Chamaco Ramirez
Encyclopedia
Chamaco Ramirez was a famous Puerto Rican
salsa
singer and composer. He came to prominence and is still mostly remembered for his work as singer of the Tommy Olivencia
Orchestra.
to start the orchestra which would bear Olivencia's name and which would later go by the moniker of La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico.
genre.
Besides his vocal work which was marked by his ability to improvise, he was also a gifted composer who wrote the Salsa classic, Trucutu, later covered by Marc Anthony
. Among his other hits include "Plante Bandera" (which was later covered by reggaeton artists Tego Calderon and Tempo Alomar) and "Evelio Y La Rumba" (which was later covered by salsa group Los Soneros Del Barrio).
where he worked with the orchestra of Kako Bastar. Later he would move to Los Angeles
where he worked with two minor local orchestras. In 1979, he released his first and only solo album, titled Alive and Kicking.
On the morning of March 27, 1983, he was found wounded in an alleyway in the Bronx, New York City
. He had gunshot wounds to the head and cheek, and died while he was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
singer and composer. He came to prominence and is still mostly remembered for his work as singer of the Tommy Olivencia
Tommy Olivencia
Tommy Olivencia was a renowned bandleader of salsa music.-Early years:Olivencia, was born Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to the city of Arecibo when he was just a child. There received his primary and secondary education...
Orchestra.
Early years
Ramirez, was born Ramon Luis Ramirez Toro in the Parada 26 section of Santurce, Puerto Rico. A naturally gifted musician since his early youth, at the age of 16 and while still a High School student, he joined Tommy OlivenciaTommy Olivencia
Tommy Olivencia was a renowned bandleader of salsa music.-Early years:Olivencia, was born Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to the city of Arecibo when he was just a child. There received his primary and secondary education...
to start the orchestra which would bear Olivencia's name and which would later go by the moniker of La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico.
La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico
With La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico,in which Ramirez shared vocals with Paquito Guzmán, he would work from 1957 to 1971 and again from 1974 to 1976. He recorded eight albums with this orchestra which are now considered classics of the SalsaSalsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
genre.
Besides his vocal work which was marked by his ability to improvise, he was also a gifted composer who wrote the Salsa classic, Trucutu, later covered by Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
. Among his other hits include "Plante Bandera" (which was later covered by reggaeton artists Tego Calderon and Tempo Alomar) and "Evelio Y La Rumba" (which was later covered by salsa group Los Soneros Del Barrio).
Later Work
After leaving Tommy Olivencia's orchestra, Ramirez moved to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he worked with the orchestra of Kako Bastar. Later he would move to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where he worked with two minor local orchestras. In 1979, he released his first and only solo album, titled Alive and Kicking.
Later years and death
During his later years, Ramirez had frequent problems with the law due to his consumption of narcotics.On the morning of March 27, 1983, he was found wounded in an alleyway in the Bronx, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He had gunshot wounds to the head and cheek, and died while he was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.