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.
Qué Lío
Héctor Lavoe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En el que me encuentro yo
Decía Ramón Puntilla
Cuando a su mama llamó
Tengo un pollo sabrosito
Con el que quiero casarme
Pero acaban de informarme
Porque, es novia de mi amigo
Y eso sí da que pensar
Odio a todos los que aman
Y que felices están
Porque yo, no puedo tener
Un amorcito que me comprenda
Y que me diga papi
Y que me quiera bien (mami)
Dios mío ayúdame, quiero olvidar
Ayúdame, ayúdame
Ayúdame a olvidarla, te lo pido
Ayúdame
Ay, que yo la quiero tanto
Y no, y no la quiero perder
Qué problema con Mariana
El que se encontró mi pana
Y yo que me la pasaba gozando
De la noche a la mañana
Qué problema con Mariana
El que se encontró mi pana
Ramón Puntilla la quería
Ramón Puntilla gritaba
Qué problema con mariana
El que se encontró mi pana
Ayúdame, ayúdame, ayúdame
Ayúdame a olvidarla
Qué problema con Mariana
El que se encontró mi pana
Y se pasaba prendiendo velitas
Toditita la mañana
Qué problema con Mariana
El que se encontró mi pana
Fuera willie
Que lió, hee
Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico
Que lió, hee
Chico, chico, chico, chico, chigo, chigo
Que lió, hee
Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico
Que lió, hee
Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico
Qué problema con Mariana
El que se encontró mi pana
The song "Qué Lio" by Héctor Lavoe is a salsa classic that tells the story of various romantic entanglements and the resulting problems. The lyrics are sung in a conversational tone, as if the singer is confiding in the listener. The song begins with the singer expressing his own personal problem: he is in love with a woman who is already taken by his friend. He expresses his frustration at not being able to have a love of his own who understands and cares for him. He pleas with God to help him forget his feelings for the unattainable woman.
The second half of the song shifts focus to the problem of the singer's friend who has also fallen for a woman named Mariana. However, it is revealed that Mariana is also causing trouble as she is the cause of the problem for both men. The singer's friend is in a situation where he is competing for Mariana's love and attention, and the situation has caused tension amongst their friendship. The chorus repeats the phrase "Que Lio," which roughly translates to "What a Mess" expressing the complicated web of emotions and problems that arise from these romantic entanglements.
Overall, the song Qué Lio is a testament to the universal struggles that come along with love and relationships. The lyrics and melody are beautiful and emotive, making it a timeless classic that resonates with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Qué problema, caballero
I am facing a big problem, sir.
En el que me encuentro yo
A problem that I am currently facing.
Decía Ramón Puntilla
As Ramón Puntilla used to say.
Cuando a su mama llamó
When he called his mother.
Tengo un pollo sabrosito
I have a girlfriend who I find tasty.
Con el que quiero casarme
I want to marry her.
Pero acaban de informarme
But I was just informed.
Que no, que no me puedo casar
That I cannot marry her.
Porque, es novia de mi amigo
Because she is my friend’s girlfriend.
Y eso sí da que pensar
And that is something to think about.
Odio a todos los que aman
I hate everyone who loves.
Y que felices están
And are happy.
Porque yo, no puedo tener
Because I cannot have.
Un amorcito que me comprenda
A lover who understands me.
Y que me diga papi
And who calls me daddy.
Y que me quiera bien (mami)
And who loves me well (mommy).
Dios mío ayúdame, quiero olvidar
My God, help me forget.
Ayúdame, ayúdame
Help me, help me.
Ayúdame a olvidarla, te lo pido
Help me forget her, I beg you.
Ay, que yo la quiero tanto
Oh, how much I love her.
Y no, y no la quiero perder
And I don’t want to lose her.
Qué problema con Mariana
I have a problem with Mariana.
El que se encontró mi pana
That my friend found.
Y yo que me la pasaba gozando
And I was having a good time with her.
De la noche a la mañana
Suddenly
Ramón Puntilla la quería
Ramón Puntilla loved her.
Ramón Puntilla gritaba
Ramón Puntilla would shout.
Y se pasaba prendiendo velitas
And would spend his time lighting candles.
Toditita la mañana
All morning long.
Fuera Willie
Get out Willie.
Que lió, hee
What a mess, hey.
Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico
Boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy.
Que lió, hee
What a mess, hey.
Chico, chico, chico, chico, chigo, chigo
Boy, boy, boy, boy, boy, boy.
Qué problema con Mariana
I have a problem with Mariana.
El que se encontró mi pana
That my friend found.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Willie Colon, Joe Cuba, Hector Lavoe Perez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beloved3354
As a black man in America this touches my soul!!
@lightbringer3304
Same here brother... This is the jam here...
@juancordova4549
Nigeria realy
@MrFrostedtips
As a ginger man in Ireland this also touches my soul! One love.
@maximusjimenez490
The song is abt a dude in love with his best friends girl what that gotta do with that no offense😭
@ayaxordre2014
As a gypsy in Spain this touches mine too
@j.cardenas4576
Otra vez estoy aquí, de nuevo con el corazón partío y con una decepción tremenda, gracias a mi padre por enseñarme al Gran Héctor Lavoe, no me veo desahogandome con la música de esta época :(
@juanbarrera2878
Fuerzas bro
@djyucra3482
La vida sigue hermano
@JiBvriToO
Así nos curamos... lo q tenga q pasar, pasará