Odilio González
Encyclopedia
Odilio González is a Puerto Rican
singer.
González was born in 1939 in the center of the island of Puerto Rico
, in the small town of Lares
. His charm, sweet voice and youthful good looks turned him into a popular child star after a series of early radio performances in the capital city of San Juan
.
One of Puerto Rico's most renowned and beloved popular singers, Odilio González has enjoyed an avid following for his expert singing of the island's ancient traditional poetic song form, the décima
(also known as "jíbaro
" music), as well as a crooner of mainstream pop music. His stage name was "Jibarito de Lares". He debuted in 1955 at the age of 16 on the New York City
stage, singing before throngs of enthusiastic and nostalgic Puerto Ricans in the famed Teatro Puerto Rico. His first recordings of traditional jíbaro singing for the Ansonia label were also made in New York City during that period. He was considered a child prodigy in the music business during the Golden Age of New York jíbaro music recordings of the 1950s. Fellow Lares native José Feliciano
's singing style was heavily influenced by González's during his early youth.
Odilio González crossed over into pop music in 1962 when he records Celos Sin Motivo, composed by Ismael Santiago, which broadens his appeal to a far greater audience. His greatest hit, perhaps was "Yo Tenía Una Luz" (I had a light), recorded during the early 1970s, became a widely popular Christmas song and today is considered among the ranks of traditional songs, in the way "White Christmas" is considered "traditional" in the United States.
Odilio Gonzalez continues to perform around the Island and during numerous trips to the United States
to sing before enthusiastic audiences of older Puerto Ricans expatriates.
Puerto 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.
González was born in 1939 in the center of the island of Puerto Rico
Puerto 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...
, in the small town of Lares
Lares, Puerto Rico
Lares is a small mountain municipality of Puerto Rico's central-western area located north of Maricao and Yauco; south of Camuy, east of San Sebastián and Las Marias; and west of Hatillo, Utuado and Adjuntas. Lares is spread over 10 wards and Lares Pueblo...
. His charm, sweet voice and youthful good looks turned him into a popular child star after a series of early radio performances in the capital city of 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...
.
One of Puerto Rico's most renowned and beloved popular singers, Odilio González has enjoyed an avid following for his expert singing of the island's ancient traditional poetic song form, the décima
Décima
A décima refers to a ten-line stanza of poetry, and the song form generally consists of forty-four lines...
(also known as "jíbaro
Jíbaro
Jíbaro is a term from the Taíno words "jiba" and "ro", that means forest people, commonly used in Puerto Rico to refer to mountain-dwelling peasants, but in modern times it has gained a broader cultural meaning.-History:...
" music), as well as a crooner of mainstream pop music. His stage name was "Jibarito de Lares". He debuted in 1955 at the age of 16 on the 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...
stage, singing before throngs of enthusiastic and nostalgic Puerto Ricans in the famed Teatro Puerto Rico. His first recordings of traditional jíbaro singing for the Ansonia label were also made in New York City during that period. He was considered a child prodigy in the music business during the Golden Age of New York jíbaro music recordings of the 1950s. Fellow Lares native José Feliciano
José Feliciano
José Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer, virtuoso guitarist and composer known for many international hits including the 1970 holiday single "Feliz Navidad".-Childhood:...
's singing style was heavily influenced by González's during his early youth.
Odilio González crossed over into pop music in 1962 when he records Celos Sin Motivo, composed by Ismael Santiago, which broadens his appeal to a far greater audience. His greatest hit, perhaps was "Yo Tenía Una Luz" (I had a light), recorded during the early 1970s, became a widely popular Christmas song and today is considered among the ranks of traditional songs, in the way "White Christmas" is considered "traditional" in the United States.
Odilio Gonzalez continues to perform around the Island and during numerous trips to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to sing before enthusiastic audiences of older Puerto Ricans expatriates.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans