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Héctor Lavoe

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Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (September 30, 1946 – June 29, 1993),<ref name="Triump">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer.<ref>Jennifer Lopez Re-unites with Marc Anthony at Kids' school. Template:Webarchive Enakeno Oju. Daily Times. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2014.</ref> Widely regarded as one of salsa’s most important and influential vocalists, Lavoe played a pivotal role in popularizing the genre throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. His charismatic persona and artistic vision propelled him to become one of the most successful Latin music artists of all time.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lavoe was born and raised in the Machuelo Abajo barrio of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early in his life, he attended Escuela Libre de Música de Ponce, known today as the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos<ref name="travelguide">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and, inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo, developed an interest in music.<ref name="salsa centro">The Triumph and Tragedy of Hector Lavoe Template:Webarchive from salsacentro.com</ref> He moved to New York City on May 3, 1963, at the age of sixteen.<ref name="salsa centro"/> Shortly after his arrival, he worked as the singer in a sextet formed by Roberto García.<ref name="salsa centro"/> During this period, he performed with several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's band.

In 1967, Lavoe joined Willie Colón's band as its vocalist,<ref name="CMT"/> recording several hit songs, including "El Malo" and "Canto a Borinquen." Lavoe moved on to become a soloist and formed his own band performing as lead vocalist.<ref name="CMT"/> As a soloist, Lavoe recorded several hits including: "El cantante" composed by Rubén Blades, "Bandolera" composed by Colón, and "Periódico de ayer", composed by Tite Curet Alonso. During this period he was frequently featured as a guest singer with the Fania All Stars recording numerous tracks with the band.<ref name="salsa centro"/>

In 1979, Lavoe became deeply depressed and sought the help of a high priest of the Santería faith to treat his drug addiction. After a short rehabilitation, he relapsed following the deaths of his father, son, and mother-in-law.<ref name="Triump"/> These events, along with being diagnosed with HIV from intravenous drug use, drove Lavoe to attempt suicide by jumping off the 9th floor of a Condado hotel room balcony in San Juan, Puerto Rico on June 26, 1988.<ref name="Triump"/> He survived the attempt and recorded an album before his health began failing. Lavoe died on June 29, 1993, from a complication of AIDS.<ref name="salsa centro"/>

Early lifeEdit

Héctor was born on September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Francisca (Pachita) Martínez and Luis Pérez, and raised in the Machuelo Abajo barrio of the city.<ref name="Bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was inspired early in life by his musically talented family. His grandfather, Don Juan Martínez, was a singer of controversial songs, which led to physical confrontations. His uncle was well known in Ponce as a tres player.<ref name="Bio"/> His mother Francisca, also known as Pachita, was well known by her family and townspeople for her beautiful singing voice.<ref name="Bio"/> His father, Luis, supported his wife and eight children by singing and playing guitar with trios and big bands. He was in high demand as a guitarist for the Fiestas de Cruz celebrations and other popular religious ceremonies, and he wanted his son to receive formal musical training as a trombonist; Héctor dreamt of being a singer.<ref name="Fania">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Héctor was influenced by Puerto Rican singers such as Jesús Sánchez Erazo, also known as "Chuíto el de Bayamón" - one of the island's most successful folk singers, and Daniel Santos.<ref name="Bio"/> Later in his life, he would record songs with both artists.

Héctor attended the local Juan Morel Campos Public School of Music where the first instrument he learned to play was the saxophone. His classmates included José Febles and multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca.<ref name="Bacán"/> One of his teachers was very strict and demanded that he practice good diction and manners, and have a strong stage presence. He felt Héctor would become a superstar as a bolero singer. From the start Héctor was a star with exceptional charisma, talent, and charm. One of a kind, his unique voice, refined and with impeccable diction, demanded attention. Well on his way to becoming a popular-music vocalist, he began frequenting clubs such as Segovia, where he sang accompanied by his childhood friends, Roberto García and José Febles.<ref name="Fania"/> At age 17, Lavoe abandoned school and sang with a ten-piece band.<ref name="CMT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He moved permanently to New York on May 3, 1963, against his father's wishes, as an older brother had moved there and later died of a drug overdose.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It would take many years before Héctor was able to reconcile with his father.

Arrival in New York CityEdit

Upon arriving in New York he was met by his sister Priscilla.<ref name="His Life">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first thing that he did was to visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem."<ref name="His Life"/> Héctor was disappointed by the condition of El Barrio which he had envisioned would have "fancy Cadillacs, tall marble skyscrapers, and tree-lined streets."<ref name="His Life"/> Héctor tried to earn a living as a painter, messenger, porter and concierge.<ref name="Fania"/>

One day he reconnected with his friend Roberto García. They began to frequent 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 first record with - the album Está de bala.<ref name="Fania"/> Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician and childhood friend, to a rehearsal of a newly formed sextet.<ref name="His Life"/> When he arrived, they were rehearsing the romantic bolero "Tus Ojos". The lead vocalist was singing off key, and as a goodwill gesture, Lavoe demonstrated how it was supposed to sound.<ref name="His Life"/> As a result of this selfless act, the group offered him the job of lead vocalist, which he subsequently accepted.<ref name="His Life"/>

Later in his career he joined other salsa groups including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco's FANIA . To distinguish Héctor from other Latino singers, a former manager made him adopt Felipe Rodríguez's moniker "La Voz" ("The Voice") and turned it into a stage name, Lavoe.<ref name="His Life"/>

In 1967, he met salsa musician and bandleader Willie Colón. Johnny Pacheco, owner of Fania Records, and as its recording musical director, suggested that Colón record with Lavoe on a track on Colón's first album El Malo. Given the good results, Colón had Lavoe record the rest of the album's vocal tracks. Willie never officially asked Lavoe to join his band, but after the recording, said to him: "On Saturday we start at 10 p.m. at El Tropicoro Club."<ref name="tbxmix">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The album's success significantly transformed both Colón's and Lavoe's lives.<ref name="His Life"/> Colón's band featured a raw, aggressive, all-trombone sound that was well received by salsa fans, and Lavoe complemented the style with his articulate voice, talent for improvisation, and sense of humor.<ref name="His Life"/> The album was a massive multimillion-dollar success in France, Panama, Colombia and other countries.<ref name="Fania"/> Héctor received instant recognition, steady work, and enough money to provide him with a comfortable lifestyle.<ref name="His Life"/> According to Lavoe, it happened so fast he did not know how to cope with his sudden success. With the sudden fame came love and lust and experimentation with marijuana, heroin, and cocaine.<ref name="Fania"/>

During that year, Lavoe started a romantic relationship with Carmen Castro. She became pregnant but refused to marry him because she considered him a "womanizer."<ref name="American Salsa"/> Lavoe's first son, José Alberto Pérez, was born on October 30, 1968.<ref name="American Salsa"/> On the night José was baptized, Héctor received a call informing him that Nilda "Puchi" Román, with whom he also had a relationship during the same period he was with Castro, was pregnant.<ref name="American Salsa"/> Héctor's second son, Héctor Pérez Jr. was born on September 25, 1969.<ref name="American Salsa"/> Following the birth the couple married, and at Román's request, Lavoe had only minimum contact with Castro and José Alberto during their marriage.<ref name="American Salsa"/>

MusicEdit

The Willie Colón yearsEdit

Willie Colón and Lavoe made fourteen albums together.<ref name="PBS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In late 1970, Colón and Lavoe recorded 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", and original compositions.<ref name="Navidad">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}, an ode to Panama's musical festivals that transposed a rather simple bass guitar line to trombone, producing a by-now classic salsa riff as a result.</ref>

Lavoe's lack of professionalism was often balanced by an affable onstage presence, very much resembling that of a stand-up comedian.<ref name="Motherflower"/> One famous incident involved a middle-aged audience member at a dance who requested a Puerto Rican Man danza from Colón's band; Lavoe responded with an insult.<ref name="Motherflower"/> The requester then gave Lavoe such a beating that he almost ended up in the hospital. The request was finally 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 euphemism for: "This one's for you, motherfucker!"<ref name="Motherflower">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Colón band had other major hits, such as "Calle Luna, Calle Sol", and the Santería-influenced "Aguanile", a Pacheco song recorded in the studio by the band. "Mi Gente", was better known for a live version Lavoe recorded later with the Fania All Stars.Template:Citation needed

Lavoe goes soloEdit

{{#invoke:Listen|main}} In 1973, Willie Colón stopped touring to focus on record production and other business enterprises. Lavoe was given the opportunity to become the bandleader of his own orchestra.<ref name="salsa centro"/> He and his band traveled the world on their own, and he would also be a guest singer with the Fania All-Stars for several shows. One of the group's notable performances took place in the Kinshasa province of the Zaire (modern day Democratic Republic of Congo) where the group performed as part of the activities promoting The Rumble in the Jungle, a boxing fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman for the heavyweight championships of the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association.<ref name="Salsa Connects">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Fania All Stars recorded several of their tracks during live concerts. Lavoe was part of the group when the All-Stars returned to Yankee Stadium in 1975, where the band recorded a two volume production entitled Live at Yankee Stadium. The event featured the top vocalists of Fania and Vaya records. Lavoe was included in the group along with: Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Justo Betancourt, Ismael Quintana, Bobby Cruz, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, Santos Colón, and Celia Cruz. Lavoe recorded songs with the band in fifteen different productions, serving as vocalist on twenty-three songs. Besides recording songs with the band, Lavoe was also present in three movies filmed and produced by Fania Records; these were: Fania All Stars: Our Latin Thing, Fania All Stars: Salsa, and Celia Cruz with the Fania All Stars: Live in Africa.<ref name="salsa centro"/> His Colón-produced albums would be best sellers; cuts from these albums were hits in Puerto Rico and the rest of Latin America:

  • Lavoe's recording of Tite Curet Alonso's "El Periódico de Ayer" was a number one hit on Mexican charts for four straight months. It was also a strong hit in several Caribbean countries and South America.<ref name="Bacán"/>
  • As a producer, Willie Colón had Lavoe record what would become his signature song, the Ruben Blades-authored song "El Cantante" against Blades' protests (Blades wanted to record the song on his own.). Blades has repeatedly acknowledged since then that Lavoe raised his song to classic status<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and that Lavoe's performance was much better than what he would accomplish with it.Template:Citation needed
  • In 1975 on his “La Voz” Album, Lavoe did a cover Chappottin Y Sus Estrellas’s 1957 song “Rompe Saragüey”,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> which became a major success.

  • The Lavoe song "Bandolera" was a strong seller in Puerto Rico, despite vigorous protests from Puerto Rican feminists about its lyrics and soneos - Lavoe twice offers the song's subject a beating.<ref name="Bacán"/>
  • Lavoe's recording of the classic Cuban song by Eliseo Grenet<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> based on Cuban poet Nicolás Guillén's poem "Sóngoro Cosongo", set to salsa music, was another major hit.<ref name="American Salsa">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • The controversial jíbaro song, "Joven Contra Viejo", featured Lavoe and Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on stage not without a heavy dose of humor and, yet again, Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a backdrop. Another major Christmas hit on Billboard Greatest Hits for Tropical genre in 1979 includes a song from singer/composer Miguel Poventud "Una Pena En La Navidad" from the same album titled Feliz Navidad.<ref name="Bacán">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Lavoe's final hit, "El Rey de la Puntualidad" (The King of Punctuality), is a humorous takeoff on Lavoe's constant tardiness and occasional absenteeism from shows.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Babalao">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lavoe followed the Santeria priest's advice and cut all communication with his family and friends for a period of two months.<ref name="Babalao"/> Following this recording Héctor, reappeared confident and apparently free of his drug addiction.<ref name="Babalao"/>

Last years and deathEdit

File:Tumba de Héctor Lavoe, Cementerio Civil de Ponce, Bo. Portugués Urbano, Ponce, Puerto Rico, mirando al oeste (DSC01432A).jpg
Lavoe's grave at Cementerio Civil de Ponce, Bo. Portugués Urbano, Ponce.

Following his rehabilitation, Lavoe's life was plagued by tragic events, emotional turmoil, and pain.<ref name="Babalao"/> In 1987, his seventeen-year-old son Héctor Jr. was accidentally shot and killed by a friend. In the same period, his apartment in Rego Park, Queens, was destroyed in a fire. One year later, Héctor was scheduled to perform at the Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on the night of Saturday, June 25, 1988. Sales for the concert were poor, and promoter Rick Sostre decided to cancel the concert two hours before concert time. Héctor, defiant to the end, and knowing that it would be one of the last times he would perform in Puerto Rico, decided, against the promoter's wishes, to perform for the public who had paid to see the concert.<ref name="Triump"/> The next day, Sunday, June 26, 1988, Héctor attempted suicide by jumping off the ninth floor of the Regency Hotel Condado in San Juan, Puerto Rico.<ref name="tbxmix"/> He survived the attempt, but from that day forward, would never completely recover.<ref name="Triump"/><ref name="NPR 2007">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1990, Héctor gave his last large, public performance with the Fania All Stars at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.<ref name="His Life"/> It was meant to be his comeback concert, but Héctor could not even sing a few notes of his famous song "Mi Gente".<ref name="His Life"/> It is believed his final public performance was a brief appearance at the club S.O.B.'s in New York City, in April 1992.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 29 June 1993, Héctor died at Saint Clare's Hospital (Manhattan) from a complication from AIDS.<ref name="salsa centro"/> He was 46. He was initially buried in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. In June 2002, the remains of Lavoe and his son were exhumed at his family's request and reburied in his native Ponce, along with his widow Nilda who had died a few weeks before. His remains are at the Cementerio Civil de Ponce (Ponce Civil Cemetery), in that city's Portugués Urbano neighborhood.<ref>Aplauden y sonean en honor a Lavoe. Template:Webarchive Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 12 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.</ref>

RecognitionEdit

File:Estatua de Héctor Lavoe en Tablado La Guancha, Barrio Playa, Ponce, PR (DSC01187).jpg
Lavoe's statue in Paseo Tablado La Guancha, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

Lavoe's life has inspired two biographical films. The first, El Cantante, was produced by salsa artist Marc Anthony, who played Lavoe, and Jennifer Lopez as Hector's wife, Nilda (known as "Puchi" by close friends).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Salsa singer La India also began production of her own biopic of Lavoe's life entitled The Singer, with actor and singer Raulito Carbonell in the lead role.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Production was suspended in August 2008 after the director, Anthony Felton, reported that it was over budget. Carbonell noted that he would reconsider his involvement if production were to resume.<ref name="Carbonell">Template:Cite news</ref> The movie was eventually completed, in 2011, as "Lavoe: The Untold Story".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

An Off-Broadway production based on Lavoe's life titled ¿Quién mató a Héctor Lavoe? (Who Killed Hector Lavoe?) was a success in the late 1990s.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It starred singer Domingo Quiñones in the lead role.<ref>THEATER REVIEW; Out-of-It, Arrogant And a Salsa Legend Template:Webarchive from the New York Times 27 July 1999</ref> Carbonell's decision to distance himself from the film directed by Felton was the direct result of his involvement in a tour of Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? in Puerto Rico, and, depending upon negotiations, possibly Peru and Colombia.<ref name="Carbonell"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An urban tribute album was released in late 2007 performed by several reggaeton artists such as Don Omar which sampled Lavoe's voice.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In Ponce, he is recognized at the Park for the Illustrious Ponce Citizens.<ref>Music. Template:Webarchive Travel Ponce.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.</ref> Lavoe was posthumously inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex in his hometown of Ponce, Puerto Rico, honored Hector with a statue. The $60,000 statue is 2 meters (6 1/2 feet) tall, weighs 1 ton and portrays Lavoe with a microphone in his right hand and a pair of maracas in his left.<ref>Statue honoring late Puerto Rican salsa star unveiled. Template:Webarchive Fox News Latino. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.</ref>

Tremont Avenue in the New York City's Borough of The Bronx was renamed in his honor, and remembrance.<ref name="NYCStreetnames-2009">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Lavoe at number 73 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

DiscographyEdit

Studio albumsEdit

As vocalist of the Willie Colón Orchestra<ref name="Stereo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As soloist<ref name="Dicografia">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other albumsEdit

With Tito Puente

  • Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 2 (1979)
    • song: "Donde Estabas Tú"
  • Homenaje a Beny Moré Vol. 3 (1985)
    • song: "Tumba Tumbador"

With the Fania All Stars

Lavoe also sang chorus on three songs of Mon 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).

FilmographyEdit

Films<ref name="IMDB">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

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