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.
Early life:
Héctor was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico to Pachita and Luis Perez, and raised in the Machuelito barrio of the city. 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 Jesus Sanchez 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.
Héctor attended the local Juan Morel Campos Public School of Music where the saxophone was the first instrument he learned to play. Among his classmates were Jose Febles and multi-instrumentalist Papo Lucca. Jose Febles wrote most of the horn charts for "Rican-Struction", considered by many to be the best album to ever come out of the New York Salsa scene. One of his teachers would strictly demand good diction, stage presence and manners from him (something that suited him well later on), claiming that as a bolero singer, Héctor would become a superstar. By the age of 14, however, Héctor dropped out of school and sang with a ten-piece band. moved permanently to New York on May 3, 1963. It would take many more years before Héctor was able to reconcile with his father.
Arrival in New York City
He met his sister Priscilla upon arrival to New York. The first thing he did in New York was visit El Barrio, New York's "Spanish Harlem." Héctor was disappointed in the condition of El Barrio which contrasted with his vision of "fancy Cadillacs, tall marble skyscrapers and tree-lined streets." Hector stayed at his sister's apartment in The Bronx instead.
The first week in New York, Héctor was invited by his friend Roberto García, a fellow musician and childhood friend, to a rehearsal of a newly formed sextet playing the romantic bolero Tus Ojos. The lead vocalist, who was singing off key, and as a gesture of goodwill, Lavoe showed the vocalist how it was supposed to sound. Impressed with his dynamic voice and stage personality, the group offered him the spot of lead vocalist, which he accepted.
Later in his career, he joined othermore well known groups in the genre, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and Johnny Pacheco. In 1967, he met Salsa star Willie Colón.
Pacheco, co-owner of Fania Records and its recording musical director, arranged for Lavoe to record with Willie Colón on his first album El Malo. Willie never officially asked Lavoe to join his band, but after the recording, Willie said to him, "On Saturday we start at 10 p.m. at El Tropicoro Club."[need citation]
The album's success significantlytransforms both Willie's and Héctor's lives. Héctor received instant recognition, steady work and enough money to provide him with a comfortable life style. According to Lavoe, it happened so fast he didn't know how to cope with the sudden success.
Later years
With newly found success, Héctor, like many successful artists of his time such as Judy Garland, La Lupe, and Billie Holliday, became severly 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. During his travels, Héctor went to Honolulu, Hawaii and ran into a young man who went by the name of Shakti. Shatki eventually became his benefactor providing him with spiritual and metaphysical wellbeing. Lavoe later found out that he befriended a very powerful yogi in disguise who was trying to open Lavoe's spiritual vision. Héctor established himself as a successful singer within a relatively short time and was recognized as a legend in his own time. With a new found spirituality, Hector eventually reconciled with his father when he finally visited his father who received him with open arms.
Despite his success, Héctor's life was plagued by tragic events, emotional turmoil and pain.
Héctor died in poverty on June 29, 1993 in New York City. The cause of death was AIDS. He was first buried in a bruial plot in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx (which ironically is the burial place of both La Lupe and Billie Holiday; until 2002 Lavoe's grave was within walking distance from La Lupe's), however in June 2002 the bodies of both Lavoe and his son (who died in 1987) were exhumed per his family's request. They were later reinterred in his native Ponce, along with his wife Nilda who passed away a few weeks prior to the burial.
Lavoe's spirit and legacy still lives on. He is one of the few Latin artists to have his life filmed into two biopics. Both films, which will be released in 2006 are produced by two of the most prominent celebrities in the musical genre. El Cantante will star salsa superstar Marc Anthony as Lavoe, and film icon (and also's Anthony's wife in real life), Jennifer Lopez as Hector's wife, Nilda (also known as "Puchi" by close friends).
Meanwhile, singer La India is producing her own biopic of Lavoe's wife with actor Raul Carbonell in the lead role. The Singer (which is a literal English translation of the first biopic) will be released in 2006 as well.
Besides these films, an off-Broadway production of his life title Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe? ("Who Killed Hector Lavoe?) was a huge success in the late 1990s. IT starred singer Domingo Quiñones in the lead role.
Bandolera
Héctor Lavoe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y dice cien, se inventa mil
Dice un millón
El ser que ya nació para engañar
Te engaña a ti, me engaña a mí
Me engaña a mí
Ya no se puede creer
Ni la mujer en el hombre
Ay ni el hombre en la mujer
Por eso yo no creo en el amor
Yo creo en mí, yo sé de mí
Yo sé vivir
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Pau, pau, pau
Te voy a dar
Te voy a dar una pela
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Si te tiro por la ventana
Te subes por la escalera
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Vete y pregona por ahí
Que ya acabé, mamá
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Como te gusta el chicle, eh eh
Como te gusta el chicle chu-pa
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Si a ti te gusta el bochinche
Vete y háblalo allá afuera
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Si tierra mía
¿Dime que has hecho?
De nuestro dulce hogar
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Pau, pau, pau
Te vuelvo a dar
Te voy a dar pa' que aprendas
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Aléjate bandolera
Aléjate bandolera
Pero camina
Camina so bochinchera
Aléjate bandolera
Te voy a pegar, te voy a pegar, te voy a pegar, te voy a pegar, te voy a pegar
Aléjate bandolera
Te voy a dar una pela
Aléjate bandolera
Pa' que aprendas a querer
Aléjate bandolera
Pau, pau, pau
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Pau, pau, pau
Te vuelvo a dar
Te voy a dar pa' que aprendas
Y como llegaste a mí
Aléjate bandolera
Aléjate bandolera
Aléjate bandolera
Pero camina, bochinchera y paquetera
Aléjate bandolera
Te encontré sobre la acera
Aléjate bandolera
Vete por ahí mujer ingrata
Aléjate bandolera
Y agarra una borrachera
Aléjate bandolera
Pa ver si aprende a querer
Aléjate bandolera
Y a respetar a quien te quiera
Aléjate bandolera
Ay, yo no te quiero
Aléjate bandolera
Si yo no te quiero, anda tranquila
Ya no te quiero, vive tu vida, ah ya
Ay vete, vete paquetera
Aléjate bandolera
Me buscaste los bolsillos, me tumbaste la cartera
Aléjate bandolera
Y esa va a ser la razón
Aléjate bandolera
Porque te voy a pegar
Aléjate bandolera
Y caerás sobre la arena
Aléjate bandolera
Anda y vete ya mi amor
Aléjate bandolera
Si no te quiero sigue tranquila
Aléjate bandolera
No perturbe' má' mi vida
Aléjate bandolera
O te vo'a morder la oreja
Aléjate bandolera
The lyrics of "Bandolera" by Héctor Lavoe express a disillusionment with love and the difficulty in trusting others due to the prevalence of lies and deception. The song begins by highlighting how a liar will often tell more lies to cover up their initial lie, and this can snowball out of control until they have invented a million untruths. The singer suggests that some people are born to deceive and will continue to do so even to those closest to them. The chorus describes the unpredictability of life and how it becomes difficult to trust anyone, even the opposite sex. The song concludes with the singer warning a bandolera, a woman who causes trouble and heartache, to stay away from him, threatening to physically harm her if she continues to bother him.
Overall, the song's message is one of distrust and cynicism, reflecting a disappointingly disillusioned view of human nature. The lyrics suggest that honesty and sincerity are in short supply, and that the difficulty in trusting another person leads to a self-centered perspective. The song's energy and rhythm, however, create an engaging sonic experience that draws in the listener, creating a syncopated beat that enhances the sense of menace and aggression in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Quien dice una mentira dice dos
If someone tells one lie, they will tell another and another, until they have created a web of lies.
Y dice cien, se inventa mil
Once someone starts lying, they tend to exaggerate their lies, multiplying them until they have told numerous untruths.
Dice un millón
Someone who is prone to lying will not hesitate to even fabricate stories that are too unbelievable and impossible to be true.
El ser que ya nació para engañar
There are some people who are born with the natural ability to deceive others and those unfortunate souls will inevitably fall prey to their deceit.
Te engaña a ti, me engaña a mí
A person who is born to cheat will inevitably deceive everyone around them, including their loved ones and themselves.
Y así es como va la vida
This is how life is. Full of deceit and deception.
Ya no se puede creer
It has become increasingly difficult to trust people nowadays.
Ni la mujer en el hombre
Women cannot trust men anymore.
Ay ni el hombre en la mujer
Men cannot trust women anymore.
Por eso yo no creo en el amor
It is hard to believe in love when everyone around us is treating it like a game.
Yo creo en mí, yo sé de mí
The only person I can really trust in life is myself, and I am confident of my own abilities.
Yo sé vivir
I know how to navigate through life despite all the challenges and trials it presents.
Y como llegaste a mí
And how did you come to me?
Aléjate bandolera
Go away, thief!
Pau, pau, pau
Sound of slapping or hitting.
Te voy a dar
I will give you a beating.
Te voy a dar una pela
I am going to give you a severe beating.
Si te tiro por la ventana
If I throw you out of the window.
Te subes por la escalera
You will climb back up through the stairs.
Vete y pregona por ahí
Go and spread your lies elsewhere.
Que ya acabé, mamá
You can spread rumors that I am done with you.
Como te gusta el chicle, eh eh
How you love chewing gum, eh?
chu-pa
Sucking or chewing.
Si a ti te gusta el bochinche
If you like gossip and drama.
Vete y háblalo allá afuera
Go talk about it outside.
Si tierra mía
My land.
¿Dime que has hecho?
Tell me what have you done.
De nuestro dulce hogar
Of our sweet home.
Te voy a dar pa' que aprendas
I am going to give you a beating so you can learn your lesson.
Pa' que aprendas a querer
So you can learn to love and respect others.
Pero camina
But keep walking.
Camina so bochinchera
Keep walking, you troublemaker.
Te encontré sobre la acera
I found you on the sidewalk (implying that you were homeless or in a rough spot in life).
Vete por ahí mujer ingrata
Go away, ungrateful woman.
Y agarra una borrachera
Go get drunk.
Pa ver si aprende a querer
So you can learn to love and respect others.
Y a respetar a quien te quiera
And to respect those who love you.
No perturbe' má' mi vida
Do not disturb my life anymore.
O te vo'a morder la oreja
Or I am going to bite your ear.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Victor Cavalli Cisnero
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lopz33
Un día como hoy, 30 de septiembre de 1946, nació en el barrio Machuelo Abajo, Ponce, Puerto Rico, el cantautor Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez, conocido artísticamente como Héctor Lavoe, el Cantante de los Cantantes. Maestro, todavía lo seguimos extrañando.🎶🎤✍🎵😢😢😢😢😢
@surfingplayer7
Héctor no está muerto..... Esa música sonara por la eternidad
@samuelroquett4280
Uno de los mejores solos de piano de toda la salsa sin Duda, Tengo 25 años y escucho esta musica como si la hubiera bailado en el pasado. Como un Deja vu
@juanjosebilbao
TE FELICITO ,HOY EN DIA LA MAYORIA DE JOVENES NO SABEN LO QUE ES MUSICA,SIGA GOZANDO Y BAILANDO LA BUENA MUSICA FELICITACIONES
@cervantesantana722
Quien hace el solo de piano???
@AAAPISOS2012
Si revisas los comentarios, se dice reiteradamente que es Gilberto Colon conocido como El Pulpo.s@@cervantesantana722
@OscarSanchez-jx5lm
Por este motivo, Héctor LAVOE nunca morirá, estará siempre en nuestras memorias, en algún lugar del mundo 🌏 a esta hora ⌚ está escuchando música de Héctor, yo desde Costa Rica le envío un saludo 🤝 cordial a todos los Salseros del Planeta 🌏
@hermecortes6080
Saludos quisiera viajar a Costa Rica para ver su hermosura, se qué hay que sacar un seguro médico, sin embargo quisiera saber si a los restaurantes se puede ir sin vacuna con mascarilla o los sitios turísticos se puede ir sin vacuna pero con mascarilla? Saludos desde Bayamón
@hermecortes6080
Saludos es verdad que en San Jose Costa Rica llueve mucho en Octubre, por ejemplo hoy y en estos días de octubre está lloviendo mucho?
@RobertoSanchez-ub3dw
Así es mi estimado amigo saludos desde México