Vicente Carattini
Encyclopedia
Vicente Carattini was a renowned singer and composer
of Puerto Rican Christmas
related songs.
where he received his primary and secondary education. One day, his father saw that young Carattini was fascinated with Puerto Rican folk music and presented him with a Puerto Rican cuatro
. A cuatro is a Puerto Rican stringed instrument somewhat similar to a guitar
but smaller in size. The Puerto Rican cuatro has five pairs of strings for a total of ten, and is different from the cuatro in other Latin American countries (for example, the Venezuelan cuatro actually has four strings). At the age of nine, Carattini learned how to play the cuatro by asking those in town who knew how to play the instrument to teach him. In 1950, his father gave him a better quality cuatro and a guitar.
In 1956, when Carattini was 15 years old, he formed the "Trio Los Juglares", which dedicated themselves to sing boleros. The trio included the vocals of Felito Felix and performed basically in Cidra, however Felito Felix left the following year and the trio was dissolved.
Carattini continued to go to school and graduated from the Jesus T. Piñero
high school of Cidra. In 1958, he enrolled in the Catholic University of Ponce
and after one year transferred to the University of Puerto Rico
in Rio Piedras. In 1960, he earned his teacher's certificate and in 1961 his Bachelors of Science degree. He returned to his hometown and became a teacher.
" sing Puerto Rican Christmas
songs and was very impressed. In Puerto Rico "Tunas" are a group of singers and musicians who sing Christmas related songs. In 1964, he spoke with a friend, Victor Cotto, who was the director of another "Tuna" and asked him if he could join. Carattini became a member of Cotto's "Tuna Taurina de Cayey" and participated in the recording of La Fabulosa Tuna Taurina. He was remained the group until 1969.
In 1970, he quit his low paying teachers job and became an insurance salesman. He went on to create a new "Tuna" which included 23 members and with $3,000 recorded a "demo". After the recording, they decided that they as a group had a good chance of competing against the "Tunas" already established and adopted the name "Los Cantores de San Juan".
On January 1971, they recorded their first Christmas album, however they had to wait almost a year until the Christmas Holidays at the end of the year to release it. Finally, the album was released and became a big hit after being played on the radio
by the then DJ Alfred D. Herger
. The album included Si no me dan de beber, lloro (if you don't give me a drink I'll cry), Asomante a los cantores and Porque era Catolico. The song "Si no me dan de beber, lloro" became one of the greatest hits in Puerto Rico and is considered a Puerto Rican Christmas classic. The song has been interpreted by such singers as Danny Rivera
and Marco Antonio Muñiz
. Another song which became a Puerto Rican Christmas classic was Dame la Mano Paloma (Give me your Hand, Dove) in 1979.
From then on Carattini and Los Cantores de San Juan performed sold out functions during every Christmas season up to 2005. In 2005, Carattini made his last public appearance on Asi es la Navidad, a Gilberto Santa Rosa
production.
and on November 7, 2005, he died. Vicente Carattini is buried in the Jardin del Eden Cemetery of Cidra.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of Puerto Rican Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
related songs.
Early years
Carattini was born and raised in the town of Cidra, Puerto RicoCidra, Puerto Rico
Cidra is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Cayey; south of Comerío and Aguas Buenas; east of Aibonito and Barranquitas; and west of Caguas. Cidra is spread over 12 wards and Cidra Pueblo...
where he received his primary and secondary education. One day, his father saw that young Carattini was fascinated with Puerto Rican folk music and presented him with a Puerto Rican cuatro
Cuatro (instrument)
The cuatro is any of several Latin American instruments of the guitar or lute family. The cuatro is smaller than a guitar. Cuatro means four in Spanish, although current instruments may have more than four strings....
. A cuatro is a Puerto Rican stringed instrument somewhat similar to a guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
but smaller in size. The Puerto Rican cuatro has five pairs of strings for a total of ten, and is different from the cuatro in other Latin American countries (for example, the Venezuelan cuatro actually has four strings). At the age of nine, Carattini learned how to play the cuatro by asking those in town who knew how to play the instrument to teach him. In 1950, his father gave him a better quality cuatro and a guitar.
In 1956, when Carattini was 15 years old, he formed the "Trio Los Juglares", which dedicated themselves to sing boleros. The trio included the vocals of Felito Felix and performed basically in Cidra, however Felito Felix left the following year and the trio was dissolved.
Carattini continued to go to school and graduated from the Jesus T. Piñero
Jesus T. Piñero
Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez was the first native Puerto Rican to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico by the Government of the United States.-Early years:...
high school of Cidra. In 1958, he enrolled in the Catholic University of Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
and after one year transferred to the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
in Rio Piedras. In 1960, he earned his teacher's certificate and in 1961 his Bachelors of Science degree. He returned to his hometown and became a teacher.
La Tuna de Cayey
On one occasion Carattini heard a group called "La Tuna de CayeyCayey, Puerto Rico
Cayey is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico located on the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Salinas; and west of San Lorenzo Cayey is spread over 21 wards and Cayey Pueblo...
" sing Puerto Rican Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
songs and was very impressed. In Puerto Rico "Tunas" are a group of singers and musicians who sing Christmas related songs. In 1964, he spoke with a friend, Victor Cotto, who was the director of another "Tuna" and asked him if he could join. Carattini became a member of Cotto's "Tuna Taurina de Cayey" and participated in the recording of La Fabulosa Tuna Taurina. He was remained the group until 1969.
In 1970, he quit his low paying teachers job and became an insurance salesman. He went on to create a new "Tuna" which included 23 members and with $3,000 recorded a "demo". After the recording, they decided that they as a group had a good chance of competing against the "Tunas" already established and adopted the name "Los Cantores de San Juan".
On January 1971, they recorded their first Christmas album, however they had to wait almost a year until the Christmas Holidays at the end of the year to release it. Finally, the album was released and became a big hit after being played on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
by the then DJ Alfred D. Herger
Alfred D. Herger
Alfredo Domingo Herger is a famous former Puerto Rican television show host and a psychologist. He has been labeled the Ed Sullivan of Puerto Rico in local media, due to his strong influence in Puerto Rican pop culture and his success as a television presenter.-Early life:Herger, of Spanish and...
. The album included Si no me dan de beber, lloro (if you don't give me a drink I'll cry), Asomante a los cantores and Porque era Catolico. The song "Si no me dan de beber, lloro" became one of the greatest hits in Puerto Rico and is considered a Puerto Rican Christmas classic. The song has been interpreted by such singers as Danny Rivera
Danny Rivera
Danny Rivera is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter who was born in San Juan whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is well-known in Puerto Rico for his political activism.-Musical career:...
and Marco Antonio Muñiz
Marco Antonio Muñiz
Marco Antonio Muñiz is a singer from Jalisco, Mexico. Known all over Latin America, Muñiz actually has declared publicly and in most countries he has visited, that Puerto Rico is his second country, and many Puerto Ricans consider him to be an "honorary Puerto Rican"...
. Another song which became a Puerto Rican Christmas classic was Dame la Mano Paloma (Give me your Hand, Dove) in 1979.
From then on Carattini and Los Cantores de San Juan performed sold out functions during every Christmas season up to 2005. In 2005, Carattini made his last public appearance on Asi es la Navidad, a 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:...
production.
Recordings
Among Carattini's recordings are the following:- Si no me dan de beber, lloro - 1971
- El caracol - 1972
- Motivos navideños con… Los Cantores de San Juan - 1972
- Éxitos de siempre con Los Cantores de San Juan - 1972
- La puerca voladora - 1972
- De fiesta con Los Cantores de San Juan - 1973
- ¡Es más bueno…! - 1973
- Caminan las nubes / El patatú - 1974
- Idem - 1975
- Idem - 1977
- Dame la mano, paloma - 1979
- Éxitos de siempre con Los Cantores de San Juan, Vol. 2” 1979
- De rolimpín / Pidiendo posada - 1980
- ¡Se prendió la Navidad! - 1987 with Felito Félix
- Controversia - 1985 with Danny Rivera y Jorge Hernández & Alpha 4
- Trullando con… Vicente Carattini, Chucho AvellanetChucho AvellanetArmando Hipólito Avellanet González , nicknamed "Chucho" is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor...
y… Los Cantores -1986 - De trulla en trulla - 1988
- 25 años de Navidad - 1996
Later years
Unknown to those close to him, Carattini suffered from leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
and on November 7, 2005, he died. Vicente Carattini is buried in the Jardin del Eden Cemetery of Cidra.
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...
- List of Puerto Rican songwriters
- Music of Puerto RicoMusic of Puerto RicoThe 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...