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.
Todo Tiene Su Final
Héctor Lavoe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tenemos que recordar que no existe eternidad
Como el lindo clavel solo quiso florecer, y
Enseñarnos su belleza y marchito perecer,
Todo tiene su final nada dura para siempre
Tenemos que recordar que no existe eternidad
Perder lo mas querido en la masa otro mas
E alalelelelele todo tiene su final
(todo tiene su final)
Si no me quieres dímelo ahora
(todo tiene su final)
A mi velorio no venga a llorar no no
(todo tiene su final)
Hay mamita rica
(todo tiene su final)
Yo sabia que un día tenia que acabar
(todo tiene su final)
Punto final todo se acabo
(todo tiene su final)
Y va a llegar un demonio automico
Y te va a limpiarecha
(todo tiene su final)
Te lo juro ke todo tiene su final
(todo tiene su final)
Echa pa lante mama
Yo perdí lo mas querido cuando perdí a mi mama
(todo tiene su final)
Pero seguí pa lante y pa lante
(todo tiene su final)
Has como yo nunca eche pa tras
(todo tiene su final)
Ni pa coger impulso que va
(todo tiene su final)
Cuidao que de espalda te pueden atacar
(todo tiene su final)
Echa palante cobarde
(todo tiene su final)
Anda rebuscate el pan
(todo tiene su final)
Oigo una vos que me dice
(todo tiene su final)
Cuidao tierra va a temblar, tierra va a temblar
Hector Lavoe's song Todo Tiene Su Final is a song about the inevitability of change and loss. The opening lyrics, "Todo tiene su final, nada dura para siempre" (Everything has its end, nothing lasts forever), set the tone for the rest of the song. The song acknowledges that everything in life, including love, beauty, success, and even life itself, will come to an end eventually. The lyrics urge listeners to remember that there is no eternity and to make the most of their time on earth.
The song's second verse focuses on the life of a world champion who sacrificed everything to achieve his dreams, only to lose everything in the end. The overall message of the song is that life is unpredictable and that despite the hardships, one must continue moving forward. The song encourages the listener to be resilient and not to dwell on loss or defeat.
Todo Tiene Su Final was released in 1972 and has since become one of the most iconic songs in the Latin music genre. The song is known for its catchy melody, powerful lyrics, and Lavoe's emotional delivery. The song is a favorite at Latin American funerals and is often played during Dia de los Muertos celebrations.
Line by Line Meaning
Todo tiene su final, nada dura para siempre
We must remember that nothing lasts forever and everything eventually ends
Como el lindo clavel solo quiso florecer, y Enseñarnos su belleza y marchito perecer, Todo tiene su final nada dura para siempre Tenemos que recordar que no existe eternidad
Just like the beautiful flower that was born to show us its beauty, it will eventually wither and die. We must remember that nothing lasts forever and nothing is eternal
Como el campeón mundial dio su vida por llegar y Perder lo mas querido en la masa otro mas
Like the world champion who gave his all to become the best, but ended up losing what he loved most among the masses
E alalelelelele todo tiene su final (todo tiene su final) Si no me quieres dímelo ahora (todo tiene su final) A mi velorio no venga a llorar no no (todo tiene su final) Hay mamita rica (todo tiene su final) Yo sabia que un día tenia que acabar (todo tiene su final) Punto final todo se acabo (todo tiene su final) Y va a llegar un demonio automico Y te va a limpiarecha (todo tiene su final) Te lo juro ke todo tiene su final (todo tiene su final) Echa pa lante mama
Everything has an end, and if someone doesn't love you, they should tell you now. Don't come crying to my funeral, and enjoy life while you can. Even good things must come to an end, and everything eventually finishes. A demon will eventually come and remind you of this. Keep moving forward
Yo perdí lo mas querido cuando perdí a mi mama (todo tiene su final) Pero seguí pa lante y pa lante (todo tiene su final) Has como yo nunca eche pa tras (todo tiene su final) Ni pa coger impulso que va (todo tiene su final) Cuidao que de espalda te pueden atacar (todo tiene su final) Echa palante cobarde (todo tiene su final) Anda rebuscate el pan (todo tiene su final) Oigo una vos que me dice (todo tiene su final) Cuidao tierra va a temblar, tierra va a temblar
I lost the most precious thing I had when I lost my mother, but I kept moving forward. Follow my example and never look back, keep moving forward. Don't stop, because even when you slow down, others may attack you. Keep moving forward, even if you're a coward. Go out and find your own way to succeed. I hear a voice that warns me that the earth is going to tremble, it is a reminder that everything has an end
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Willie Colon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorge Luis Corley Atencio
El gran Héctor , hoy estuvieras cumpliendo 77 , no has muerto , los grandes mueren cuando se olvidan y tú nunca serás olvidado por nosotros los grandes amantes de la SAlSA 💕🤐🥳
Emy Rogers Vasquez
Mi padre falleció y era uno de sus cantantes favoritos cuando escuchó esta música escucho y siento a mi papá. Arriba RD 🇩🇴 y arriba Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
Ramon Luis Martinez
En plena cuarentena sigo oyendo al gran Héctor Lavoe. Este clásico sigue siendo uno de mis favoritos.
Miguel angel Parraga
Cuando perdí a mi mamá,todo se acabó.
Mowel 247
Todo tiene su final Hector! Hasta la vida de un grande💔. Pero siempre estarás en nuestros corazones por la gran trayectoria, carrera y música que dejaste y hasta hoy en dia la solemos escuchar... ¡¡¡QUE RICA TIMBA, QUE RICA SALSA HECTOR!!!!🙏♥️
Dallan Sanchez
Héctor Lavoe nunca pasará de moda y seguirá siendo el ritmo de la salsa
Ismael Ortiz
Te equivocastes hermano,nunca te imaginastes que eras inmortal y que ivas a durar en el corazon del mundo entero para toda la vida
Donde quiera que estes fuistes una huella imborrable para nosotros los amantes de la salsa
El mas grande de todos
Panchito romero Miguel olivero
Ismael Ortiz fuiste*
Marilin Gonzalez
Cierto grande HECTOR siempre real
wilfredo graterol
Se equivoco grandemente...