Tommy Olivencia
Encyclopedia
Tommy Olivencia was a renowned bandleader of salsa
music.
when he was just a child. There received his primary and secondary education. As a young man, he became fascinated with the trumpet
and learned to play the musical instrument. In 1954, Olivencia sang and played the trumpet for local bands. He graduated from high school in 1957 and his family relocated once again to Santurce.
Olivencia's band was also known as the "Tommy Olivencia School", because the band produced some of the best and most talented singers and musicians of salsa in the island. Among those to have belonged to the band at one time or another were: Chamaco Ramirez
, Sammy "El Rolo" González, Simon Perez, Paquito Guzman, Ubaldo "Lalo" Rodriguez
, Gilberto Santa Rosa
, Marvin Santiago
, Frankie Ruiz
, Hector Tricoche, Carlos Alexis, Hector "Pichie" Perez, Paquito "Junior" Acosta and Mel Martínez.
Among the albums recorded by Olivencia and his band are:
The following are considered among the top 100 greatest salsa songs:
Theater in San Juan, an event attended by many of the former members of his band. On May 15, 2004, Olivencia celebrated his 66th birthday and 45 years with the band with a live recording concert. The annual "Day of Salsa" of 2005, celebrated in Puerto Rico was dedicated to Olivencia.
He died on September 22, 2006, aged 68, from complications of diabetes, which he had battled his entire life.
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...
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 AreciboArecibo
Arecibo may refer to:*Arecibo, Puerto Rico, a municipality located by the Atlantic Ocean*Arecibo Observatory, a very sensitive radio telescope located approximately south-southwest from the city of Arecibo...
when he was just a child. There received his primary and secondary education. As a young man, he became fascinated with the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and learned to play the musical instrument. In 1954, Olivencia sang and played the trumpet for local bands. He graduated from high school in 1957 and his family relocated once again to Santurce.
La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico
In 1960, Olivencia organized his first orchestra, which he named the "Tommy Olivencia y La Primerísima Orquesta de Puerto Rico". His band combined swing and melodic styles together. This combination, plus a strong brass contingent in the band was his trademark. Olivencia signed a contract with Inca Records and remained with that label until 1978. In 1972, he had his first major "hit" with Secuestro (Kidnapped) and followed that hit with Juntos de Nuevo (Together Again) in 1974 and Planté Bandera in 1975.Olivencia's band was also known as the "Tommy Olivencia School", because the band produced some of the best and most talented singers and musicians of salsa in the island. Among those to have belonged to the band at one time or another were: Chamaco Ramirez
Chamaco Ramirez
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.-Early years:...
, Sammy "El Rolo" González, Simon Perez, Paquito Guzman, Ubaldo "Lalo" Rodriguez
Lalo Rodriguez
Lalo Rodríguez , born in 1958 in Carolina, Puerto Rico is a salsa singer and musician is best known for his hit "Ven Devórame Otra Vez"....
, Gilberto Santa Rosa
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Gilberto Santa Rosa, also known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" , is a Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero.-Early years:...
, Marvin Santiago
Marvin Santiago
Marvin Santiago was a Puerto Rican salsa singer who became famous all across Latin America during the 1970s. He was also a part-time comedian on Puerto Rican television. His brother, Billiván Santiago, had some success in Puerto Rico as a plena singer.- Early life :Santiago was born in San Juan...
, Frankie Ruiz
Frankie Ruiz
Frankie Ruiz was a famous Puerto Rican salsa singer.-Early years:Born Jose Antonio Torresola Ruiz, he was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. His parents moved from Puerto Rico to the United States in search of a better way of life. In Paterson, Ruiz received his primary and secondary...
, Hector Tricoche, Carlos Alexis, Hector "Pichie" Perez, Paquito "Junior" Acosta and Mel Martínez.
Albums Recorded
Among the albums recorded by Olivencia and his band are:
- Trucu-Tu 1962
- La Nueva Sensacion Musical De Puerto Rico 1965
- Jala-Jala y Guaguancó 1966
- Fire Fire 1967
- A Toda Maquina 1968
- Cuero...Salsa y Sentimiento 1971
- Secuestro (Kidnapped) 1972
- Juntos de Nuevo (Together Again) 1974
- Planté Bandera 1975
- Introducing Lalo Rodríguez and Simón Pérez (1976)
- El Negro Chombo 1977
- La Primerísima 1978
- Sweet Trumpet-Hot Salsa 1978
- Tommy Olivencia y su Orquesta with Paquito Guzmán & Gilberto Santa RosaGilberto Santa RosaGilberto Santa Rosa, also known as "El Caballero de la Salsa" , is a Puerto Rican bandleader and singer of salsa and bolero.-Early years:...
(1979) - Un Triangulo De Triunfo (Triangle of Triumph) (1981)
- Tommy Olivencia y su Orquesta with Frankie Ruiz & Carlos Alexis 1983
- Celebrando Otro Aniversario(Celebrating Another Anniversary) (1984)
- Ayer, Hoy, Mañana y Siempre(Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and Always) (1985)
- 30 Aniversario30 Aniversario30 Aniversario is a studio album by Tommy Olivencia and his band. As the title implies, the album was made to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Tommy Olivencia as a bandleader.-Singles:...
1987 - El Jeque 1988
- Enamorado y Que! (I'm in Love, What about it?) 1991
- Vive La Leyenda 1998
- 40 Aniversario Live 2002
The following are considered among the top 100 greatest salsa songs:
- Casimira
- Como Lo Hacen (How they do it)
- Trucutu
- Pa'Lante Otra Vez
- Lobo Domesticado (Tamed Wolf)
- No Me Tires La Primera Piedra
Awards and recognitions
Among the many awards and recognitions which have been bestowed upon Olivencia are the following:- The Puerto Rican Senate passed a resolution congratulating Olivencia and his band for their contributions to Puerto Rico's music.
- El Cordero de Oro (The Golden Lamb) and El Buho de Oro (The Golden Owl) Awards from PanamaPanamaPanama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, for the best foreign band. - The Golden AgueybanaAgüeybanáAgüeybaná and Agüeybaná II , were the principal and most powerful caciques of the Taíno people in "Borikén" when the Spaniards first arrived on the island on November 19, 1493.- "The Great Sun" :...
Award from Puerto Rico - The November 11 Award from ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
Later years and death
On August 2000, Olivencia celebrated his 40th anniversary in the music industry at the Tito PuenteTito Puente
Tito Puente, , born Ernesto Antonio Puente, was a Latin jazz and Salsa musician. The son of native Puerto Ricans Ernest and Ercilia Puente, of Spanish Harlem in New York City, Puente is often credited as "El Rey de los Timbales" and "The King of Latin Music"...
Theater in San Juan, an event attended by many of the former members of his band. On May 15, 2004, Olivencia celebrated his 66th birthday and 45 years with the band with a live recording concert. The annual "Day of Salsa" of 2005, celebrated in Puerto Rico was dedicated to Olivencia.
He died on September 22, 2006, aged 68, from complications of diabetes, which he had battled his entire life.