The history of La Sonora Ponceña is the history of Quique Lucca, (Yauco, Puerto Rico, 12 December 1912 - 9 October 2016). 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.
Caprichosa
Sonora Ponceña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Porque juegas con mi amor
Si no me vas a querer dímelo de una vez mi vida
Porque dices que si
Y después dices que no
Me estas haciendo sufrir
Con tu capricho de amor
Lo que tu sientes
Cuando es verdad
Cuando es que mientes
Pasan las horas y yo esperando
Decídete
Pero dime hasta cuando
CORO
Eres linda
Eres hermosa
Lastima que seas
Tan caprichosa
Caprichosa así como eres
En todo todo yo te complazco
Si me quieres yo me quedo
Y si quieres yo me largo
(CORO 1 VEZ)
Te comportas vanidosa
Por toditos tus encantos
Reconozco que eres linda
Que estas buena pero no pa' tanto
(CORO 1 VEZ)
Siempre te digo que si
Y haces de mi lo que quieras
Si sigues con tu capricho Vete
Porque conmigo no se juega
(CORO 1 VEZ)
Si vuelves a mi otra vez
Con mi amor aquí te espero
Óyeme mulata linda
Si me invitas voy
Si me buscas me quedo
(CORO 1 VEZ)
Si no me vas a querer ven y dímelo
Enamorarme de ti con mi condición
Si no me vas a querer ven y dímelo
Me estás matando de pena
Si no me vas a querer ven y dímelo
No sigas jugando con mi amor
Si no me vas a querer ven y dímelo
En verdad Yo a ti te quiero
Si no me vas a querer ven y dímelo
Dímelo, dímelo
Eres linda pero caprichosa
Resultas de alborotosa
Eres linda pero caprichosa
En tu mente tienes poquita cosa
Eres linda pero caprichosa
Que seas tu divina a mi no me importa
Eres linda pero caprichosa
Por tu forma de ser yo no puedo contigo
Eres linda pero caprichosa
The lyrics of the song Caprichosa by Sonora Ponceña depict the frustration of a person in a one-sided relationship with a capricious partner. The singer is constantly confused by the erratic behavior of his lover, which leaves him uncertain about the sincerity of her love. He implores her to be honest with him about her intentions, rather than leading him on with conflicting signals. The chorus of the song repeats the description of the woman being both linda (lovely) and caprichosa (capricious), which reflects the singer's mixed feelings about her.
The singer of the song struggles with the indecisiveness of his lover, who he describes as "caprichosa". This Spanish word can be translated as "whimsical", "fickle" or "capricious", emphasizing the unpredictability of the woman's behavior. Additionally, the lyrics highlight the singer's vulnerability, as he is subject to the emotional whims of his lover. Despite the frustration of the situation, the singer expresses his desire to continue the relationship if his lover is willing to commit to him more fully.
Line by Line Meaning
Porque tu eres así
I am wondering why you act the way you do
Porque juegas con mi amor
You are playing with my love and I am not sure why
Si no me vas a querer dímelo de una vez mi vida
If you are not going to love me, just tell me now instead of leading me on
Porque dices que si
Why do you say yes
Y después dices que no
And then say no
Me estas haciendo sufrir
You are causing me pain
Con tu capricho de amor
With your fickle love
Si yo pudiera saber
If only I knew
Lo que tu sientes
What you feel
Cuando es verdad
When it is true
Cuando es que mientes
When you lie
Pasan las horas y yo esperando
Time is passing and I am waiting
Decídete
Make up your mind
Pero dime hasta cuando
But tell me, how long should I wait
CORO
Chorus
Eres linda
You are pretty
Eres hermosa
You are beautiful
Lastima que seas
It's a shame that you are
Tan caprichosa
So capricious
Caprichosa así como eres
Just the way that you are capricious
En todo todo yo te complazco
I always try to please you in everything
Si me quieres yo me quedo
If you want me, I'll stay
Y si quieres yo me largo
And if you want me to go, I'll leave
Te comportas vanidosa
You behave like a conceited person
Por toditos tus encantos
Because of all your charms
Reconozco que eres linda
I admit that you are pretty
Que estas buena pero no pa' tanto
That you are attractive but not to that extent
Siempre te digo que si
I always say yes to you
Y haces de mi lo que quieras
And you do whatever you want with me
Si sigues con tu capricho Vete
If you continue with your caprice, go away
Porque conmigo no se juega
Because you can't play games with me
Si vuelves a mi otra vez
If you come back to me again
Con mi amor aquí te espero
My love is here waiting for you
Óyeme mulata linda
Listen to me, pretty mulatto woman
Si me invitas voy
If you invite me, I'll go
Si me buscas me quedo
If you look for me, I'll stay
Enamorarme de ti con mi condición
To fall in love with you despite my condition
Me estás matando de pena
You are killing me with sorrow
No sigas jugando con mi amor
Do not continue to play with my love
En verdad Yo a ti te quiero
I truly love you
Dímelo, dímelo
Tell me, tell me
Resultas de alborotosa
You turn out to be a troublemaker
En tu mente tienes poquita cosa
You have very little in your mind
Que seas tu divina a mi no me importa
That you may be divine, I do not care
Por tu forma de ser yo no puedo contigo
Because of the way you are, I can't handle you
Contributed by Callie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ricardo Hernandez Garcia
He escuchado muchos temas de la pinceña pero este me gusto muchisimo viva la ponceña, viva la salsa y los barrios salseros "mexico"
jairo gomez
Recuerdos de la rumba en club de la gobernación en Cali que tiempos
Rossi Compañia
Que ricura este play de los mejores de la Ponceña bravissimo
Oswaldo Efraín Villalobos Abanto
La ponceña lo mejor de lo mejor
Jesus Berrios
Desde PONCE Puerto Rico para el mundo. Salsa de la mata
Carlos Ramirez
LA MAS SUREÑA
Victor Rios
La.sonora ponsenna.lo Máximo
Renan Ortiz
Salsaaaa!!!!
luis pinto
Tremendo pregon
PEDRO LIQUIDANO
Illinois a creer