Today Quique's son, Papo Lucca, directs the band. The band has stayed active for a remarkable amount of time, recording dozens of albums, including a 55th anniversary album. Singers included Tito Gómez.
The history of La Sonora Ponceña is the history of Quique Lucca. In 1928, when he was 16 years old, his family moves to Ponce, Puerto Rico and Quique starts to work as an auto mechanic and starts playing the guitar. In 1932 Quique meets Angélica Quiñones, the future mother of his children, Zulma, Papo y Wanda. In 1944 Quique puts together a band called "El Conjunto Internacional", including three instrumentalists: tumbadora, bongó, vocalist and Quique Lucca at the guitar and second voice. Later, Antonio "Tato" Santaella joined, playing the bongó. On 10 April 1946, Enrique Lucca Jr. ("Papo") was born; he would later become the musical director of "La Sonora". In fact, in 1951, Papo surprised his father and the other members of the "Internacional" band when, at only 5 years old, he joined a band practice and started playing the tumbadora on Tito Puente's "Ran Kan Kan".
After the band had been inactive for a year, Quique re-established it in 1954 and renamed it "Conjunto Sonora Ponceña". His childhood friend Antonio "Tato" Santaella played bajo de cajón. On 20 April of that year the band plays at its first official dance. In 1956, Vicentivo Morales, joins the band as its first pianist. Later that year, Quique brings young Papo into the band as a pianist. In November 1957, Papo makes its official debut during a dance on the northern shore of the Island. In 1958, La Sonora Ponceña records its first 78 RPM with Avelino Muñoz as pianist. The 78 RPM contained No puede Ser on one side and Tan Linda que Era on the reverse side. Towards the end of 1958, the band goes into recording mode and includes 12-year-old Papo Lucca. The band included its first official vocalist Charlie Martínez. Later on, vocalists Felipe and Davilita would also record bolero-mambo themes such as Noche de Locura. In September 1960, the group played in New York. The group's main attraction was its 12-year-old pianist, Papo Lucca. In 1968 the group started its official recordings on 33 RPM with the song Hacheros Pa' Un Palo.
In 1974, singer Humberto "Tito" Gómez leaves the band after 7 years and 6 recordings. Together with Joe Rodríguez and Mickey Ortíz, Humberto "Tito" Gómez formed La Terrífica. Likewise, in 1977 Edgardo Morales, who played the timbal leaves the band after 7 years and 7 recordings and joins El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. In 1978 singer Luis Guillermo "Luigui" Texidor leves the band after 10 years and 10 recordings to join Bobby Valentín's Orchestra. In 1982 trumpetist Humberto Godineaux leaves the band after 4 years a 6 recordings. Singer Yolanda Rivera also left the band after 7 years and 8 recordings. In 1985, singer Miguel Ortíz retires from the band after 11 years and 12 recordings. On 28 May 1986, the band losses singer Alberto "Toñito" Ledée in a car accident. In 1987, trumpetist Heriberto "Ayatollah" Santiago also retires having 7 years and 5 recordings to his credit. In July 1989, long-time bass player Antonio "Tato" Santaella retired after 21 recordings. Tato played without ever using any musical scores, and singing entirely "by ear". A year later, in 1990, another bass player Efraín "Frao" Hernández retired from the band after 10 years and 7 recordings. In 1990, bongó player Angel Hernández also retired after 14 years and 13 recordings. In 1991, tumbadora player Vicente "Pequeño Johnny" Rivera retires after 16 years with the band. He had performed on 15 of the band's recordings. In 1993, long-time trumpeter Ramón "Tony El Cordovés" Rodríguez retired after 24 recordings. This was followed by the retirement of trumpeter Freddie Del Valle, who had played with the band for 6 years and had participated in 5 recordings.
In 1993, the band played at the Magno Orchestra Festival in Barranquilla, Colombia. The band was awarded the “Congo de Oro” award, given to the best international band. And in October 1994, Sonora Ponceña celebrated its 40th anniversary with a festival at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The band would later also play at the Madison Square Garden to bring its celebration to the United States. In 1995, the band did a reunion recording with Luis Guillermo "Luigi" Texidor and Yolanda Rivera who had retired 19 and 14 years earlier, respectively. That same year, they sang in Paris, France, and at the Desfile de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Parade) in Zaragoza, Spain. In 1996 the band plays for the first time in Mexico at the Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico, carnival.
In 2000, Sonora Ponceña celebrated its 45th anniversary at the Tito Puente Amphitheater at the Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico and at the Teatro La Perla in Ponce. They also played in Caracas, Venezuela as part of this 45th anniversary celebration. In the years following 2000, La Sonora Ponceña participated in a large number of events throughout Puerto Rico, including Fiestas Patronales, private parties, graduation parties, and corporate Christmas and holiday parties. In the following years, the band also made presentations in Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, Washington, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Jersey, Panamá, Perú, England, Switzerland and Italy.
For its 50th year anniversary (2004), the band played at Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The 12,000 spectators made the show a complete sellout on its presentation day, February 21. The show was broadcast via radio and television.
During its 50th anniversaery show at Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, the band was officially recognized by the Legislature of Puerto Rico for its musical contributions.
The 23rd “Día Nacional de la Salsa”, celebrated in Carolina, Puerto Rico on 16 March 2004, was dedicated to Don Quique, Papo and la Sonora Ponceña.
In Ponce there is a street, in Urb. Estancias del Golf, named after Quique Lucca.
The 2003 "Feria de Turismo", celebrated at Complejo Turístico “La Guancha” in Ponce was dedicated to Don Quique, Papo and la Sonora Ponceña.
Cancion
La Sonora Ponceña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Se me adentra usted sonriendo
Como si fuera la primavera
Yo muriendo
Y de que modo sutil me derramó en la camisa
Todas las flores de abril
Quien le dijo que yo era
Como si fuera la primavera no soy tanto
En cambio que espiritual que usted me brinde una rosa
De su rosal principal
De que callada manera
Se me adentra usted sonriendo
Como si fuera la primavera
Yo muriendo, yo muriendo
De que callada manera
Se me adrenta usted sonriendo
Como si fuera la primavera
Yo muriendo
Y de que modo sutil me derramo en la camisa
Todas las flores de abril
Quien le dijo que yo era
Risa siempre nunca llanto
Como si fuera la primavera no soy tanto
En cambio que espiritual que usted me brinde una rosa
De su rosal principal
De que callada manera
Se me adentra usted sonriendo
Como si fuera la primavera
Yo muriendo, yo muriendo
The lyrics to La Sonora Ponceña's song "Cancion" speaks to the deep feelings of love and infatuation that the singer has for someone who enters their life in a subtle yet powerful way. The singer describes the person as appearing like spring, symbolizing the new life and growth that this person brings to their world. The singer is so overcome with emotion that they feel as if they are dying, but are also deeply grateful for the way in which this person has touched them.
The song plays into the theme of how love can completely transform one's world and bring new joy and wonder. The use of floral imagery in the song also adds to this theme and conveys the message that love is beautiful, transformative and necessary for growth. The singer seems to be in awe of the person they are singing about, someone who seemingly understands them and is able to show them the love, care, and support that they need to thrive in their life.
Overall, the lyrics of the song speak to the beauty and transformative power of love and how it can help individuals see the world in a whole new light.
Line by Line Meaning
De que callada manera
In what silent way
Se me adentra usted sonriendo
You enter into me with a smile
Como si fuera la primavera
As if it were springtime
Yo muriendo
I'm dying
Y de que modo sutil me derramó en la camisa
And in what subtle way you spilled on my shirt
Todas las flores de abril
All the flowers of April
Quien le dijo que yo era
Who told you that I was
Risa siempre nunca llanto
Always laughing, never crying
Como si fuera la primavera no soy tanto
As if I were spring, I am not so much
En cambio que espiritual que usted me brinde una rosa
Instead, how spiritual that you offer me a rose
De su rosal principal
From your main rose bush
De que callada manera
In what silent way
Se me adentra usted sonriendo
You enter into me with a smile
Como si fuera la primavera
As if it were springtime
Yo muriendo, yo muriendo
I'm dying, I'm dying
De que callada manera
In what silent way
Se me adrenta usted sonriendo
You enter into me with a smile
Como si fuera la primavera
As if it were springtime
Yo muriendo
I'm dying
Y de que modo sutil me derramo en la camisa
And in what subtle way you spilled on my shirt
Todas las flores de abril
All the flowers of April
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Pablo Milanes Arias, Nicolas Cristobal Guillen Batista
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@candygutierrezhinestroza375
QEPD esta HERMOSA voz que le dió vida a esta HERMOSA canción.
@epifaniocaicedo1689
Paz en su tumba 🙏.
@chgranda
QEPD Mannix Martinez ... Pensé que ya era suficiente, otro salsero que se nos va este año
@richiesonerazo3662
🙏 QEPD
@charlesleeray9596
Nunca había escuchado tan sublime, tan puro, sin vulgaridad, impecable, este tema vale oro
@samuelgtoloza1030
Esta canción nunca pasará de moda que viva la salsa
@andersonoviedovelez
Esta es una señora canción. ¡Saludos en este fin de año!
@luckylouie522
FELIZ AÑO NUEVO Anderson
@andersonoviedovelez
@@luckylouie522 Igualmente. :D
@leonardoalmen3031
todo el talento de papo luca plasmada en esta cancion tan suave pero con acordes de salsa todo un hit en su epoca y sin temor a equivocarme hasta el dia de hoy
TODO UN CLASICO
QUE VIVA LA SALSA MAS NA '