Lopez made his name on the club circuit of the Southwestern United States before being 'discovered' in 1962 playing at the club PJ's in Hollywood, California, by record producer Don Costa. Costa was taken with Lopez's latinized versions of contemporary hits and signed him up to Frank Sinatra's record label, Reprise Records. His debut album, Trini Lopez Live at PJ's, was released in 1963. The album included a version of If I Had a Hammer, which reached number one in 36 countries (No. 3 in the United States) and was a radio favorite for many years. He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba on the album; his recording of the tune was later re-issued as a single in 1966.
His popularity led the Gibson Guitar Corporation to ask him in 1964 to design a guitar for them. He ended up designing two: The Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both of these guitars were in production from 1964 until 1971 and are now highly sought after amongst collectors. Some owners of the guitar include Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
He scored 13 chart singles through 1968, including "Lemon Tree" (1965), "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (1966) and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" (1968). On the adult contemporary chart, he ranked up 15 hits, including the Top 10 singles "Michael" (1964), "Gonna Get Along Without Ya' Now" (1967) and "The Bramble Bush" (1967). Beyond his success on record, he became one of the country's top nightclub performers of that era, regularly headlining in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During the 1960s and 1970s Lopez moved into acting, though his film career was not as successful as his music. His first film role was in Marriage on the Rocks (1965), in which he made a cameo appearance in a nightclub scene; Lopez's soundtrack song, "Sinner Man", became a hit single (No. 54 pop/No. 12 adult contemporary). He was one of The Dirty Dozen (1967) and starred in Antonio (1973). He made two appearances (playing different characters) on the television program, Adam 12. He continued his musical career with extensive tours of Europe and Latin America during this period; an attempt to break out by releasing a disco album in 1978 proved a flop.
Since then, Lopez has done charitable work and received honors such as being inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003. He was still recording and appearing live in the early 2000s. Recently he took part in a benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Spanish harlem
Trini Lopez Lyrics
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A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
And all the stars are gleaming
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
But soft and sweet and dreaming
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul
And starts a fire there and then I lose control
I have to beg your pardon
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I'm going to pick that rose
And watch her as she grows in my garden
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
The song "Spanish Harlem" by Trini Lopez is a classic romantic ballad that describes a rose that grows in Spanish Harlem, the neighborhood in Manhattan known for its vibrant culture and Latin American community. The rose in question is a red one, that only blooms under certain special circumstances, namely when "the moon is on the run, and all the stars are gleaming." The singer describes the rose as growing in the midst of the concrete of the streets, but being "soft and sweet and dreaming."
The rose itself serves as a symbol for the singer's love interest, who has "eyes as black as coal" that "look down in my soul." The singer becomes overwhelmed with desire and declares that he is going to pick the rose and watch her grow in his garden. The song is a testament to the beauty of love and the power it has to inspire and motivate individuals to act on their desires.
Overall, "Spanish Harlem" by Trini Lopez is a beautiful and romantic song that uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey a powerful message of love and desire. The rose serves as a symbol for the beauty and fragility of love, and its connection to the neighborhood of Spanish Harlem adds a cultural richness and depth to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a rose in Spanish Harlem
There is a flower in the urban area of Spanish Harlem
A red rose up in Spanish Harlem
A red-colored rose is growing in Spanish Harlem
It is a special one, it's never seen the sun
This rose is unique and has never been exposed in sunlight
It only comes out when the moon is on the run
This rose only blooms in the absence of the moon
And all the stars are gleaming
When the stars are shining bright in the sky
It's growing in the street right up through the concrete
It's planted in the concrete, yet still manages to grow
But soft and sweet and dreaming
Despite the harsh surroundings, the rose is still delicate and dreamlike
With eyes as black as coal that look down in my soul
The rose has dark petals that peer into my innermost thoughts
And starts a fire there and then I lose control
It ignites a passion within me, causing me to lose composure
I have to beg your pardon
I must apologize for my sudden change in behavior
I'm going to pick that rose
I intend to pluck the rose from its home
And watch her as she grows in my garden
I want to observe it flourish in my garden
(There is a rose in Spanish Harlem)
The rose in Spanish Harlem continues to exist
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Background chorus
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes
Written by: JOSEPH HERNANDEZ, WALTER JR DEWGARDE, GLORIVEE RODRIGUEZ, TEKOMIN WILLIAMS, DARRELL YATES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind