Another Sad Year For Tropical Music NotiCel The Truth As It Is Puerto Rico News NotiCel

Well-known salsa personalities died in the year that ended.

On April 29, 2018, Pupy Cantor performed at the 35th Anniversary of National Zalsa Day at the Hiram Birthorn. He received recognition there. The singer died in August this year.

Photo: Archive / NotiCel

Every year there is sad news about the death of a well-known and beloved musical figure and for salseros there have been many notes about the deaths of beloved artists in recent years.

NotiCel presents a short report on tropical music greats who “moved to the other neighborhood” in 2023, as Rubén Blades would say.

Lazaro Valdes – The well-known pianist died on January 1st in Cuba at the age of 83. He belongs to the Valdés family of musicians from Cuba. He was a pianist in Benny Moré's band in the final phase of the big band, which remained active for many years after Moré's death. He was also the founder and leader of the group Son Jazz.

Tito Faberlle – A great bongo player who was part of the orchestras of Bobby Valentín, Roberto Angleró and Kim de los Santos, among others. In the last part of his life he dedicated himself to playing jazz in Don Mopsick's group. He died on January 14th at the age of 68.

Hector Rey – The singer remembered as “El guaraguao de la salsa” died on January 25th at the age of 54. Rey became known at the end of the 80s as the singer of the Salsa Fever Orchestra and in 1991 his first solo album “Al duro” was released for the MP label, from which the song “Te proponego” was a great success. He recorded two more albums, but his greatest success came in countries such as Colombia and Panama, where he traveled frequently to perform his hits.

Héctor Rey, in the front with a beard, caught the salsa fever in his day.

Photo: Taken from networks

José “Cheché” Mendoza – The founder of the renowned Venezuelan orchestra Los Satélites died on January 31st at the age of 82. He founded his orchestra in Maracaibo in 1966. He made songs like “Pensando en ti” and “Traicionera,” among others, classics. In Venezuela he was declared a cultural heritage site for his musical work.

Jaime “Megüi” Rivera – The singer and percussionist of La Solution died on February 22nd at the age of 69. He was the brother of Roberto “Bola” Rivera, founder and leader of La Solution, an orchestra in which Megüi worked from the beginning and in various phases as a singer and conguero player. Rivera was the voice of great salsa classics such as “Una canita al aire”, “Morena Consentida”, “Amor para dos”, “Es tan immense”, “La ruina”, “Anonymous to my neighbor” and “Una canita más” . ” , among others.

Megui Rivera, left, during her time at The Solution.

Photo: Taken from networks

Celso Valdes – One of the most respected violinists of the outstanding Orquesta Aragón and was known as the “Dean of Aragón” due to his uninterrupted career since 1955. He died in Havana on February 23 at the age of 88.

Hipólito “Polito” Vega – The well-known radio presenter died on March 9th at the age of 84. A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, Vega came to New York in the late 1950s and became an icon of Latin American radio. He is considered a pioneer in disseminating Afro-Caribbean rhythms such as Cha Cha Chá, Cuban Son and New Salsa on the radio. He also had a television show for many years.

Jorge González – The well-known bongo player known as “The Dancing Bell” died on April 4th at the age of 65. He had an extensive music career, playing with orchestras such as Willie Colón, Ray Berretto, Fania All Stars, Celia Cruz, Larry Harlow, Cheo Feliciano and Juan Luis Guerra, among others. At the time of his death he was a member of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Juan Carlos Formal – Van Van bassist. He was also a guitarist and composer. He died on May 26 of a heart attack during a performance by the orchestra at the Lehman Center in New York. He was 59 years old. He was the son of the Van Van's founder, Juan Formell, and the brother of the orchestra's drummer and current director, Samuel Formell.

Felix “Pupi” Legarreta – The prominent Cuban musician died on July 2 in Philadelphia. He was 83 years old. He excelled as a violinist and flautist, but in addition to his work as an arranger he also played the piano and guitar. He played and recorded with the best Latin music from the 60s onwards: Larry Harlow, Israel “Cachao” López, Fania All Stars, Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz and many more.

Rogelia “Canelita” Medina – Considered the best Venezuelan interpreter of the Cuban son, she died on July 4th at the age of 84. He distinguished himself as an artist from a young age and the renowned Sonora Caracas was the bearer of his international fame. He recorded around thirty albums that produced dozens of international hits.

Puppy song – The famous Puerto Rican singer died on August 24th at the age of 70. He is best remembered as a singer with Manny Oquendo's Conjunto Libre and Willie Rosario's Orchestra. Anthony Torres, his real name, was also a drummer and backing singer for many groups. In Puerto Rico, his greatest classic was “El streetwise,” recorded with the Rosario Orchestra.

Joe Rodríguez – The trumpeter and leader of the La Terrifica Orchestra died on September 13th at the age of 77 from complications of diabetes. He was a well-known musician from Sonora Ponceña when he decided to become independent and form his own group. In 1972 he convinced several musicians from La Ponceña to form La Terrifica. Great singers such as Pichie Pérez, Yolanda Rivera, Manix Martínez, Héctor Tricoche and Wito Colón, among others, passed through his orchestra.

Joe Rodríguez, center, was the founder and director of La Terrifica.

Photo: Taken from networks

Tirso Duarte – Colombia-based Cuban musician, composer and singer died on September 29 after being attacked while leaving a concert. He was 45 years old. The musician was hospitalized with a fractured skull and multiple injuries all over his body. He distinguished himself as a musician with Charanga Habanera, NG La Banda, Pupy y los que son son and his orchestra La Sonoridad.

Oscar Valdes – The Cuban percussionist and singer died on October 19th in Havana at the age of 85. For many years he was the voice that identified the Iraqere group. In 2000 he founded the group Diákara together with his children.

Orlando Marin – Timbalero, of Puerto Rican descent, who had an outstanding musical career as a musician and orchestra leader in New York. He founded his first orchestra in 1951 with his friend Eddie Palmieri. The album “Se te comó la casa” with the singer Chivirico Dávila is considered his most successful production. He died on October 27th at the age of 88.

Celso Clemente – The prominent Puerto Rican percussionist died on December 22 at the age of 59 after suffering a stroke three weeks earlier. He was a member of various salsa orchestras such as Tommy Olivencia, Tony Vega and Tito Rojas, where he was musical director. As a recording musician, he was one of the most prolific in Puerto Rico.

Also missing this year is Israel “Junito” Cruz, Andy Montañez’s drummer for 30 years; Luigi Texidor Jr., salsa singer, son of the legendary Luigi Texidor; Jon Fausty, sound engineer during Fania's golden years; and Brazilian trombonist Joao Donato.