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.
Noche Como Boca'E Lobo
Sonora Ponceña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Noche como boca e' lobo, lluvia fria!
Quien lo iba a decir
Que serìa una noche asi
La que tu ibas a elegir
Pa′ darme tu despedida.
Noche como boca e' lobo, que agonía!
Tengo que seguir
Habitando por ahí
Alejandome de ti
Que triste la noche mia.
Noche como boca e′ lobo
Y un poquito de agua fria.
Noche como boca e′ lobo
Y un poco de lluvia fría.
Yo tenía tremendo casco
Tremendo cerebro pq' ti esta noche
Pero me tiraste un baño de agua frìa.
Yo tengo una negra
Que me dá lo que yo quiera
Mas de lo que tú me darías.
Pero vaya, vaya, eh, eh
Pero vaya, vaya caminando pa′la vía.
Apaga la bombilla esta noche de pasión
Preparame la morcilla, camina y prende el fogón.
Noche oscrura, que agonía
Una noche como la que yo pasé
Amargandome la vida.
Yo no soy el mismo negrito de antes
Que hace mucho derroche de energía.
Mala, mala, mala, mala, mala, mala
Mala, mala, mala noche
Que mala noche la mía.
Yo pensaba que tu eras tremenda mujer
Pero a mi no me servía.
Cuando yo te llamo te entretienes en la sala
Viendo la novela del mediodía.
Mala, mala, mala, mala, mala
Mala noche, mala noche la mía.
Una noche, una noche como la que yo pasé
No la desearía.
Noche como la de anoche, mami
Que porquería.
Que no me venga con esa historia
Tu no eres la nena mía.
Estuve viviendo viviendo e Nueva York
Pero aqui yo no vivía.
Mala, mala, mala, mala
Mala, mala, mala, mala noche.
Que agonía.
Esa noche que yo pasé contigo.
Y hoy tranquilo, y tú nada me decias.
Esta noche me voy acas de mi tía.
Noche como boca e' lobo
Y un poco de lluvia fria.
The lyrics of Sonora Ponceña's song "Noche Como Boca'E Lobo" describe a night that is as cold and desolate as a wolf's mouth, with rain pouring down. The singer of the song is about to experience a painful goodbye by someone they love, on a bleak and lonely night. The singer expresses their disbelief at the situation, as they never thought that they would have to face such a heartbreaking moment. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase 'noche como boca e' lobo,' emphasizing the terrible pain and darkness that the singer feels.
The second verse indicates that the singer has to continue living without the person they love, leaving them with a heavy heart. The final lines of the song talk about the singer's disappointment with their lover's behavior, implying they are not as good as they thought. The song has a melancholic tone, echoing the sadness and pain that the singer feels as they experience the heartbreaking end of their relationship.
Overall, the song's lyrics portray the feeling of loneliness and despair that a person goes through due to lost love. It exemplifies the pain and disappointment of a heartbroken lover who realizes that the person they love is not as they thought.
Line by Line Meaning
Noche como boca e' lobo, lluvia fria!
The night is as dark and dangerous as a wolf's mouth, and the rain is cold and chilling.
Quien lo iba a decir
Who would have thought that such a night would come, the one you chose to say goodbye.
Pa' darme tu despedida.
To bid me farewell.
Noche como boca e' lobo, que agonía!
The night is like a wolf's mouth, and it's causing agony.
Tengo que seguir
I have to keep going
Habitando por ahí
Living around here.
Alejandome de ti
Moving away from you.
Noche como boca e′ lobo
The night is like a wolf's mouth.
Y un poco de lluvia fría.
And there's a bit of cold rain.
Tengo una negra
I have a black girl
Que me dá lo que yo quiera
Who gives me everything I want.
Mas de lo que tú me darías.
More than what you would give me.
Pero vaya, vaya, eh, eh
But let us go, go, eh, eh
Caminando pa'la vía.
Walking down the road.
Apaga la bombilla esta noche de pasión
Turn off the light, let's have a night of passion.
Preparame la morcilla, camina y prende el fogón.
Prepare the blood sausage, walk and light the fire.
Yo no soy el mismo negrito de antes
I am not the same little black boy from before.
Que hace mucho derroche de energía.
Who wasted a lot of energy.
Mala noche, mala noche la mía.
What a bad night I had.
Cuando yo te llamo te entretienes en la sala
When I call you, you entertain yourself in the living room.
Viendo la novela del mediodía.
Watching the noon-time soap.
No la desearía.
I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
Que no me venga con esa historia
Don't come to me with that story.
Tu no eres la nena mía.
You are not my girl.
Esa noche que yo pasé contigo.
That night I spent with you.
Y hoy tranquilo, y tú nada me decías.
And today (I am) calm, and you said nothing to me.
Esta noche me voy acas de mi tía.
Tonight I'm going to my aunt's house.
Writer(s): Catalino Curet Alonso
Contributed by Joseph P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@luckylouie522
QUIQUE LUCCA LEADER
PAPO LUCCA PIANO 🎹
RAMON RODRIGUEZ 🎺 PETA
LUIS CASTRO 🎺 PETA
DELFIN PEREZ 🎺 PETA
ANGEL HERNANDEZ BONGO 🟤🟤
JOHNNY RIVERO CONGA 🪘
RAY VEGA TIMBAL 🥁
TONY SANTAELLA BASS 🎸
LUIGI TEXIDOR VOCALS
MIGUEL ORTIZ VOCALS
YOLANDA RIVERA VOCALS
LOUIE RAMIREZ PRODUCER
CORO TITO ALLEN - RUBEN BLADES ** NOT IN CREDITS
@luckylouie522
QUIQUE LUCCA LEADER
PAPO LUCCA PIANO 🎹
RAMON RODRIGUEZ 🎺 PETA
LUIS CASTRO 🎺 PETA
DELFIN PEREZ 🎺 PETA
ANGEL HERNANDEZ BONGO 🟤🟤
JOHNNY RIVERO CONGA 🪘
RAY VEGA TIMBAL 🥁
TONY SANTAELLA BASS 🎸
LUIGI TEXIDOR VOCALS
MIGUEL ORTIZ VOCALS
YOLANDA RIVERA VOCALS
LOUIE RAMIREZ PRODUCER
CORO TITO ALLEN - RUBEN BLADES ** NOT IN CREDITS
@user-jn6ot8em9w
Hay.mi.sonora.que.recuerdos.demi.poncce.cuando.estudiaba.en.la.vocacional1982.saludos.desde.waterburry.conn.
@PabluchoViision
Para quien le haya tocado vivir esas noches como boca 'e lobo, con lluvia fria y la agonia de una despedida...... (y quien no la ha vivido aunque sea una vez?)..... el tema del brillante Tite Curet Alonso, en la voz de Texidor y el inigualable marco brindado por la Ponceña, LO EXPRESA A LA PERFECCION
@camilojuan5456
Esta pieza es de tite, uff hermano Catalino no deja de sorprenderme el MEJOR COMPOSITOR DE LA HISTORIA LO AMOOOOOO
@randyramos7858
Alguien escuchando esta Pieza 2023 Vzla
@jhonyabantoleon5399
Escuchar tocar a la Sonora Ponceña te traslada a ese lugar, ese olorcito, esa sensación de tenerlo todo sin tener nada, esa seguridad de estar en donde siempre te querrán , en el Barrio...
@FranciscoHernandez-yn3py
Muy cierto que viva la salsa dura
@wilsonalbeiroobregonmontan4924
Será que alguien tiene duda qué este hombre fue el número uno en la sonora Ponceña 🇱🇷
@rayadorno6154
Hell no !!!
@rayadorno6154
Soy timbalero y toque con el hijo Luisito en Bethlehem Pa 7 anos atras tremendo musico.y cantante. Y con el padre Luigie Tex en en Allentiwn Pa. Tengo fotos con ellos !!!