Hector Lavoe

Héctor Lavoe, born Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez in Ponce, Puerto Rico, is the legendary voice that gave salsa its soul. After moving to New York as a teenager, he became the frontman for Willie Colón’s band, fusing Afro-Caribbean roots with the urban intensity of El Barrio. Lavoe’s phrasing, humor, and improvisational mastery turned songs like “Che Che Colé,” “Periódico de Ayer,” and “La Murga” into street anthems. As a central figure in the Fania All-Stars, he helped carry salsa from the Bronx to Tokyo—taking a local movement global, one improvisation at a time.His 1975 solo debut La Voz went gold, launching a run of eight solo albums, many of which charted on Billboard. He sold out Madison Square Garden multiple times, including the iconic 1975 Fania performance, and his image lives on in murals, statues, and the feature film El Cantante. His performance of “El Cantante,” written by Rubén Blades, became his definitive anthem—a portrait of the artist as martyr, rebel, and genius.Lavoe’s life, marked by personal tragedy and addiction, only deepened the emotional truth in his music. Even decades after his passing, his music lives on in every clave, every brass hit, every crowd yelling “Mi Gente.” Héctor Lavoe didn’t just sing salsa. He is salsa