Héctor Lavoe (born Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez, September 30, 1946 in Ponce,… Read Full Bio ↴Héctor Lavoe (born Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez, September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico - d. 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.
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.
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.
Juana Peña
Héctor Lavoe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ella era una mujer
Que a mucho hombres había engañado
Pero un día vino un hombre
Que con un beso la traicionó
Y ese hombre nunca había querído
Y por ese fué que Juana Peña lloró.
Y dicen que los años
Como la nieve fueron pasando;
Ella seguía llorando
Por ese amor que nunca llegó
Ay! Juana Peña ahora me lloras
Ahora me llora y no te quiero yo.
Era bonita pero traidora. Tu vé.
Coro:
Juana Peña ahora me llora
Que a mucho hombres había engañado
Pero un día vino un hombre
Que con un beso la traicionó
Y ese hombre nunca había querído
Y por ese fué que Juana Peña lloró.
Y dicen que los años
Ella seguía llorando
Por ese amor que nunca llegó
Ay! Juana Peña ahora me lloras
Ahora me llora y no te quiero yo.
Era bonita pero traidora. Tu vé.
Coro:
Juana Peña ahora me llora
Juana Peña is a classic song by the Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe. The lyrics depict the story of a woman, Juana Peña, who has deceived and broken the hearts of many men. Her deceitful ways come to a halt when she meets a man who betrays her with a kiss. This man was never in love with her, and it is the cause of the tears Juana Peña sheds.
The song progresses with the narration of how time has passed, and Juana Peña is still crying, mourning the love that never came. It is made clear that the man who betrayed her doesn't love her anymore, and Juana Peña is pained by this loss. The song ends with the chorus, where the singer tells Juana Peña that she's still crying for him, yet he doesn't love her anymore.
The song's meaning is quite clear; it is a cautionary tale about the corrupting nature of deceit and betrayal. The song warns about the consequences of hurting people and how it can lead to regret and heartbreak. It is a powerful message, beautifully expressed through Hector's soulful voice and the song's pulsing salsa rhythm.
Line by Line Meaning
Ella era una mujer
She was a woman
Que a mucho hombres había engañado
Who had deceived many men
Pero un día vino un hombre
But one day a man came
Que con un beso la traicionó
Who betrayed her with a kiss
Y ese hombre nunca había querído
And that man had never loved
Y por ese fué que Juana Peña lloró.
And that's why Juana Peña cried.
Y dicen que los años
They say that the years
Como la nieve fueron pasando;
Passed like snow;
Ella seguía llorando
She continued crying
Por ese amor que nunca llegó
For that love that never arrived
Ay! Juana Peña ahora me lloras
Oh! Juana Peña, now you cry for me
Ahora me llora y no te quiero yo.
Now you cry for me, but I don't want you.
Era bonita pero traidora. Tu vé.
She was pretty but a traitor. You see.
Writer(s): Hector Perez, William Colon
Contributed by Matthew R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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@hiroshinakamuravalles3941
Ella era una mujer
Que a mucho hombres había engañado
Pero un día vino un hombre
Que con un beso la traicionó
Y ese hombre nunca había querído
Y por ese fué que Juana Peña lloró
Y dicen que los años
Como la nieve fueron pasando
Ella seguía llorando
Por ese amor que nunca llegó
Ay Juana Peña ahora me lloras
Ahora me llora y no te quiero yo
Era bonita pero traidora, tu ve
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ay juana peña ahora me llora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh... no tiene corazón y le falta solución
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh... juana peña
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ahora ahora me llora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ya no te quiero fuera fuera borrachona
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Era traidora era traidora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh eh eh . juana peña
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh
Eh ...que no me llores que no me llores mas
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ven ven ven ven ven juana peña ahora
Aeh aeh aeh... traidora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh... que no me llore mas que no me llores mas
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Que no te quiero que no te quiero traidora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Se añora ahora la llaman señora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
En la casa usted no entra borrachon
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Me prendia velitas me prendia velon
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eeee eeee eee ee traidora
@joseignaciogonzalezortiz1697
'JUANA PEÑA AHORA ME LLORA': LA HISTORIA DE JUANA PEÑA
Contrario a lo que se piensa, la primera vez que Juana Peña apareció en una canción de la salsa no fue en la voz de Héctor Lavoe sino en la voz del Sonero Mayor, específicamente en el tema ‘Las Ingratitudes’, una bomba compuesta por Doña Margarita Rivera, su madre, incluida en el disco Invites You To Dance (1958) de Rafael Cortijo Y Su Combo. Los soneos, como en la gran mayoría de las canciones, fueron creatividad e inspiración de Don Ismael Rivera y en dicha ocasión, Maelo, se lamentaba de las ingratitudes de una tal Juana Peña.
Años después, un día, luego de un ensayo en la casa de Willie Colón y mientras Héctor y Willie almorzaban, el trombonista tarareó una melodía que se le ocurrió en el momento y ‘El Jibarito’, lleno de inspiración, empezó a ponerle la letra a un tema que incluirían en la producción en la que venían trabajando.
Conforme se iba tejiendo la trama de la canción (que estaba basada en una mujer que a muchos hombres había engañado) la historia de la protagonista se iba tornando cada vez más trágica.
En un punto Willie le sugirió a Héctor que la mujer, por traidora, debería morir terriblemente, pero Héctor modificó el destino del personaje haciéndola caer en honda pena por un amor que nunca llegó, y en seguida nació el coro de la canción: ‘Juana Peña ahora me llora…’
De inmediato, para evitar que la letra se les olvidara, la escribieron en una hoja de papel, poco después se grabó en ‘Cosa Nuestra’ (1969), uno de los discos que catapultó a la fama a la Orquesta de Willie Colón.
Fuente: Entrevista Willie Colón. Archivos Youtube
@hiroshinakamuravalles3941
Ella era una mujer
Que a mucho hombres había engañado
Pero un día vino un hombre
Que con un beso la traicionó
Y ese hombre nunca había querído
Y por ese fué que Juana Peña lloró
Y dicen que los años
Como la nieve fueron pasando
Ella seguía llorando
Por ese amor que nunca llegó
Ay Juana Peña ahora me lloras
Ahora me llora y no te quiero yo
Era bonita pero traidora, tu ve
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ay juana peña ahora me llora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh... no tiene corazón y le falta solución
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh... juana peña
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ahora ahora me llora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ya no te quiero fuera fuera borrachona
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Era traidora era traidora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh eh eh . juana peña
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh
Eh ...que no me llores que no me llores mas
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Ven ven ven ven ven juana peña ahora
Aeh aeh aeh... traidora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eh... que no me llore mas que no me llores mas
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Que no te quiero que no te quiero traidora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Se añora ahora la llaman señora
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
En la casa usted no entra borrachon
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Me prendia velitas me prendia velon
(Juana peña ahora me llora)
Eeee eeee eee ee traidora
@hugoroca6827
Ppppppppppppppppppppp⁰
@carlosgamarravega7622
Borrachona, velones 👀🙂😉
@juanrodenas9971
Agggg
@carlosgabrielsosamarin4633
Que viva Héctor Lavoe se le recuerda desde Colombia con amor
@juanrodenas9971
EL MEJOR DE LOS MEROJES.!!!!!
@willianmendozaalvarado8783
HERMOSOS TEMAS DE LA SALSA BRAVA ,DURA QUE GRABARON STOS 2 GENIOS DECLA MÚSICA WILLY COLÓN Y EL CANTANTE DE LOS CANTANTES HECTOR LAVOE LO MAXIMO DESDE LALBAYEQUE CHICLAYO PERÚ🇵🇪💙
@09238557
No hay nadie ni nunca lo habra que tenga la voz de Hector Lavoe....Su voz vivira a traves del milenio....Amen!!
@theluisccs
Soy venezolano con 33 años de los cuales todos he escuchado salsa, el mejor género del mundo, respeto a todos, pero la salsa es salsa lo demás es buya
@gerardoabrego8286
soy mexicano, pero tengo muchos amigos boricuas y x ellos conoci esta exelente musica k me encanta, viva mexico y viva puerto rico......🎵🎶🎶