Ángel Tomás "Tommy" Olivencia Pagán was born in the Vill… Read Full Bio ↴Early years
Ángel Tomás "Tommy" Olivencia Pagán was born in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to the city of Arecibo when he was just a child. He received his primary and secondary education in Arecibo. As a young man, he became fascinated with the trumpet and learned to play the musical instrument.
In 1954, Olivencia sang and played the trumpet for local bands. He graduated from high school in 1957 and his family relocated once again to Santurce.
Puertorrican Salsa DJ Yun Yun Echevarria interviews Tommy Olivencia (1980s)
Puertorrican Salsa DJ Yun Yun Echevarria interviews Tommy Olivencia (1980s)
La Primerisima Orchestra de Puerto Rico
In 1960, Olivencia organized his first orchestra, which he named "Tommy Olivencia y La Primerisima Orchestra de Puerto Rico". His band combined swing and melodic styles together. This combination plus a strong brass contingent in the band was his trademark. Olivencia signed a contract with Inca Records and remained with that label until 1978. In 1972, he had his first major "hit" with Secuestro (Kidnapped) and followed that hit with Juntos de Nuevo (Together Again) in 1974 and Plante Bandera in 1975.
Olivencia's band was also known as the "Tommy Olivencia School", because the band produced some of the best and most talented singers and musicians of salsa in the island. Among those to have belonged to the band at one time or another were: Chamaco Ramirez, Sammy "El Rolo" González, Simon Perez, Paquito Guzman, Ubaldo "Lalo" Rodriguez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Marvin Santiago, Frankie Ruiz, Hector Tricoche, Carlos Alexis, Hector "Pichie" Perez, Paquito "Junior" Acosta and Mel Martínez.
Albums recordings
Tommy Olivencia (c. 1977)
Tommy Olivencia (c. 1977)
Among the albums recorded by Olivencia and his band are:
* Trucu-Tu
* La Nueva Sensacion Musical De Puerto Rico 1965
* Jala-Jala y Guaguancó 1966
* Fire Fire 1967
* A Toda Maquina 1968
* Cuero...Salsa y Sentimiento 1971
* Secuestro (Kidnapped) 1972
* Juntos de Nuevo (Together Again) 1974
* Planté Bandera 1975
* Introducing Lalo Rodríguez and Simón Pérez (1976)
* El Negro Chombo 1977
* La Primerísima 1978
* Sweet Trumpet-Hot Salsa 1978
* Tommy Olivencia y su Orchestra with Paquito Guzmán & Gilberto Santa Rosa (1979)
* Un Triangulo De Triunfo (Triangle of Triumph) (1981)
* Tommy Olivencia y su Orchestra with Frankie Ruiz & Carlos Alexis 1983
* Celebrando Otro Aniversario(Celebrating Another Anniversary) (1984)
* Ayer, Hoy, Mañana y Siempre(Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and Always) (1985)
* 30 Aniversario 1987
* El Jeque 1990
* Enamorado y Que! (I'm in Love, What about it?) 1991
* Vive La Leyenda 1998
* 40 Aniversario Live 2002
The following are considered among the top 100 greatest salsa songs:
* Casimira
* Como Lo Hacen (How they do it)
* Trucutru
* Pa'Lante Otra Vez
* Lobo Domesticado (Domestic Wolf)
* No Me Tires La Primera Piedra
Awards and recognitions
Tommy Olivencia Planté Bandera (1975)
Tommy Olivencia Planté Bandera (1975)
Among the many awards and recognitions which have been bestowed upon Olivencia are the following:
* The Puerto Rican Senate passed a resolution congratulating Olivencia and his band for their contributions to Puerto Rico's music.
* El Cordero de Oro (The Golden Lamb) and El Buho de Oro (The Golden Owl) Awards from Panama, for the best foreign band.
* The Golden Agueybana Award from Puerto Rico
* The November 11th Award from Colombia
Later years
On August 2000, Olivencia celebrated his 40th anniversary in the music industry at the Tito Puente Theater in San Juan, an event attended by many of the former members of his band. On May 15, 2004, Olivencia celebrated his 66th birthday and 45 years with the band with a live recording concert. The annual "Day of Salsa" of 2005, celebrated in Puerto Rico was dedicated to Olivencia.
Death
He died on September 22, 2006, aged 68, from complications of diabetes, which he had battled his entire life.
Doce Rosas
Tommy Olivencia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
seguro abriste ya ese sobre azul
que a tu puerta muy temprano llegó
con doce rosas en el interior.
El calendario te dirá el porque
el remitente te hablará de mi
y otra vez mi recuerdo brillará con mas luz
o me sigues amando y pensarás mil cosas
correrás junto a las rosas que mandé.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi
son doce rosas que te gritan vuelve
y cada una significa un mes, llorandote.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi
del gran amor que para mi tu eres
se que sientes lo mismo por mí
perdóname, sin ti no se que hacer.
Ay pareja van dos dias de orgullo
que solamente nos tortura más
un amor como el nuestro no se puede apagar
mira dentro de tu corazón
tu tampoco has dejado de quererme,
piensas en volver a verme tal como lo pienso yo.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi
son doce rosas que te gritan vuelve
y cada una significa un mes, llorandote.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi
del gran amor que para mi tu eres
se que sientes lo mismo por mí
perdóname, sin ti no se que hacer.
Por si acaso piensas no volver
recuerda siempre que yo te adoré.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi
son doce rosas que te gritan vuelve
y cada una significa un mes, llorandote.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi
del gran amor que para mi tu eres
se que sientes lo mismo por mí, perdóname.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi.
Son doce rosas que te gritan vuelve,
y cada una significa un mes, llorándote y esperándote.
Se quiere volver a mi, pero tu orgullo a ti no te deja,
no te deja ser féliz
Pero bien sabes que espero por ti,
y aquí en mi lecho te estaré esperando,
con mi energía para ti guardando negrita.
Y mil cosas pensarás, mas por si acaso piensas no volver,
recuerda siempre que yo te adoré y te adoré.
No te puedo borrar yo de mi mente,
y yo te pido otra oportunidad, dame confianza, regresa a mi.
The song "Doce Rosas" by Tommy Olivencia tells the story of a man who sends twelve roses to his lover with a letter explaining his love and longing for her. The roses represent each month of the year, and the man hopes that his lover will understand the depth of his feelings and forgive him for any mistakes he may have made in the past. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his pain and hopelessness, begging for forgiveness and a second chance.
The song is filled with passion and emotion, conveying the intensity of the singer's love for his lover. The recurring theme of roses represents the fragility and beauty of their relationship, as well as the hope that their love will survive despite the challenges they face. The lyrics also reveal the singer's vulnerability and desperation, reflecting the impact that love can have on our emotions and our sense of self.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando recibas esta carta tu seguro abriste ya ese sobre azul que a tu puerta muy temprano llegó con doce rosas en el interior.
You must have opened the blue envelope that arrived at your door early with twelve roses inside when you received this letter.
El calendario te dirá el porque el remitente te hablará de mi y otra vez mi recuerdo brillará con mas luz sentirás tal vez amor que tú o me sigues amando y pensarás mil cosas correrás junto a las rosas que mandé.
The sender will explain to you why, and the calendar will provide more insight. You may feel love again, and your memory of me will be more vivid as you wonder about your feelings and run to the roses I sent.
Son doce rosas que hablarán por mi son doce rosas que te gritan vuelve y cada una significa un mes, llorandote.
Twelve roses will speak for me, twelve roses shout to you to come back, and each one stands for a month crying for you.
Del gran amor que para mi tu eres se que sientes lo mismo por mí perdóname, sin ti no se que hacer.
I know you feel the same way about me, you are the love of my life, please forgive me, I don't know what to do without you.
Ay pareja van dos dias de orgullo que solamente nos tortura más un amor como el nuestro no se puede apagar mira dentro de tu corazón tu tampoco has dejado de quererme, piensas en volver a verme tal como lo pienso yo.
Two days of pride have gone by, only causing us more pain. A love like ours cannot be extinguished. Look into your heart, you haven't stopped loving me either. You are thinking about seeing me again, just like I am.
Por si acaso piensas no volver recuerda siempre que yo te adoré.
If you think about not coming back, always remember that I adore you.
Se quiere volver a mi, pero tu orgullo a ti no te deja, no te deja ser féliz Pero bien sabes que espero por ti, y aquí en mi lecho te estaré esperando, con mi energía para ti guardando negrita.
You want to come back to me, but your pride won't let you, it won't let you be happy. But you know I'm waiting for you, and I'll be here in my bed, keeping my energy for you, my love.
No te puedo borrar yo de mi mente, y yo te pido otra oportunidad, dame confianza, regresa a mi.
I can't erase you from my mind, and I'm asking for another chance. Give me your trust, come back to me.
Writer(s): CASAS AUGE JOSE, CODONER PASCUAL FRANCISCO, GUARDIA MOREU SANTIAGO
Contributed by Gavin I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.