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.
Sola Vaya
Sonora Ponceña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Y sola vaya)
Robi quizo probar
Su corazón cerro
El que la fue a ayudar
También se resbaló
Pero en el hielo no
(Se cayó)
(Roca se encalla)
(Se cayó)
(Y sola vaya)
Ella sabía bailar
Su noche era de ronda
Bailaba bien la danza
Y ni hablar de la bomba
Pero escucho mi salsa
Y tuvo que zafar
(Se cayó)
(Roca se encalla)
(Se cayó)
(Y sola vaya)
Yo te lo dije bien
Que cambiaras de ritmo
La vida es un vaivén
Muy llena de egoísmo
Y no se sabe quien
Visitará el abismo
Se cayó
Se caerá
Todo el que intente correr
Si no aprendió caminando
Seguro que se vuele a caer
Oye sin tu saber caminar
De pronto quieres correr
Ten cuidao por el camino
Que si te caes, te puedes dar otra vez
Se caerá, (y duro)
Todo el que intente correr
Si no aprendió caminando
Seguro que se vuele a caer
La vida, es un camino difícil que tenemos que seguir
Desde el momento en que nacemos hasta la hora de morir
Se caerá, (eso es así)
Todo el que intente correr
Si no aprendió caminando
Seguro que se vuele a caer
Si no aprendió a caminar
Escucha de mi experiencia
No verás salir el sol
Hasta que el mundo no acabe de dar la vuelta
Se caerá, todo el que intente correr
Si no aprendió caminando
Seguro que se vuele a caer
(No pretendas tú correr, sin saber caminar)
Si no sabes no te metas
Que en la rodilla te va a pegar
(No pretendas tú correr, sin saber caminar)
Y ten cuidao con un tropezón
Porque eso mismo te puede tumbar
(No pretendas tú correr, sin saber caminar)
Cuidado que no tropieces
Con las piedras del camino
The song Sola Vaya by Sonora Poncena is a warning about the perils of trying to run before you can walk. The opening lines tell the story of two people who slip and fall whilst attempting to cross a sheet of ice. Despite both being able to swim, they are unable to save themselves from the harsh reality of their situation.
The song then shifts focus to a woman who was adept at dancing. She could perform her local dances such as ronda and bomba with ease, but when she hears salsa, she is out of her depth. The chorus repeats the warning of the opening lines that everyone who tries to run before they can walk will eventually fall.
The final verse highlights the importance of being prepared before taking on new challenges. Only by learning to walk first can one hope to run successfully. The song serves as a metaphor for life, reminding the listener that success is not immediate and requires patience and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
(Se cayó)
He fell
(Y sola vaya)
And alone he goes
Robi quizo probar
Robi tried to test himself
Su corazón cerro
His (heart) closed up
El que la fue a ayudar
The one who went to help
También se resbaló
Also slipped
Ellos sabían nadar
They knew how to swim
Pero en el hielo no
But not on ice
(Roca se encalla)
(Rock gets stuck)
Ella sabía bailar
She knew how to dance
Su noche era de ronda
Her night was a party
Bailaba bien la danza
She danced the (dance) well
Y ni hablar de la bomba
And don't even talk about the (bomba)
Pero escucho mi salsa
But she heard my (salsa)
Y tuvo que zafar
And had to let go
Yo te lo dije bien
I told you well
Que cambiaras de ritmo
To change the rhythm
La vida es un vaivén
Life is an up and down
Muy llena de egoísmo
Full of selfishness
Y no se sabe quien
And you don't know who
Visitará el abismo
Will visit the abyss
Se caerá
Will fall
Todo el que intente correr
Everyone who tries to run
Si no aprendió caminando
If they didn't learn to walk
Seguro que se vuele a caer
Surely will fall again
Oye sin tu saber caminar
Listen, without knowing how to walk
De pronto quieres correr
Suddenly you want to run
Ten cuidao por el camino
Be careful on the way
Que si te caes, te puedes dar otra vez
Because if you fall, you can hurt yourself again
(y duro)
(and hard)
La vida, es un camino difícil que tenemos que seguir
Life is a difficult path that we have to follow
Desde el momento en que nacemos hasta la hora de morir
From the moment we're born until we die
Si no aprendió a caminar
If they didn't learn to walk
Escucha de mi experiencia
Listen to my experience
No verás salir el sol
You won't see the sun rise
Hasta que el mundo no acabe de dar la vuelta
Until the world finishes turning around
(No pretendas tú correr, sin saber caminar)
(Don't pretend to run without knowing how to walk)
Si no sabes no te metas
If you don't know, don't get involved
Que en la rodilla te va a pegar
Because it will hit you in the knee
Y ten cuidao con un tropezón
And be careful with a stumble
Porque eso mismo te puede tumbar
Because that can knock you down
Cuidado que no tropieces
Be careful not to stumble
Con las piedras del camino
With the stones on the road
Writer(s): Justi Barreto
Contributed by Gabriella F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lopz33
¡Tremenda versión clásica a cargo de los Gigantes del Sur cantando Héctor (Pichi) Pérez, Mannix Martínez y Danny Dávila!
@yuruariortega370
Hermano eres libro abierto de la salsa. Saludos desde Venezuela para la hermosa Isla del Encanto
@criptoven7633
Esos son los tres vocalista de la sonora Ponceña cuando después de la salida de uno de los grandes del canto le dieron luz verde a Héctor pichie Pérez para cantar más canciones de la Ponceña
@harleyoldsmobile9931
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@harleyoldsmobile9931
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@harleyoldsmobile9931
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@user-jy7nx1po2p
Me encanta Solo vaya,te vas de mi y canto al amor.
Un saludo a mis hermanos boricuas de Santo domingo República Dominicana
@luisernestobangueraocoro6477
La mejor de la salsa🎉🎉
@oscarruiz9502
Aprendí a escuchar Salsa Gracias a la Sonora Ponceña.
@abeltaborda8464
Pasarán años, pero estos temas no