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.
Zonas Prohibidas
Sonora Ponceña Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aquello q esconde la tela en tu cuerpo es mi ansia infinita
Me gusta tu cuerpo, me gusta, me gusta
Me gusta tu cara tu boca tu pelo
Me gusta tu gesto la forma en q miras y mil cosas más
El día en q logre quererte a mi modo tenerte a mi lado y dártelo todo
Las zonas prohibidas dejaran de serlo
Tendré lo q esconde la tela en tu cuerpo
Y entre mil espasmos vas a darte cuenta
Q yo no hago sexo q te hago el amor
/ Las zonas prohibidas q tiene tu cuerpo son mis favoritas
Abre tus alas al amor q un sueño imaginario nos invita
Es q quiero tenerte a mi lado dártelo todo mi muñequita
Me gusta tu cara tu boca y tu pelo y la forma en q me miras
Tu eres la nena q me gusta te necesito negrita
Recorriendo tu cuerpo el corazón se me agita
- Yo no hago sexo te hago el amor
Amar no es solo sexo también hay q querer
Voy a entregarte mi vida mi alma y mi corazón
Yo tuve un sueño feliz y fue contigo mi amor
Y si me pides la vida, la vida te doy, te la doy
Yo quiero quererte a mi modo yo quiero dártelo todo
Amor es un algo sin nombre q ilusiona a un hombre por una mujer
Apréndelo sexo no es lo mismo q amor
Y si no quieres hacerlo a mi modo entonces digamos adiós.
Sonora Ponceña's "Zonas Prohibidas" is a passionate love song that revolves around the singer's deep admiration for the physical and emotional aspects of the person they love. The chorus emphasizes the singer's attraction to the "forbidden zones" of their lover's body, which they consider their favorites. The singer claims that their insatiable desire for their lover's body leads them to want to explore every inch of it, including the parts that are typically hidden by clothing. They express a longing to love and cherish their partner, promising to give them everything they have while also making it clear that their love is not just physical, but emotional and spiritual as well.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more and more passionate, declaring their love for their partner in more detail. They express their fondness for their lover's face, hair, and gestures, admiring every little thing about them. The singer also emphasizes their desire to be with their partner, using phrases like "tenerte a mi lado" (have you by my side) and "dártelo todo" (give you everything). They even say that they will love their partner so intensely that they won't just be making love, but they will be making "amor."
Overall, "Zonas Prohibidas" is a steamy love song that celebrates the physical and emotional aspects of love. It emphasizes the importance of cherishing and admiring one's partner for both their inner and outer beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Las zonas prohibidas q tiene tu cuerpo son mis favoritas
I am attracted to the parts of your body that are considered taboo by society.
Aquello q esconde la tela en tu cuerpo es mi ansia infinita
I am deeply desirous of what is hidden under your clothing.
Me gusta tu cuerpo, me gusta, me gusta
I am in love with your body and I cannot get enough of it.
Me gusta tu cara tu boca tu pelo
I admire your face, your lips, and your hair.
Me gusta tu gesto la forma en q miras y mil cosas más
I appreciate your gestures, the way you look at me, and many other things about you.
El día en q logre quererte a mi modo tenerte a mi lado y dártelo todo
The day when I can love you the way I want to, have you by my side, and give you everything you deserve.
Las zonas prohibidas dejaran de serlo
The forbidden parts of your body will no longer be off-limits to me.
Tendré lo q esconde la tela en tu cuerpo
I will finally have access to what is hidden under your clothing.
Y te amaré tanto, tanto, tanto q entre mil delirios
I will love you so much that I will be caught up in a frenzy of passion.
Y entre mil espasmos vas a darte cuenta
You will know, through my intense physical reactions, how deeply I love you.
Q yo no hago sexo q te hago el amor
I do not just engage in sex with you, I make love to you with all of my heart.
Abre tus alas al amor q un sueño imaginario nos invita
Let us embrace the love that we have been dreaming of and make it a reality.
Es q quiero tenerte a mi lado dártelo todo mi muñequita
I want to have you by my side and give you everything, my beautiful little doll.
Tu eres la nena q me gusta te necesito negrita
You are the girl that I like and I need you, my beautiful black woman.
Recorriendo tu cuerpo el corazón se me agita
My heart races as I explore every part of your body.
Amar no es solo sexo también hay q querer
Love is not just about sex, it is also about truly caring for someone.
Voy a entregarte mi vida mi alma y mi corazón
I am going to give you my life, my soul, and my heart.
Yo tuve un sueño feliz y fue contigo mi amor
I had a happy dream and you were in it, my love.
Y si me pides la vida, la vida te doy, te la doy
If you ask for my life, I will give it to you, I will give it to you.
Amor es un algo sin nombre q ilusiona a un hombre por una mujer
Love is an indescribable feeling that intoxicates a man for a woman.
Apréndelo sexo no es lo mismo q amor
Learn this: sex is not the same as love.
Y si no quieres hacerlo a mi modo entonces digamos adiós
If you do not want to do it my way, then let us say goodbye.
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.