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.
Te Vas De Mi
Sonora Ponceña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sufriendo solo
Pues, sé que te vas (Corazón)
Te vas de mí
¿Cuál es la razón? (No lo sé)
Si te hice daño
Y si te he herido
Este silencio
Me está matando
El corazón en pena
Se me está ahogando
Y el corazón en pena
Se me está ahogando
Ay, mulata de mi vida
Llévame en tus pensamientos
No me eches al olvido
Que por ti yo estoy sufriendo
No me eches al olvido
Que por ti yo estoy sufriendo
¡Qué mala eres!
Te vas muy lejos, ya lo sé
Te vas de mí
Y yo me quedo
Corazón, sufriendo aquí
Yo no esperaba corazón
Oye, que fuera así
Pero, cuando lo supe
Oye, mi bien, me sorprendí
(Ay, mulata de mi vida, llévame en tus pensamientos)
No me eches al olvido
Que por ti yo estoy sufriendo
Te vas muy lejos, ya lo sé
Te vas de mí
Y yo me quedo
Corazón, sufriendo aquí
No hay, no hay quien te quiera
Oye, mi bien, como yo a ti
Tengo una pena en el alma
No me hagas sufrir así
(Ay, mulata de mi vida, llévame en tus pensamientos)
No me eches al olvido
Que por ti yo estoy sufriendo
Te vas muy lejos, ya lo sé
Te vas de mí
Y yo me quedo
Corazón, sufriendo aquí
¡Qué mala eres!
Después que te di mucho cariñito, mira
Te vas
A correr
Te vas muy lejos, ya lo sé
Te vas de mí
Y yo me quedo
Corazón, sufriendo aquí
Ahora me paso
En la locura
Me estoy muriendo, corazón
Y es por culpa de tu tortura
Te vas muy lejos, ya lo sé
Te vas de mí
Y yo me quedo
Corazón, sufriendo aquí
Tú sabes que yo te quiero
No puedo vivir sin ti
Si tú te vas de mi lado
(Ay, yo no sé qué será, qué será de mí)
Te vas muy lejos
Ya lo sé
Te vas de mí (Ay, pero mira, ya lo sé)
Y yo me quedo
Corazón, sufriendo aquí
Si te vas, vete
Que corriendo detrás de ti, mmh
No me iré
Y si te vas
Acuérdate de dejarme algo
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Deja algo en tu cofrecito
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Y, cómo (Deja algo pa' mí)
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Y déjame la puerta abierta
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Que vuelvo (Deja algo pa' mí)
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Que no me dejes así, tan pela'o
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Ay, mira que por ti yo estoy queda'o
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Recuerda que tú me dejaste solo
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Y eso a ti no te lo perdono
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Pero, déjame algún recuerdo
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Ay, mira, que yo más tarde te lo devuelvo
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Si tú te vas, tú te vas, si tú te vas, tú te vas
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Si te vas vete, que yo no te boté
Vuélveme a escribir
Con tinta invisible
The lyrics to Sonora Ponceña's song "Te Vas De Mi" are a passionate plea from the singer to their lover, asking why they are leaving and begging them not to forget about the love they shared. The singer's heart is breaking as they suffer alone, knowing their love is leaving them. The pain of their heart is killing them, drowning them in a sorrowful silence that they cannot escape. The singer can't help but to be consumed by their love for their partner, asking them to take them with them in their thoughts and not leave them behind in the depths of their suffering. They cannot understand why their partner must leave, especially after all the love they have shared, but the harsh reality of their situation has left them stunned and heartbroken.
Line by Line Meaning
Hoy yo estoy aquí
Sufriendo solo
Pues, sé que te vas (Corazón)
Te vas de mí
I am here today all alone
Suffering all alone,
Because I know that you are leaving me
You are leaving me
¿Cuál es la razón? (No lo sé)
Si te hice daño
Y si te he herido
Lo reconozco
What is the reason? (I don't know)
If I caused you pain
And if I hurt you
I recognize it
Este silencio
Me está matando
El corazón en pena
Se me está ahogando
Y el corazón en pena
Se me está ahogando
This silence
Is killing me
My heart in sorrow
Is drowning me
And my heart in sorrow
Is drowning me
Ay, mulata de mi vida
Llévame en tus pensamientos
No me eches al olvido
Que por ti yo estoy sufriendo
No me eches al olvido
Que por ti yo estoy sufriendo
Oh, my love
Take me with you in your thoughts
Don't forget me
Because I am suffering for you
Don't forget me
Because I am suffering for you
Te vas muy lejos, ya lo sé
Te vas de mí
Y yo me quedo
Corazón, sufriendo aquí
You are leaving far away, I know it
You are leaving me
And I stay here
Heart, suffering here
No hay, no hay quien te quiera
Oye, mi bien, como yo a ti
Tengo una pena en el alma
No me hagas sufrir así
There's no one, no one to love you
Listen, my dear, like I love you
I have a sorrow in my soul
Don't make me suffer like this
¡Qué mala eres!
Después que te di mucho cariñito, mira
Te vas
A correr
How bad you are!
After I gave you so much love, look at you
You leave
To run away
Ahora me paso
En la locura
Me estoy muriendo, corazón
Y es por culpa de tu tortura
Now I am going crazy
I am dying, my heart
And it's because of your torture
Tú sabes que yo te quiero
No puedo vivir sin ti
Si tú te vas de mi lado
(Ay, yo no sé qué será, qué será de mí)
You know that I love you
I can't live without you
If you leave me
(I don't know what will happen to me)
Si te vas, vete
Que corriendo detrás de ti, mmh
No me iré
If you leave, go
I won't be running after you, mmh
I won't leave either
Y si te vas
Acuérdate de dejarme algo
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Deja algo en tu cofrecito
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Y, cómo (Deja algo pa' mí)
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Y déjame la puerta abierta
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Que vuelvo (Deja algo pa' mí)
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Que no me dejes así, tan pela'o
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Ay, mira que por ti yo estoy queda'o
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Recuerda que tú me dejaste solo
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Y eso a ti no te lo perdono
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Pero, déjame algún recuerdo
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Ay, mira, que yo más tarde te lo devuelvo
(Si tú te vas, tú te vas, si tú te vas, tú te vas)
(Si tú te vas, no te lo lleves todo) Si te vas vete, que yo no te boté
And if you leave
Remember to leave me something
(Don't take everything with you when you go) Leave something in your box
(Don't take everything with you when you go) And, how (Leave something for me)
(Don't take everything with you when you go) And leave the door open
(Don't take everything with you when you go) I'll come back (Leave something for me)
(Don't take everything with you when you go) Don't leave me like this, all alone
(Don't take everything with you when you go) Oh, see that I am left behind because of you
(Don't take everything with you when you go) Remember that you left me alone
(Don't take everything with you when you go) And I don't forgive you for that
(Don't take everything with you when you go) But leave me some memories
(Don't take everything with you when you go) Oh, see that I'll return them to you later
(If you leave, you leave, if you leave, you leave)
(Don't take everything with you when you go) If you're leaving, go, I didn't kick you out
Writer(s): Roberto Anglero
Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.