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.
Pancuco
Tommy Olivencia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que se llamaba Pancuco
Que se ganaba la vida
En un circo haciendo trucos.
Pero le llegó su día
Y durante una función
Pa' probar su valentía
Se encerró con un león.
Pancuco se lo ordenó
Y toda su mano izquierda
En la boca le metió.
Cuando el publico aplaudía
Pancuco se descuido
El león cerro la boca
Se escuchó una algarabía
Y desde aquel mismo día
Hasta el nombre le cambió.
Ya no le dicen Pancuco.
En el barrio mira, le tienen un vacilón.
-Ahora le llaman el tuco-
-Por estar haciendo trucos-
Fue su última función.
Se le fue, se le fue la inspiración.
Ya no sirve ya no sirve de atracción.
Por eso mira hoy se lamenta hasta el león.
Hubo una algarabía.
Y... desde el mismo día.
Por siempre estar haciendo trucos.
Pobrecito Pancuco se metió en un lío.
Por tratar de probar su valentía.
Pobrecito Pancuco, el león lo dejó tuco.
Ahora siempre esta en la 15 practicando un nuevo truco.
Y lo tienen de bufón, lo tienen de vacilón.
Eso te pasa Pancuco, por estar haciendo trucos.
Todo el mundo esta en espera
A ver a ver como se la inventa.
Ya no le dicen Pancuco.
Ahora le llaman el tuco.
The lyrics to Tommy Olivencia's song "Pancuco" tell the story of a man named Pancuco who worked in a circus, performing tricks to make a living. However, during one of his performances, in an attempt to show his bravery, Pancuco locked himself in a cage with a lion. Pancuco even went as far as to put his left hand in the lion's mouth, which amazed the audience. Unfortunately, Pancuco became careless, and the lion closed its mouth, causing a commotion. Since that day, Pancuco has been known as "El Tuco" or "The Joker" and has become a source of amusement for people in his neighborhood.
The song's lyrics are compelling to listeners because they depict the consequences of trying to prove oneself to others, especially when it comes at a great cost. Pancuco's desire to impress the audience and show off his bravery ultimately led to his downfall. His mistake has now become a permanent part of his life; he is now known as "El Tuco" and will always be associated with his foolishness.
Overall, the song's message is that people should be cautious about trying to impress others, especially at the risk of one's safety or well-being. The song emphasizes that people should focus on improving themselves, rather than trying to gain the admiration of others.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo conocí un elemento
I once knew a person
Que se llamaba Pancuco
whose name was Pancuco
Que se ganaba la vida
who made a living
En un circo haciendo trucos.
performing tricks in a circus.
Pero le llegó su día
But his day arrived
Y durante una función
And during a performance
Pa' probar su valentía
to prove his bravery
Se encerró con un león.
he locked himself in with a lion.
El león abrió la boca
The lion opened its mouth
Pancuco se lo ordenó
and Pancuco commanded it
Y toda su mano izquierda
and he put his entire left hand
En la boca le metió.
into the lion's mouth.
Cuando el publico aplaudía
While the audience applauded
Pancuco se descuido
Pancuco became careless
El león cerro la boca
the lion closed its mouth
Se escuchó una algarabía
There was an uproar
Y desde aquel mismo día
And from that very day
Hasta el nombre le cambió.
Even his name changed.
Ya no le dicen Pancuco.
They no longer call him Pancuco.
En el barrio mira, le tienen un vacilón.
In the neighborhood, they make fun of him.
-Ahora le llaman el tuco-
-Now they call him El Tuco-
-Por estar haciendo trucos-
-Because he's always doing tricks-
Fue su última función.
It was his last performance.
Se le fue, se le fue la inspiración.
He lost his inspiration, it vanished.
Ya no sirve ya no sirve de atracción.
He is no longer a attraction, he is worthless.
Por eso mira hoy se lamenta hasta el león.
That's why now he laments, even the lion.
Hubo una algarabía.
There was an uproar.
Y... desde el mismo día.
And since that very day.
Por siempre estar haciendo trucos.
For always doing tricks.
Pobrecito Pancuco se metió en un lío.
Poor Pancuco got himself in trouble.
Por tratar de probar su valentía.
For trying to prove his bravery.
Pobrecito Pancuco, el león lo dejó tuco.
Poor Pancuco, the lion left him in bad shape.
Ahora siempre esta en la 15 practicando un nuevo truco.
Now he can be found practicing new tricks.
Y lo tienen de bufón, lo tienen de vacilón.
They have him as a jester, a source of amusement.
Eso te pasa Pancuco, por estar haciendo trucos.
That's what happens when you keep doing tricks, Pancuco.
Todo el mundo está en espera.
Everyone is waiting.
A ver a ver como se la inventa.
To see what he comes up with.
Ya no le dicen Pancuco.
They don't call him Pancuco anymore.
Ahora le llaman el tuco.
Now they call him El Tuco.
Writer(s): johnny vega, public domain
Contributed by Oliver A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.