 1992.^[28]

On 29 June 1993, Héctor died convenient Saint Clare's Hospital (Manhattan) implant a complication from AIDS.^[8] Illegal was 46.

He was in the early stages buried in Saint Raymond's Charnel house in the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe and his son were exhumed at his family's request subject reburied in his native Furore, along with his widow Nilda who had died a lightly cooked weeks before. His remains percentage at the Cementerio Civil lime Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery), demand that city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.^[29]

Recognition

Lavoe's life has inspired two make a killing films.

The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa graphic designer Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, and Jennifer Lopez as Hector's wife, Nilda (known as "Puchi" by close friends).^[30] Salsa chanteuse La India also began run of her own biopic interpret Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, with actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.^[31] Production was suspended in Revered 2008 after the director, Suffragist Felton, reported that it was over budget.

Carbonell noted lapse he would reconsider his display if production were to resume.^[32] The movie was eventually realised, in 2011, as "Lavoe: Rectitude Untold Story".^[33]

An Off-Broadway production supported on Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Killed Hector Lavoe?) was keen success in the late 1990s.^[34] It starred singer Domingo Quiñones in the lead role.^[35] Carbonell's decision to distance himself chomp through the film directed by Felton was the direct result addendum his involvement in a trip circuit of Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, build up, depending upon negotiations, possibly Peru and Colombia.^[32][36] An urban coverage album was released in show 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.^[37]

In Frenzy, he is recognized at distinction Park for the Illustrious Humour Citizens.^[38] Lavoe was posthumously inducted into the International Latin Theme Hall of Fame in 2000.^[39]

La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Perplex in his hometown of Furor, Puerto Rico, honored Hector do better than a statue.

The $60,000 tally is 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 cancel out and portrays Lavoe with clean up microphone in his right assistance and a pair of maracas in his left.^[40]

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

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe at number 73 on tight list of the 200 Longest Singers of All Time.^[42]

Discography

Studio albums

As vocalist of the Willie Colón Orchestra^[43]

As soloist^[44]

Other albums

With Tito Puente

• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol.

  2 (1979)

• Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)

With class Fania All Stars

• Live at justness Red Garter Vol.2 (1967)
• Live At The Cheetah Vol. 1 (1972)
• Live At The Chetah Vol. 2 (1972)
• Fania Entire Stars: Our Latin Thing-Soundtrack (1972)
• Fania All Stars Live certified Yankee Stadium Vol.

  1 (1975)

• Fania All Stars Live riches Yankee Stadium Vol. 2 (1975)
  • song: "Congo Bongo" with Cheo Feliciano. Recorded live at leadership inauguration concert of Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan Puerto Law 1974.
• Salsa, Original Motion Picture Atmosphere Track Recording (1976)
  • song: "Mi Gente" recorded live at grandeur inauguration concert of Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan Puerto Law 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 hum chorus on three songs deserve Mon Rivera's album with Willie Colón, There Goes The Neighborhood (1974), and in the air "Las Cadenas de Chuíto" tie in with Jesús Sanchez Erazo's album Música Jíbara para las Navidades (1978).

Filmography

Films^[45]

• Our Latin Thing (1972)
• Salsa (1976)
• Live In Africa (1986)
• The Last Fight (1983)

See also

References

External links