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.
El Todopoderoso
Héctor Lavoe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cómo lo llevaron a crucificar
Si viéramos bien al mundo
Y a nuestros pueblos hermanos no existiera lo rotundo
Ni existiera la creencia
Cada cabeza es un mundo
Que tienen su solución
Sin pensar que el de la muerte
De eso se encarga el Señor
Es el que todo lo sabe es el que todo lo ve
No conoce el egoísmo ni actúa de mala fe
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
Ay en el calvario fue puesto
Y allí fue crucificado
La sentencia fue de Herodes
Y firmada por Pilatos
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
Es el que todo, todo lo sabe es el que todo lo ve
No conoce el egoísmo ni actúa de mala fe
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
Si viéramos bien al mundo
Y a nuestros pueblos hermanos
No existiera lo rotundo
Ni existiera la creencia
Cada cabeza es un mundo
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
Oye después que lo escupieron
Y después que lo empujaron
Todito lo que le hicieron
Fueron todos perdonados
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo
Librarnos de todo mal y librarnos de las manos
Que nos quieren acabar
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
Es, ese el que to lo sabe
Es ese que to lo ve no conoce el egoísmo
Ni actúa de mala fe
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
In these lyrics, Hector Lavoe is exploring the idea of a higher power as a source of comfort and forgiveness. The song references the crucifixion of Christ, and how despite the cruelty he endured, he forgave his persecutors. Lavoe emphasizes that if people were able to see the world more clearly and without prejudice, they could also eliminate the "rotundities" (inflexible ideas and beliefs) that cause conflict and division.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Todopoderoso es el Señor" ("God is Almighty"), underscoring the idea that the higher power referenced in the song is all-knowing, non-judgmental, and compassionate. Lavoe reminds listeners that everyone has problems, but that there are solutions available, and ultimately, the power of life and death rests in God's hands.
The lyrics of El Todopoderoso are a poignant reflection on the nature of faith and the role of spirituality in mitigating human suffering. By emphasizing the idea that all people have the capacity for forgiveness and the potential to overcome negativity, Lavoe offers a message of hope and healing that speaks to the power of empathy and kindness.
Line by Line Meaning
Ay, como lo escupieron cómo lo empujaron
The song talks about how someone was mistreated and pushed around.
Cómo lo llevaron a crucificar
The person was taken and put on the cross to be crucified.
Si viéramos bien al mundo Y a nuestros pueblos hermanos no existiera lo rotundo Ni existiera la creencia Cada cabeza es un mundo
If we understood the world better and thought of our fellow human beings less rigidly, we would see that each person is unique and has their own thoughts and feelings.
Todos tenemos problemas Que tienen su solución Sin pensar que el de la muerte De eso se encarga el Señor
We all have problems but death is something that we don't have control over and happens according to God's will.
Es el que todo lo sabe es el que todo lo ve No conoce el egoísmo ni actúa de mala fe
God is all-knowing and sees everything, he doesn't have selfish motives or act maliciously.
Todopoderoso es el Señor, el todopoderoso es el Señor
God is all-powerful and mighty.
Ay en el calvario fue puesto Y allí fue crucificado La sentencia fue de Herodes Y firmada por Pilatos
The person was put on the cross at Calvary and was executed because of a sentence given by Herod and ratified by Pilate.
Oye después que lo escupieron Y después que lo empujaron Todito lo que le hicieron Fueron todos perdonados
After being mistreated and pushed around, the person forgave everyone who had wronged them.
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo Librarnos de todo mal y librarnos de las manos Que nos quieren acabar
The song ends by calling on God to protect us from harm and from those who seek to do us harm.
Es, ese el que to lo sabe Es ese que to lo ve no conoce el egoísmo Ni actúa de mala fe
God is still all-knowing, all-seeing, and doesn't have selfish motives or act maliciously.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: WILLIE COLON, HECTOR LAVOE PEREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fernandoguillermogilrodrig5318
Bendito DIOS Todopoderoso nuestro Señor. Gracias Héctor Lavoe por la excelente canción, DIOS te tenga en su Gloria.
@luisfernandovieraprado964
Héctor Lavoe sin duda ,es el Mejor cantante de Salsa de Todos los Tiempos.
Saludos cordiales desde Colombia 🇨🇴🙏 ,Saludos cordiales A Todos los hermanos De Puerto Rico...🇵🇷🇨🇴 , Que viva la Salsa de Puerto Rico 🙏👍👍👍...
@robertoantoniodeleon8618
El cantante no fue salsera fue sonero fue y será el cantante de los cantante gozó y aún goza del respeto de sus colegas jamás se atribuyó los grandes lo bautizaron cómo el cantante de los cantantes impredecible improvisando
@rosacristinavalzmoran3302
Sí el mejor, entrega alma y corazón, nos hace vibrar de emoción, admiración eterna mi flaco Héctor que Dios lo tenga en la Gloria.
@jairohincapiegiraldo5778
La misericordia de Dios es nueva cada mañana y su amor es eterno. ❤ Excelente alabanza y adoración al santísimo gran YO SOY, el eterno DIOS grande y poderoso. Muchas gracias Héctor, y Muchas gracias Fania. PAZ y bien en JESUCRISTO señor nuestro.
@luzmaldonado6487
NUESTRO SENOR ES PODEROSO! 🙏💯 HECTOR LAVOE R.I.P MUSICO DE MI PATRIA!! 🇵🇷🙏
@emiliorobles4529
Carlitos way
@antonionoguera9894
Exelente tema, un mensaje para la reflexión.
Autoría de Pedro María Torcatt conocido en el ambiente Salcero como Perúcho Torcatt de Carúpano Edo Sucre Venezuela.
@carlosdavid6788
Perucho torcat ❤️🇻🇪 orgullo venezolano. Autor de esta canción.
@hectorgarcia1604
Gracias