Carmen Delia Dipini
Encyclopedia
Carmen Delia Dipini was a singer of boleros
.
, Dipini often entertained her family and friends as a child with her singing. She attended the Eugenio Brac Elementary School where one of the teachers, Mrs. Brenes, realized that Dipini was talented as a singer and encouraged the 7-year-old student to become a singer. In 1941, when she was 14 years old, Dipini went with her parents to San Juan
with the intention of participating in a radio talent show. As a result she would make her radio singing debut on the radio program of Rafael Quiñones Vidal.
singer Ruth Fernández
, left for New York City at her friend's recommendation. While in New York, she participated and won the first place prize in a talent show held at the Triboro Theater. Part of the prize was a singing contract with Johnny Albino
and The San Juan Trio and she would go on to record her first "hit" "El Día que nací yo" (The Day I was Born) with the trio
.
While in New York she worked in various theaters and nightclubs. She received an offer from another recording company, Casa Seeco, and recorded a tango
titled "Besos de Fuego" (Kisses of Fire) which earned her international acclaim. She later joined Johnny Rodriguez
's band for whom she sang and recorded the following songs:
She had many fans in places as far as Venezuela
and Mexico. Dipini lived in Mexico for seven years and was contracted by both Columbia Records
and RCA Records
. One of her "hits" with RCA was "Especialmente para Tí" (Especially for You).
and later recorded "Somos el Projimo", the Hispanic
version of "We Are The World". She also recorded a tribute to Sylvia Rexach
with the quartet, Los Hispanos. Among her last recordings were the songs "Amor Perdido" (Lost Love) and "Congoja". She had made over 30 albums in her lifetime.
Carmen Delia Dipini died on August 4, 1998 and is buried in the Braulio Dueño Colon
Cemetery in Bayamón
. The city of Bayamon dedicated an artistic center to Dipini named "Cafe Theater Carmen Delia Dipini". In 2002, Carmen Delia Dipini was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame
.
Music of Puerto Rico
The music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by the Spanish, African, Taíno Indians, France, and the United States, and has become very popular across the Caribbean and across the globe...
.
Early years
Born in Naguabo, Puerto RicoNagüabo, Puerto Rico
Naguabo is a municipality in Puerto Rico located in the east coast of the island, north of Humacao; south of Río Grande and Ceiba; and east of Las Piedras. Naguabo is spread over 8 wards and Naguabo Pueblo...
, Dipini often entertained her family and friends as a child with her singing. She attended the Eugenio Brac Elementary School where one of the teachers, Mrs. Brenes, realized that Dipini was talented as a singer and encouraged the 7-year-old student to become a singer. In 1941, when she was 14 years old, Dipini went with her parents to San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
with the intention of participating in a radio talent show. As a result she would make her radio singing debut on the radio program of Rafael Quiñones Vidal.
Music career
In 1948, Dipini, who had befriended fellow Puerto RicanPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
singer Ruth Fernández
Ruth Fernández
Ruth Fernández, a.k.a. Titi Ruth , is a Puerto Rican singer and former member of the Puerto Rican Senate. According to the "Comisiones Nacionales para la Celebración del Quinto Centenario" is said to be one of three artists whose contributions have helped unite Latin America...
, left for New York City at her friend's recommendation. While in New York, she participated and won the first place prize in a talent show held at the Triboro Theater. Part of the prize was a singing contract with Johnny Albino
Johnny Albino
Johnny Albino was a Puerto Rican bolero singer, born in Yauco.-Biography:Albino played and sang through his youth years. It wasn't until years later, however, that he would get a chance to sing as part of an organized act...
and The San Juan Trio and she would go on to record her first "hit" "El Día que nací yo" (The Day I was Born) with the trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
.
While in New York she worked in various theaters and nightclubs. She received an offer from another recording company, Casa Seeco, and recorded a tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
titled "Besos de Fuego" (Kisses of Fire) which earned her international acclaim. She later joined Johnny Rodriguez
Johnny Rodriguez
Johnny Rodriguez is an American country music singer. He was the first famous Latin American country music singer, infusing his music with Latin sounds, and even singing verses of songs in Spanish....
's band for whom she sang and recorded the following songs:
- "Fichas Negras" (Black Chips),
- "Son Amores" (Loves),
- "Dimelo" (Tell Me),
- "Experiencia",
- "Si No Vuelves" (If You Don't Return) and
- "No Es Venganza" (It's Not Vengeance).
She had many fans in places as far as Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and Mexico. Dipini lived in Mexico for seven years and was contracted by both Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
. One of her "hits" with RCA was "Especialmente para Tí" (Especially for You).
Later years
When she returned to Puerto Rico, she joined Tito RodríguezTito Rodriguez
Tito Rodríguez was a popular 1950s and 1960s Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He is known by many fans as "El Inolvidable" , a moniker based on his most popular interpretation, a song written by composer Julio Gutierrez.-Early years:Rodríguez , born in Santurce, Puerto Rico,...
and later recorded "Somos el Projimo", the Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
version of "We Are The World". She also recorded a tribute to Sylvia Rexach
Sylvia Rexach
Sylvia Rexach , was a comedy scriptwriter, poet, singer and composer of boleros .-Early years:Rexach was born and raised in Santurce, Puerto Rico. There she attended public school and received her primary education...
with the quartet, Los Hispanos. Among her last recordings were the songs "Amor Perdido" (Lost Love) and "Congoja". She had made over 30 albums in her lifetime.
Carmen Delia Dipini died on August 4, 1998 and is buried in the Braulio Dueño Colon
Braulio Dueño Colon
Braulio Dueño Colón was a Puerto Rican musician and composer.-Early years:Dueño was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. At a young age Dueño's father, who also loved music, taught him the basics of music and served as his inspiration. Dueño took music classes with the "Maestro" Aruti, with whom he...
Cemetery in Bayamón
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
. The city of Bayamon dedicated an artistic center to Dipini named "Cafe Theater Carmen Delia Dipini". In 2002, Carmen Delia Dipini was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame
International Latin Music Hall of Fame
The International Latin Music Hall of Fame was established in 1999.In addition to the induction into the Hall of Fame, the award ceremonies include Special Recognition Awards and Beny Moré Memorial Award.-1999:...
.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Corsican immigration to Puerto RicoCorsican immigration to Puerto RicoCorsican immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of various economic and political changes in the mid-19th century Europe; among those factors were the social-economic changes which came about in Europe as a result of the Second Industrial Revolution, political discontent and widespread...