Héctor Lavoe (statue)
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| Statue of Héctor Lavoe | |
|---|---|
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  Statue of Héctor Lavoe Location of the statue within Puerto Rico | |
| Artist | Severo Romero (Ponce, Puerto Rico) |
| Year | 2014 |
| Type | Bronze |
| Medium | Bronze[1] |
| Dimensions | 2 m (79 in)[2] |
| Weight | 1 ton |
| Condition | Pristine |
| Location | La Guancha Barrio Playa, Ponce |
| 17°57′55.1514″N 66°36′52.2″W / 17.965319833°N 66.614500°W | |
| Owner | Municipality of Ponce, PR |
Héctor Lavoe is a 6-foot tall bronze[3] statue dedicated to the memory of salsa singer Héctor Lavoe who reached his professional height during the 1970s.[4] The bronze statue is located at the sea-front recreational complex Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico. The statue is the work of by Puerto Rican artist Severo Romero and was unveiled in 2014.
Héctor Lavoe (1946 – 1993) was a Puerto Rican salsa singer.[5] He was known as "El Cantante de los Cantantes" (The Singer of Singers). From a young age, he developed an interest in music and attended the Ponce Free School of Music, known today as the Instituto de Música Juan Morel Campos.[6][7] In 1963, he moved to New York City, at the age of sixteen.[6] Shortly after his arrival to New York City, he worked as the singer in a sextet formed by Roberto García.[6] During this period, he also performed with several other groups, including Orquesta New York, Kako All-Stars, and the Johnny Pacheco band. In 1967, Lavoe joined Willie Colón's band as its vocalist,[8] recording several hit songs, including "El Malo" and "Canto a Borinquen". Lavoe became a soloist and formed his own band performing as lead vocalist.[8] As a soloist, Lavoe recorded several hits including: "El cantante", "Bandolera" and "Periódico de ayer". He was frequently featured as a guest singer with the Fania All Stars, recording numerous tracks with the band.[6] In 2000, he was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.[9]
