Hector LaVoe

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=120 BGCOLOR="#FFCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0443f781egdyul.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Musica Salsa - Real Salsa and Latin Music</B></FONT> <B> </B><B>|    </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Musica Salsa Real Salsa and Latin Music"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Salsa Discography"><U>Salsa Discography</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="066a5a50.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="165" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=360 BGCOLOR="#CCFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Hector LaVoe</div> <bR> <div> <B>Biography</B></div> <div> Hector Lavoe was born to sing - as Latin Music evolved from the "boogaloo" of the late sixties to the "salsa" boom of the seventies Hector Lavoe was at its forefront and "El Cantante(The Singer)" of some of its most representative songs. Born Hector Juan Perez in Ponce, Puerto Rico on 9/30/46, Hector was influenced by the Latin singers he heard on the radio - Daniel Santos and Chuito el de Bayamon just to name a couple. As he grew more involved in music he drew his inspiration from Puerto Rico's great sonero Ismael Rivera, as well as Cheo Feliciano. These influences are obvious in Lavoe's singing style: he attacks the son and montuno like the masters Ismael Rivera and Beny More but Lavoe's natural talent for improvosation made him unique and very popular with salsa fans. At the age of 17 Hector decided to quit music school in Ponce and set his sights on a singing career in New York City. By 1966 he found himself fronting Willie Colon's orquestra. Hector and Willie formed a partnership that would go on to include 14 albums - nearly all of which are gems in the world of Latin music. In 1973 Willie left Hector in charge of his orquestra, pushing Hector into his solo career. Without Willie, Hectors solo efforts only reconfirm his singing ability and his inevitable rise to stardom. The pressures of being a huge salsa star were apparently too great for Hector. He had a difficult time handling his success and suffered a number of personal setbacks along the way. But Hectors fans never forgot about him and he always came back singing. In 1987 his final album "Strikes Back" was nominated for a Grammy. With all the excess, fame, fortune and tragedy from such humble beginnings - Hector Lavoe's life has gone on to symbolize the salsa era of the seventies. With Willie Colon, Hector helped shape the salsa sound of the seventies. As a solo artists he defined the salsa sound of the seventies. And as one of the lead singers of the Fania All Stars - Hector Lavoe was the star among stars.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Discography</B></div> <div> Live </div> <div> The Fania "Legends Of Salsa" Collection Vol. 1 </div> <div> Comedia </div> <div> De Ti Depende </div> <div> El Sabio </div> <div> Feliz Navidad </div> <div> Hector </div> <div> Hector's Gold </div> <div> Homenaje A Felipe Pirela </div> <div> La Voz </div> <div> Master & The Protege </div> <div> Que Sentimiento </div> <div> Revento </div> <div> Strikes Back </div> <bR> <div> <B>Comments</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>