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SINGERS/COMPOSERS/ACTORS/
ACTRESSES/COMEDIAN 

 

DANNY RIVERA

Music has been a way of life for Danny Rivera since he began singing in the Santurce neighborhood where he was born on 27 Febuary, 1945. He honed his musical talents by singing in a church choir during his youth. His humble surroundings and beginnings framed his character for life, in terms of his personal character and support for charitable causes. He realized the start of the singing career he dreamed of when he was offered a job in a San Juan, Puerto Rico hotel with the popular orchestra led by César Concepción. He subsequently honored as best new singer of 1968 in the Popularity Festival which led in turn to several radio and television contracts.To date, Danny’s records have gone gold three times, and silver four times with songs like "Mi Pueblo es Tu Pueblo"  that show his power, grace and style. He has received three Grammy nominations and has won numerous prizes and honors throughout Latin America. In Spain, where he lived for three years, he made four albums. In the USA, he has worked with stars such as Whitney Houston and Lionel Richie, and made his “Danny” album. Reference:  http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/danny_rivera/

Reference:  http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/danny_rivera/

LUCECITA BENITEZ

Born in Puerto Rico, in Bayamón, a suburb of San Juan, the island's capital, she quickly rose to fame at an early age, and at 17, she was part of a group of artists that were collectively known as "El Club del Clán" (The members of the Club).  During the 70's a musical era locally known s "La Nueva Ola" (The New Wave), came to be in Puerto Rico, and with it surged an extraordinary vocalist that captivated the local audiences with her strong musical interpretations and a pert and cute disposition.  Her name was Luz Esther Benítez, but soon she became everyone's "Lucecita".
Reference:  http://www.lucecita.com/eng_biogra.html

 

http://www.lucecita.com/eng_biogra.html
 

ISMAEL (MAELO) RIVERA Y
RAFAEL CORTIJO Y SU COMBO

The bomba and plena traditions of Puerto Rico's slums were given respectability through the music of Rafael Cortijo (born Rafel Cortijo Verdejo). Inheriting his band, which he renamed Cortijo y su Combo, when bandleader Mario Roman retired in 1954, Cortijo went on to become one of the Caribbean's most successful artists of the 1950s and '60s. His many hits include "El Bombon de Elena," "Quitate de la Via," Pedro," "Maquinolandera," "El Negrito Bembon," "En un Solo Pie," "Tuntuneco," "Con la Punta del Pie," "Yo No Quiero Piedras en Mi Camino," and "Saoco."  Cortijo's involvement with music began at the age of nine, when he played a set of bongos a cousin had made of milk tins. A master percussionist, by his teens, he accompanied the Matamoros Trio on shows broadcast by radio station WNEL. A professional musician since 1942, Cortijo served his musical apprenticeship in bands led by Monchito Miranda, Coricua Sonant, Miguelito Miranda, Frank Wood, and the Sustache Sisters. He accompanied vocalists Myrta Silva and Miguelito Valdés on the radio. Under Cortijo's guidance, the band rose to the upper echelon of Puerto Rican music. In addition to performing at dances and festivals, they appeared daily on a popular radio show and in a number of films including the Harry Belafonte-starring Calypso. Cortijo was at his peak in 1962 when he was arrested for drugs. While he was imprisoned, several members of his band defected to form their own group, El Gran Combo.
Reference:  http://www.answers.com/main/ntq-tname-rafael%252Dcortijo-fts_start-

      
Reference:  www.musicofpuertorico.com

TAVIN PUMAREJO
(HIGA2DEGANSO)

     Tavín  Pumarejo is a Puerto Rican singer and comedian.  While better known for his work as a comedy  actor on Puerto Rican television Pumarejo has released 16 Puerto Rican music CD's, of which one actually became a major hit in Puerto Rico.  Pumarejo was born in the San Juan  "Rio Cañas" barrio, which is actually much closer to downtown Caguas than it is from downtown San Juan. Having grow up in the mountains that surround the valley of Caguas, Pumarejo identifies himself with the Puerto Rican country people more than with the metropolitan people that are always associated with San Juan.  Pumarejo started to work on Puerto Rican television when  Paquito Cordero began his  "Show de las 12" at Telemundo Puerto Rico then popularly known as "Canal dos".  Much like José Miguel Agrelot's "Don Cholito" character, and like Machuchal, Pumarejo donned a "pava" (a hat that is typical of Puerto Rican mountain workers) for each of his television appearances. The pava became a staple on Pumarejo's life, as he began using it in almost every personal appearances, and on interviews with newspapers and magazines such as El Nuevo Día, Vea, El Vocero, Teve Guía and others.  Pumarejo's nickname, "El Higado de Ganso" ("The Duck's Liver"), basically matches his dress style, as ducks are commonly seen in Puerto Rican farms, and animal liver is a common food among Puerto Rico's mountain residents.  Pumarejo is well known for his self deprecating sense of humor as well.  Asked by  Luisito Vigoreaux during a live interview on national television in 2003 about his latest musical production, he answered "it can be found at some large stores, as well as in kiosks alongside (Puerto Rico's) highway #2, where they will give it for free if (you) buy a plate of fried pork".  Puerto Rico's highway #2 is an area filled with kiosks that sell fried pork and other, typical Puerto Rican foods, and it happens to be located very close to Pumarejo's native "Rio Cañas" area, so the comedian has made hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of television jokes connecting him with that highway.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tavin_Pumarejo

Reference:  photo provided by Aurye

ANTONIO CABAN VALE
(EL TOPO)
 

Caban is best know as a singer and composer of  Puerto Rican folklore themes. He was born and raised in the town of Moca which is located in the western part of Puerto Rico. There he received his primary and secondary educations; he later moved to San Juan and in 1961, enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico.  He wrote poems as a student which were published in the university's publication "Guajara"; it was during his time at university that he was nicknamed "El Topo", a name which has stuck with him.  In 1966, Caban earned his Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Social Sciences and soon after his graduation, he became a public school teacher, a job which he held for two years. In the 1970's, he formed a group called "Taone" and added music to his poems - he was the lead singer of the group. Amongst the songs which Caban recorded and that made him famous in Puerto Rico are:  "Flor de Amapola" (Amapola Flower / Poppy);  "Que Bonita Luna" (What a Beautiful Moon);  "Donde vas Maria" (Where are you going Maria?);   "Canciones de Amantes" (Songs for Lovers) and "Verde Luz" (Green Light), which has also been sung by the Argentine singer Ginamaría Hidalgo.  Caban has published two books with his poems; the first is entitled "Un Lugar Fuera de Tiempo" (A Place from Another Time) and is based on his experiences as a young man in his hometown Moca and the second "Penultima Salida" (The exit before the Last), deals with his personal quest in search for the "truth".  Caban is currently touring and promoting his latest recording. His musical style includes the use of those musical instruments which are typically Puerto Rican such as the "Cuatro" (A Puerto Rican Guitar) and the "Guiro".
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_%22El_Topo%22_Caban_Vale

 

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_%22El_Topo%22_Caban_Vale

 

HECTOR JUAN PEREZ MARTINEZ
(HECTOR LAVOE)

 

Héctor Lavoe (born Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez, September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico - died June 29, 1993 in  New York City) was a Puerto Rican salsa singer.  He has performed in some of the most prestigious concert halls featuring Salsa, as well as Jazz events like the Newport Jazz Festival. His recordings have also garnered him many awards and gold albums. His success is attributed to his musical expression of his unique jibaro salsa flavor and his love for Puerto Rico.  He was inspired early in life by his musically talented family. His grandfather Don Juan Martínez was a singer of controversial songs, which often went from vocal conflict to physical confrontations. His uncle was a well known tres player in Ponce. His mother Pachita was well known among her family and townspeople for her beautiful singing voice. His father Luis supported his wife and eight children by singing and playing guitar with trios and big bands. Héctor would also be 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. Later in his life, would have the honor of recording songs with both artists.  became severely addicted to narcotic and prescription drugs. His addiction resulted in him showing up late for gigs, and eventually did not even show up to some appointments at all. Although Willie fired him, he tried to help Lavoe seek assistance to try to quit his habit.  In 1973, Willie Colón departed the band. Lavoe was giving the option of keeping the band together by becoming leader of his own band, which he did. Lavoe formed his own band and traveled around the world with them as well as with the Fania All Stars.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_Lavoe

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hector_Lavoe

RUTH FERNANDEZ

Ruth's mother died when she was three years old and she was raised along with her four other siblings by her grandmother. She received her primary and secondary education in her hometown. As a child she learned to play the  piano and was very active in her school and community's activities. In high school she organized her own musical group. She became a professional singer at the age of 14 when she would go to the local  radio stations, WPRP and WPAB, and sing for 50 cents a day. In 1935,  when she was 16 years old, she was heard by Mingo, a bandleader of a locally popular band and was hired. She then performed in  nightclubs dances and casinos. Ruth started to gain popularity and in  1941, was signed by Columbia Records with whom she recorded her first hit song, "Cuando Vuelvas" (When you return) a theme written by Myrta Silva. Her first appearance in New York was in The Latin Theater of New York. There the Master of Ceremonies,  Hector del Villar, introduced her as "El Alma de Puerto Rico hecha cancion" (The Soul of Puerto Rico made song). That nickname or introduction was to stay with her forever. When Ruth returned to the island, she enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico with the intention of becoming a social worker. However, she once again joined Mingo and his band, the "Whoopee Kids" and toured with them throughout the Caribbean,  Central and South America.   On one occasion the band was contracted to perform in the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. The director of the orchestra told her that according to the hotels rules, she must enter through the kitchen door like all the other "black" musicians. Ruth however, did not follow the instructions and entered through the main entrance. She went on stage and performed before the astonished audience.
Reference:  http://www.answers.com/Ruth%20Fernandez%20biography

 
Reference:  http://www.answers.com/Ruth%20Fernandez%20biography

 

ERNESTO ANTONIO PUENTE, JR.
(TITO PUENTE)

Ernesto Antonio Puente Jr., more commonly known as Tito Puente was an influential Latin Jazz and "Mambo" musician.  The Puerto Rican native of Spanish Harlem in New York City is often credited as "El Rey (The King) of the "timbales", "The Mambo King", and "The King of Latin Music".  He is best known for dance-oriented "mambo" and latin jazz compositions that helped keep his career going for some fifty years.  He and his music appear in many films such as "The Mambo Kings".  He guest starred on several television shows including "The Cosby Show" and "The Simpsons".  Puente served in the Navy for three years during World War II after being drafted in 1942. He was discharged with a Presidential Commendation for serving in nine battles. The GI Bill  allowed him to study music at Julliard School of Music, where he completed a formal education in conducting, orchestration and theory. In 1969, he received the key to the City of New York from former Mayor  John Lindsay,  In 1992 he was inducted into the National Congressional Record, and in 1993 he received the Smithsonian Medal.  During the 1950's, Puente was at the height of his mass popularity, and helped to bring Afro-Cuban and Caribbean sounds, like "mambo", son, and chachacha, to mainstream audiences (he was so successful playing popular Afro-Cuban rhythms that many people mistakenly identify him as Cuban).
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Puente

Refehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Puenterence: 

GILBERTO MONROIG


Gilberto Monroig born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, a singer of "boleros".  Gilberto's parents moved from the countryside to the city in search of a better way of life and settled in the Villa Palmera sector of Santurce, a section of San Juan where the musical sounds of the "bomba y plena" and of the "tango" filled the air. Gilberto received his primary and secondary education in Puerto Rico and later on earn his high school equivalent diploma in New York City .  When he was ten years old, he would imitate his favorite singer, the famed Argentine singer of tangos, Carlos Gardel.  His father once gave his brother, Luis a guitar which Gilberto learned to play better than his brother - often resulting in a fight over the instrument.  Finally, Gilberto's father decided that it would be best if he bought him one also.  In 1943, at age 13, he joined a group called "Taone" and a year later joined another band by the name of "Maravilla". However, it was when the "Super Orchestra Tropicana" hired him that he received his first big break as a professional singer.  In the early 1950's Gilberto joined Tito Puente's Orchestra and recorded various songs. Among them was "Malcriada" which became a "hit". In 1955, he returned to Puerto Rico and went "solo'. He had instant "hits" with the songs "Mujer" (Women) and "Duerme, Margarita" (Sleep, Margarita). He also recorded some songs by composers Pedro Flores and Rafael Hernández.  He won his first Gold Record Award in 1959, with "Egoismo".  Gilberto returned to New York and in 1964, he won his second Gold Record Award with "Simplemente Una Illusion" (Simply an Illusion).  He sang for various bands including Tito Puente's and traveled throughout the United States and Latin-America.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilberto_Monroig

 

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilberto_Monroig

EL GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico is a Puerto Rican Salsa music orchestra. It is Puerto Rico's most successful musical group, and one of Salsa's most famous groups across Latin America. Since many of the genre's legendary singers have been members of the orchestra, the band has been given the moniker La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa).  El Gran Combo was founded by Rafael Ithier in May of 1962. Ithier is still, as of 2006, the orchestra's pianist and musical director. Ithier had been a member of Rafael Cortijo's "Combo" orchestra, travelling to the eastern United States before forming El Gran Combo. For their first gig, the orchestra was signed by the legendary Cuban comedian, writer and businessman Alvarez Guedes, who hired El Gran Combo to support Dominican singer Joseito Mateo on one of his albums.  On May 21, 1962, El Gran Combo was heard for the first time on Puerto Rican radio. Later on, they became the on-studio musicians of the live television show, "La Taberna India", sponsored by India Beer.  El Gran Combo by then was already associated with some of Puerto Rico's better known Salsa personalities: Sammy Ayala, who had also played with the Cortijo orchestra, kept his friendship with Ithier; he would be instrumental in the hiring of Andy Montanez. Pellin Rodriguez and Chiqui Garcia, two of the most famous Salsa singers of the era, were already singing for El Gran Combo. Felipe Rodriguez, another legendary Salsa singer, also followed the group's career closely, sometimes even making suggestions to Ithier.  El Gran Combo released their first album, "Acangana", with Rodriguez and Montanez as leading voices. The album became a number one hit in New York, Panama and Puerto Rico.  Other members of El Gran Combo included, at the time, dancer & percussionist Roberto Roena and musician Elias Lopez. These two members caused a void in the group when they left the band to pursue their own professional interests, soon after the orchestra had been let go by Alvarez Guedes' recording company, Gema Records.  Regardless of the problems these events caused, the orchestra continued experiencing success in Latin America through the 1960s and into the 1970s.
Reference:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Gran_Combo

Reference:  http://www.justsalsa.com/music/elgrancombodepuertorico/

 

ARMANDO HIPOLITO AVELLANET GONZALEZ
(CHUCHO AVELLANET)

Armando Hipolito Avellanet Gonzalez (born 13 August, 194), nicknamed "Chucho" (from the Basque Txutxo) is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor. Avellanet is a native of Mayaguez (actually born in the same house that is now occupied by the local clubhouse of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico in town).  Before becoming famous, he had been performing across Puerto Rico's western coast with various musical trios, particularly with the Trio Los Duendes group. He was regarded as having a powerful voice, but was too shy to occupy a solo spot in any of the groups he performed with. He was discovered by a Cuban television promoter, Gaspar Pumarejo, who immediately introduced him to the Puerto Rican television world. His career formally started during the week of 23 May - 28 May, 1961, when he was featured daily in Pumarejo's show. His first formal live performance was opening for Myrta Silva at a Puerto Rican music review regularly staged at the Tropicoro Room of El San Juan Hotel in Carolina, Puerto Rico now the Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino. He took voice lessons from Puerto Rican soprano Rina de Toledo.  Avellanet reached teen-idol status in Puerto Rico during the 1960s, as a member of the nueva ola music movement. Helped by Alfred D. Herger, was a member of a group of teen sensations that included Lissette Alvarez (to whom Avellanet got married), Lucecita Benitez, Yolandita Monge, Ednita Nazario and Charlie Robles, among others. With la nueva ola, he recorded his first album, named Fugitiva.   1972 was a very eventful year for Avellanet, who finished in fourth place at that year's Festival OTI in Spain.   Then, Avellanet made history by becoming the first Hispanic to perform at the Miss Universe contest, held that year in the Puerto Rican beach town of Dorado. 
Reference:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chucho_Avellanet

Reference:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chucho_Avellanet

COMPOSERS

 

JOSE NOGUERAS

Nogueras was born on 18 June 1951 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. He loved music from an early age and enjoyed playing the guitar. His father was a simple and humble man that had a great talent for poetry; a talent that helped his son José develop as an artist.  At age eight he lived in Río Piedras and played in various bands until age 17 when he began his professional career; a career that showed his versatility as a composer and singer. He was popular as much for his rock music, as his ballads, Christmas music and salsa.  His compositions have been performed by a wide variety of artists including Cheo Feliciano, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, Ismael Miranda, Willie Colón, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Tony Vega.  Nogueras has earned many awards and prizes throughout his professional career, including Billboard’s Composer of the Year; the Premios Agüeybaná y Cemí for Singer of the Year and “Christmas production of the Year”. His compositions are noted for their simplicity, profundity and universal appeal. Nogueras’ music has not only captivated the public in Puerto Rico with its contagious rhythm and style, with songs such as Pueblo Unido but has also been popular throughout much of Latin America and the United States.
Reference:   http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/jose_nogueras/

Reference:  http://www.musicofpuertorico.com/index.php/artists/jose_nogueras/

RAFAEL HERNANDEZ

Rafael Hernández (October 24, 1982 – December 11, 1965), born in the town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, is considered by many to be the greatest composer of Puerto Rican music.  Hernández was born into a poor family.  As a child, he learned the craft of cigar making, from which he made a modest living.  He also grew to love music and asked his parents to permit him to become a full-time music student.  When he was 12 years old, Hernández studied music in San Juan, under the guidance of music professors José Ruellan Lequenica and Jesús Figueroa.  He learned to play many musical instrument, among them the clarinet, tuba, violin, piano and guitar.  However, according to many Puerto Rican music historians, when he learned how to write music that his life and the history of Puerto Rican music would change forever.  At the age of 14, he played for the Cocolia Orquestra.  Hernández moved to San Juan where he played for the municipal orchestra under the director Manuel Tizol.  In 1917, Rafael Hernández was working as a musician in North Carolina, when the U.S. entered WWI. He enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 396th Infantry Regimant of Puerto Rico which was created in New York. The regiment, also known as "The Harlem Hell fighters" by the Germans, served in France. There, he toured Europe with the "Orchestra Europe".  After the war, Hernández moved to New York City.  In the 1920's, he started writing songs and organized a trio called "Trío Borincano".  In 1926 fellow Puerto Rican Pedro Flores joined the Trio. Even though Hernández and Flores became and always remained good friends, they soon went their separate ways and artistically competed against each other. After the trio broke up, he formed a quartet called "Cuarteto Victoria" which included singer Myrta Silva, also known as "La Guarachera" and "La Gorda de Oro".  With both groups, Hernández traveled and played his music all over the United States, Latin America, Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico.  In 1937, Hernández wrote one of his greatest works, "Lamento Borincano". That same year, he also wrote what is considered by many to be his masterpiece, "Preciosa". In 1947, Hernández returned to Puerto Rico and became the director of the Puerto Rican Symphony Orchestra.  He was also a musical advisor to the government-owned WIPR Radio.  Rafael Hernandez's talent went beyond composing only patriotic music.  He also composed Christmas music, Danzas, Zarzuelas, Guarachas, Boleros, Waltzes and etcetera. Many people in the Dominican Republic consider his composition "Linda Quisqueya" their second national anthem.   Hernández's works' include "Ahora Somos Felices" (Now we are happy), "Campanitas de Cristal" (Crystal Bells), "Capullito de Aleli", "Culpable" (Guilty), "El Cumbanchero", "Ese Soy Yo" (That's Me), "Perfume de Gardenias", "Silencio", and "Tu No Comprendes" (You Don't Understand), among 3,000 others. His music became an important part of the Puerto Rican Culture.  Hernández was Honorary President of the Authors and Composers Association. He was also the founder of little league baseball in Puerto Rico. President John F. Kennedy christened him "Mr. Cumbanchero".  Rafael Hernández died in San Juan on December 11, 1965.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Hern%C3%A1ndez_Mar%C3%ADn

 

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Hern%C3%A1ndez_Mar%C3%ADn

PEDRO FLORES

 Pedro Flores was born (March 9. 1897 - July, 1979 in the town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico was one Puerto Rico's best known composers of Ballads and "Boleros".  Flores was one of 12 children born into a poor family. Flores' father died when he was only nine years old and therefore, he was forced to work at a young age. When he was 16 years old, he took a special course in the University of Puerto Rico  (Universidad de Puerto Rico) and received his teachers certificate. Flores taught for five years and worked for one year at a sugar mill in the island of Vieques.  In 1918, he served in a clerical position in the U.S. Army.  He was honorably discharged from the Army when he was 24 years old.  In 1926  Flores went to New York without any formal musical education and joined another Puerto Rican composer, Rafael Hernández in his "Trio Borinquen". Even though Flores and Hernandez became very good friends, they also became competitors as composers. When Flores wrote "Sin Banderas", Hernandez rushed and wrote "Preciosa".In 1930, Flores formed his own trio which he named "Trio Galon", and whose music and songs had a faster beat then the "Trio Borinquen". Flores had problems with the music publishing company and he abandoned the trio. He moved to Mexico and then lived in Cuba  for a short period of time. Flores eventually returned to New York where he reorganized his "old" trio. Some of the singers of this new trio wereMyrta Silva, Daniel Santos and Pedro Ortíz Dávila  "Davilita".  Some of the songs written by Flores were: "Amor Perdido" (Lost Love), "Bajo un Palmar" (Under the Palm Tree), "Borracho no Vale" (A Drunk isn't Worth Anything), "Linda", "Sin Banderas" (Without a Flag), "Despedida" (Farewell) and "Perdon" (I'm Sorry).
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Flores_%28composer%29

 

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Flores_%28composer%29

FELIX MANUEL RODRIGUEZ CAPO
(BOBBY CAPO)

Félix Manuel Rodríguez Capó, better known as Bobby Capó, was an internationally known singer and songwriter from Puerto Rico. He usually combined ballads with classical music Puerto Rican folk elements and even Andalucian music, as to produce many memorable Latino pop songs which featured elaborate, dramatic lyrics.  Capó was born in Coamo, one of Puerto Rico's oldest settlements, located in the Island's south quadrant. After earning a strong reputation as a likable, versatile singer, he adopted his stage name (Rodriguez is one of Puerto Rico's most common surnames, and he opted to use his mother's less common one instead) and emigrated to the city of New York, early in the 1940's.   One of his self-penned songs was El Negro Bembón ("The Big-Lipped Black Guy") a song not meant to be a derogatory song, since it half-humorously denounced the racial killing of an Afro-Puerto Rican (in a country whose racial relations, while sometimes acrimonious, are slightly more tolerant than the norm elsewhere). The song was a smash hit for Cortijo y su Combo in the mid-1950's.  Another of Capó's songs is "Sin Fe" ("Without Faith"), sometimes known as "Poquita Fe" ("Little Faith").  Capo's composition describing his homesickness for Puerto Rico, "Soñando con Puerto Rico" ("Dreaming of Puerto Rico"), is revered as an anthem by Puerto Ricans residing abroad. Another of his songs, "De Las Montañas Venimos" is a Christmas standard in Puerto Rico. His best known song, however, is Piel Canela (Cinnamon Skin). Capó recorded its most famous version, and the song was later covered by many Latin American artists, including fellow Puerto Rican Daniel Santos, in an emblematic rendition.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Capo

 

Reference:   Wikipedia:  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Capo

 

DANIEL SANTOS

Daniel was born and raised with his three sisters in Trastalleres, a poor section of Santurce, in San Juan. He attended Las Palmitas Elementary School. Although he was doing well in school his father took him out of school when he was in the fourth grade and forced him to shine shoes because his family was facing a bad economic situation. In 1924, his family immigrated to New York looking for a better way of life. When his parents enrolled him in school, he had to start from the first grade again because he did not know enough English. Daniel joined his high school's choir but he dropped out of high school in his second year and moved out of his parents apartment.   Daniel moved into a small low rent apartment; here, one day, while he was taking a shower, he started to sing "Te Quiero, Dijiste" (You said I Love You). A member of the Trio Lirico was passing by and heard him sing, he then knocked on Daniel's door. The trio member invited Daniel to join the trio and he accepted. He sang with the trio in various social events and was paid a dollar for every song that he sang.   Daniel recorded many songs with the Cuarteto Flores and started to gain fame. Among songs that he recorded were: "Perdon" (I'm Sorry),  "Amor" (Love), "El Ultimo Adios" (The Last Good-bye), "Borracho no Vale" (Being Drunk don't Count) and many others.  
Reference:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Santos_%28singer%29

 

Reference:  www.musicofpuertorico.com/en/daniel_santos.html

 

THE HISTORY OF "LA CORPORACION LATINA"

In 1970 there were 3 local salsa bands in Puerta De Tierra (San Juan):  La Corporacion Latina, Rafy Leavitt and La Selecta and Carpet Diem (The band leader is now the very famous piano player, arranger and director of RMM : Isidro Infante).   In 1970 La Corporacion Latina was a very small group in the style of Joe Cuba (had percussion, vibe, guitar, piano, bass, 1 trombone and 1 singer).  In 1971 the band decided to add trumpets and another trombone player, Richard who was their trombone player decided to join another local salsa band ( Rafy Leavitt and La Selecta ) with the idea of stealing Rafy Leavitt’s horn players and have them join La Corporacion Latina, but Richard soon found out that La Selecta was going to record their first song and he liked the band and joined La Selecta and left La Corporacion Latina. Rafy Leavitt and La Selecta recorded a single titled "AMBIENTE" but it did not get any airplay. During that same time Johnny Delgado and I started playing at church and Johnny had written some original salsa tunes and after church we would work on these songs, one day Charlie Collazo who was the piano player of La Corporacion Latina heard us and asked us to join the band. From 1971 and 1972 Johnny and I were the horn section for La Corporacion Latina. We would play anywhere, anytime ( most of the time for free ). In 1972 Rafy Leavitt and La Selecta recorded the hit PAYASO and became very famous, we decided that we needed to add more horns to the band and added Felix (1^st Trumpet player) and Rodney (2^nd trombone player) We started to write all original songs ( most of them by Johnny Delgado and Felix Martinez ), we also added a second singer Guelo Cruz who had played with the band as the bass player years before. In 1972 La Corporacion Latina members were:  Felix Martinez 1^st trumpet, Joe Campanella 2^nd trumpet (me), Johnny Delgado 1^st trombone, Rodney Lozada 2^nd Trombone, Josie Gonzalez timbal, Papo Mazacote Bongo, Jose Ramos Congas, Charlie Collazo Piano, German Papo Velez Bass, Guelo Cruz Singer, Joe Belo Singer and Ramon Lozada Director (He was the only one at the time that had a Job and a car and we could rehearse in his house). We remained together for six years!  We wrote all our songs and did all the arrangements as a group. In 1972-73 we recorded our first LP, we had a small local hit titled "Amor Maldito".  This first LP was done at the local TV station channel 7 in a small studio where they did jingles, we hired the sound director to sneak us in at 2:AM in the morning, recorded the whole LP on 8 channels and had to be done at 5:00 AM that same day.  We knew it would not be a very good LP and did not record our best material, the whole purpose was to get something out and try to get some local radio playing time (which we did with Amor Maldito).  We rehearsed everyday, played everywhere (If you were getting married and I just met you I would offer you the band for a couple of bottles of rum!) we just wanted to play and get better, we soon found out that our singers had great harmony and started to do boleros with them. Guelo brought to the band three songs and suggested we make a medley out of them , we named the song Desengaño (Guelo was the person who prepared all the harmonies, and brought all the boleros to the band, he was separated from his wife who he loved very much and all these songs were about how he loved her, how much he missed her , how much pain and suffering he was in and wanted her back).
References:  http://ourworld.cs.com/melenj585/history.htm.

 

Reference:  http://www.salsaclasica.com/corporacionlatina/default.asp

 

HERMES DAVIDE FASTINO CROATTO MARTINIS
(TONY CROATTO)

Tony Croatto (March 2, 1940 - April 3, 2005) was an Italian-Puerto Rican singer and composer best known for his interpretations of Puerto Rican folk music.  Born Hermes Davide Fastino Croatto Martinis in Udine, Italy.  Croatto's family moved to Uruguay when he was 9 years old. In 1959, at 19, he created his first group with his brother Tim and his sister Nelly which was named "TNT". In 1968, after spending some years in Argentina and Venezuela, he moved permanently to his adopted homeland, Puerto Rico.  He performed with his sister Nelly in a duo called "Tony y Nelly" until 1974.  Croatto was also noted for his popular protest songs in the "Nueva Trova" tradition, as part of the band Haciendo Punto en Otro Son, along with Puerto Rican singers Silverio Pérez, Josy LaTorre, Irvin García, and Nano Cabrera. Since then he was well regarded for his interpretations of Puerto Rican folk music.  In 1985, Croatto recorded another mega-hit: his song, El Niñito Jesus, released during the Christmas seaon, which told about a poor child, named Jesus, with wornout pants,    hunger and no shoes, who walked into a house of well doers.  This song has become a christmas classic in Puerto Rico.  Croatto's daughter, Mara Croatto, born in Venezuela, is a famous actress, who considers herself one hundred percent Puerto Rican.  In 2000 the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico proclaimed him as its adoptive son.   Croatto was diagnosed on March of 2005 with lung and brain cancer. He refused medical treatment, opting for natural treatments instead. The famous television character, "La Comay", said that "Tony is more Puerto Rican than many who were born in Puerto Rico", but her comments backfired when Croatto's wife (Lillian Arroyo) reacted angrily days later, declaring newspapers that she did not wish for anyone to discuss her husband's disease on television.  After requesting to be released from the hospital to spend his last days with his family, Croatto died, on April 2, 2005. His funeral was held at the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and he was given the same burial as a head of state. Thousands of Puerto Ricans attended accompanied his remains, which were buried in the Old San Juan Cemetery and which was documented by the local press. He will always be remembered of how he re-kindle and boost in Puerto Ricans the love for their country, their nature, and the "jíbaro" concept without political colors nor beliefs.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Croatto

 

Reference:  http://www.musicaboricua.com/Merchan2/merchant.mvc?LNG=en-US&Screen=CTGY_Code=TonyCroatto
You are our Angel in the Sky...  Rest in Peace!

P.R. ACTRESSES/ACTORS
AND COMEDIANS

 

JOSE MIGUEL AGRELOT
(Don Cholito and or Torito)

 

Don Cholito it was one of his roles as a political censurer  and as a comedian he plays a role as Torito, in a comedy program called "El Colegio de la Alegría" (The Happy College), as an ignorant little boy who was also mischievous in the classroom.

 
Reference:  http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/pr.htm
You will always be in our thoughts...  Rest in Peace!

I wrote this poem (in Spanish) specially for you.

A Don Cholito le escribo
Estos versos que leo en calma
Y en los que en ellos digo
Que Dios ya tiene su alma.

Comediante como él
Puerto Rico jamás tendrá
A Torito que fué un ser
Que a todos dejará
El amor sincero de aquél
Que nunca más volverá.

Con sus comedias mantuvo
A todo Puerto Rico en risas
Pues como él nunca hubo
Alguien para compartir sonrisas.

Y por eso Don Cholito
No diré adiós para siempre
Porque ya que con Torito
Sabemos que tú partiste
Al lugar que sabemos toditos
A morar con Dios te fuiste.

Diciéndote un "hasta luego"
Te tendremos en nuestra mente
Y en nuestro corazón con ruego
Estarás siempre presente.

Por:  Aurea E. Padilla-Velázquez
14 de febrero de 2004
6:54 p.m.

MYRTA SILVA

 

Reference:  )  http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9914254
We will never forget you...  Rest in Peace!


I dedicated this poem (in Spanish) just for you.

 

En su programa “Tira y Tapate” ella criticaba

A cualquier gobierno que estuviera en poder

Y cantando alegre sus maracas tocaba

Dejándole así al pueblo ver

Entre cada estrofa cantada

Que en el gobierno no debiéramos creer

Ya que a nuestro pueblo engañaba

Con su forma de proceder

Por eso Myrta Silva representaba

El prototipo de aquella mujer

Que a su país mucho amaba

Y que siempre supo defender.

 

Su pelo siempre tenía recogido

Con un pañuelo que usaba

Y a su público querido

Su buen humor le dejaba

Por eso no existe olvido

Para esa mujer añorada

Por su público que ha vivido

La verdad de que ella hablaba

Por eso nos ha dolido

Y nuestra alma quedó destrozada

Al saber que lejos se nos ha ido

Sin que pudiéramos hacer nada.

 

A Dios rogar queremos

Por el descanso de su alma

Seguros de que sabemos

Que ya está reposando en calma.

 

 

 

Por:  Aurea E. Padilla-Velázquez

5 de agosto de 2006

3:26 a.m.

RAUL RAFAEL CARLOS JULIA Y ARCELAY
(RAUL JULIA)

Raúl Rafael Juliá y Arcelay was a Puerto Rican actor who lived and worked for many years in the United States.   His career spanned stage and screen, and included dramatic, comic, and musical roles.  Juliá's father dreamed of bringing pizza to Puerto Rico. In fact, his father made that dream a reality when he added pizza to the menu at "La Cueva del Chicken Inn," his oddly named restaurant in San Juan. His son later hailed that pizza as "the best you've ever eaten."  The success of La Cueva del Chicken Inn ("The Chicken Inn's Cave") provided Juliá with more than good pizza. It paved the way for him to follow his own dreams, and to become one of the finest Puerto Rican actors of his generation. For 30 years, working in theater, film, and television, he would challenge and delight audiences with his complex, often enthralling performances.    Raúl Rafael Carlos Juliá y Arcelay was born in San Juan on March 9, 1940. Throughout his youth his father's business was particularly successful.  This economic security ensured excellent schooling for young Raúl. He studied at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola and attended the University of Puerto Rico where he was a member of Phi Sigma Alpha Puerto Rican pro-independence leader Rubén Berríos was a classmate and close friend.  Upon graduation from college, Juliá was faced with a difficult choice between his parents' wishes and his own. They wanted him to continue to law school. He wanted to pursue an acting career. Finally, like so many aspiring actors, he left for New York City in 1964 and began studying drama with Wynn Handman. He soon found work in off-Broadway theater.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raul_Julia

 

Reference:  http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/vol4n06/ProfileJulia-en.shtml
You will always be in our hearts...  Rest in Peace!

 

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raul_Julia
You'll never die in our hearts.  Rest in Peace!

ADALBERTO RODRIGUEZ
(MACHUCHAL)

Adalberto Rodríguez,  better known as Machuchal, was a Puerto Rican comedian.  Adalberto Rodriguez, was born in the town of Sabana Grande, in the southwest of Puerto Rico. He became very famous early on by imitating animal sounds for his elementary school peers. He acquired his stage name "Machuchal" after the barrio he lived in Sabana Grande. He liked to call himself "El alcalde de Machuchal", (the Machuchal Mayor)this was a joke that prevailed and launched him to stardom.  Machuchal was a living example of Puerto Rico's mountain man, known as Jibaro. He would wear a straw hat and a farm worker's shirt for many years on his daily intervention on Telemundo Puerto Rico's mid day show, El Show De Las 12, the straw hat in particular being known as an identifier of Jibaros.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machuchal

 

Reference:  http://joseosvaldo.freeyellow.com/Machuchal.html
We can't forget your smile...  Rest in Peace!

LUIS ANTONIO RIVERA
(YOYO BOING)

Luis Antonio Rivera (Yoyo Boing) born April 9. 1930 in Humacao, Puerto Rico.  Is a comedian who was also one of the pioneers of Puerto Rican television.   Yoyo's parents moved to Santurce, a section of San Juan, from Humacao when he was only three years old. After receiving his primary education, Yoyo attended the "Escuela Superior Central de Santurce" (Central High School of Santurce). He found a part-time job at a local radio station which opened the doors to a new world for him.  Yoyo became a member of the Drama Department of the University of Puerto Rico.   He also had a radio show and that's when he came up with the name of Yoyo Boing for a "character" he used in the show. 1954 was the year that television "arrived" in Puerto Rico.  Yoyo Boing, together with the likes of Tommy Muñiz, José Miguel Agrelot and Paquito Cordero was one of the first comics in Puerto Rican television. In 1960, he participated in the T.V. program called "La Críada Malcriada" (The Crazy Maid).
Reference:  http://www.answers.com/topic/luis-antonio-rivera

Reference:  http://www.answers.com/topic/luis-antonio-rivera

 

WORLD CHAMPIONS

TITO TRINIDAD

One of our champions in Boxing.

Reference:  http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/pr.htm

Roberto Clemente

Puerto Rican Champion in Major Leagues.  Roberto Clemente Walker (August 18, 1934 - December 31, 1972) was a Major League Baseball right fielder and right-handed batter.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame posthumously in 1973 as the second Hispanic American to be selected (Lefty Gomez being the first in 1972), and the only exception to the mandatory five-years post-retirement waiting period since it was instituted in 1954.  He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of four children.  He played 18 seasons in the majors from 1955 to 1972, all with the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning the National League MLB Most Valuable Player Award in 1966.  He was very helpfull in his native land, and other Latin American countries, often bringing food, and baseball supplies to them.  He died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972 while in route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.  His body was never recovered.
Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Clemente

 

Reference:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Clemente