Héctor Lavoe

Héctor Lavoe was born Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1946. He moved to New York City as a young man and joined the Fania All-Stars, the musical collective that helped define salsa's sound in the 1970s. His voice had a particular ache to it, a quality that made songs like 'El Dia de Mi Suerte' and 'El Cantante' feel like personal confessions set to rhythm.

He recorded several albums with Fania, including 'La Voz' in 1975 and 'Comedia' in 1977. His work with the label's musicians, including Willie Colón, placed him at the center of the genre's New York scene during its peak. The nickname 'El Cantante de los Cantantes' stuck because of how directly he connected with listeners, turning complex arrangements into something immediate and emotional.

Lavoe's personal life was difficult. He struggled with addiction and depression, and a serious car accident in 1988 affected his health and his ability to perform regularly in the years that followed. He was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 1999, after his death. The songs he left behind, from the hopeful 'El Dia de Mi Suerte' to the weary 'Todo Tiene Su Final', document a career that was both celebrated and fraught.