Domingo Quiñones
Encyclopedia
Domingo Quiñones is a singer of salsa music
. He is also a composer
, producer and actor.
Domingo Quinones was born on August 9, 1963 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
. When he was four years old he moved to Puerto Rico
with his parents and lived in Ceiba
. He returned to New York City in 1977. He began his career there six years later with the Conjunto Nativo. He also performed with other groups, including the orchestra of Rafael de Jesús, with José Alberto
"El Canario", with Johnny Rodriguez
and the Conjunto Clásico.
In 1985 he replaced Roberto Lugo in the orchestra of Luis "Perico" Ortiz with whom he recorded four albums, including La vida en broma (1985), In Tradition (1986) and Perico (1987). He then sang for a time with Louie Ramirez and Roberto Roena.
In 1990, he signed as a solo artist with RMM and released his first solo album: Domingo es mi nombre. After joining Tito Puente
on his 100th record, Quiñones released his second solo album Pintando Lunas. That album included a duet entitled "Dos Amigos" with Tony Vega
and a salsa version of the song "Crazy for You" which proved his great versatility.
This was followed by six additional recordings with RMM. His 1996 album, "Mi Meta", included the single "Tu Como Estas" ("How are you"), his first #1 single on the Latin Tropical Airplay
chart. The follow-up album, "Se necesita un milagro", selected as one of the most influential albums by the National Foundation for Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. Among his many popular songs was "Mi Negrita Me Espera". The lead single, "No Voy a Dejarte Voy" ("I'm not letting you go") became a hit on the Latin Tropical Airplay chart peaking at #2.
In 1998, he demonstrated his acting abilities in the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar
, together with Olga Tañón, Michael Stuart and Tito Auger of the music group Fiel à la Vega. This was followed by playing the role of the legendary singer Héctor Lavoe
in the New York play, Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? with songs like "La Voz de Siempre". The play and his performance won kudos from the critics including the New York Times, proclaiming that Quiñones captured the very essence of Lavoe's life and music.
He returned to producing music recordings with the release of Poeta y guerrero which included his own compositions. But his acting days were not over yet as he won the role of Sgt. Miller in the movie Héroes de Otra Patria
, about Puerto Rican soldiers in the Vietnam War
. The film won Honorable Mention in the Festival de Cine de Viña del Mar (Chile
) and was the official entry from Puerto Rico in the foreign film category of the 1999 Oscar competition. His more recent film roles included that of a San Juan music promoter in Jennifer Lopez
and Marc Anthony
s 2007 film "El Cantante
"
On March 9, 2011 after feeling off in the afternoon, the singer was taken to UPR Hospital where he was later referred to the Rio Piedras Mdical center. It was discovered that Domingo had suffered a mild stroke. He remained alert and retained use of his hands.
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...
. He is also a composer
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...
, producer and actor.
Domingo Quinones was born on August 9, 1963 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. When he was four years old he moved to 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...
with his parents and lived in Ceiba
Ceiba, Puerto Rico
Ceiba is a small town in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Naguabo, south of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande. It is located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan...
. He returned to New York City in 1977. He began his career there six years later with the Conjunto Nativo. He also performed with other groups, including the orchestra of Rafael de Jesús, with José Alberto
José Alberto
José Alberto is a Dominican salsa singer. José Alberto moved to Puerto Rico with his family at the age of 7, and inspired by Latin music went on to polish his singing at Las Antillas Military Academy...
"El Canario", with 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....
and the Conjunto Clásico.
In 1985 he replaced Roberto Lugo in the orchestra of Luis "Perico" Ortiz with whom he recorded four albums, including La vida en broma (1985), In Tradition (1986) and Perico (1987). He then sang for a time with Louie Ramirez and Roberto Roena.
In 1990, he signed as a solo artist with RMM and released his first solo album: Domingo es mi nombre. After joining Tito Puente
Tito 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"...
on his 100th record, Quiñones released his second solo album Pintando Lunas. That album included a duet entitled "Dos Amigos" with Tony Vega
Tony Vega
Tony Vega is a renowned salsa singer and bandleader.-Early years:Vega received his primary education in his hometown. He was born into a family of musicians and therefore learned how to play the bongos and conga at an early age. In 1967, when he was 10 years old, he played the conga for a kids...
and a salsa version of the song "Crazy for You" which proved his great versatility.
This was followed by six additional recordings with RMM. His 1996 album, "Mi Meta", included the single "Tu Como Estas" ("How are you"), his first #1 single on the Latin Tropical Airplay
Latin Tropical Airplay
The Tropical Songs is a record chart published on Billboard magazine established in 1994 with the first number-one song to be published was "En Las Nubes" by Edgar Joel. It features Latin music information from tropical music such as salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato...
chart. The follow-up album, "Se necesita un milagro", selected as one of the most influential albums by the National Foundation for Popular Culture of Puerto Rico. Among his many popular songs was "Mi Negrita Me Espera". The lead single, "No Voy a Dejarte Voy" ("I'm not letting you go") became a hit on the Latin Tropical Airplay chart peaking at #2.
In 1998, he demonstrated his acting abilities in the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, together with Olga Tañón, Michael Stuart and Tito Auger of the music group Fiel à la Vega. This was followed by playing the role of the legendary singer Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez , better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe was born and raised in the Machuelito sector of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Early in his life, he attended a local music school and developed an interest inspired by Jesús Sánchez Erazo. He moved to New York...
in the New York play, Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe? with songs like "La Voz de Siempre". The play and his performance won kudos from the critics including the New York Times, proclaiming that Quiñones captured the very essence of Lavoe's life and music.
He returned to producing music recordings with the release of Poeta y guerrero which included his own compositions. But his acting days were not over yet as he won the role of Sgt. Miller in the movie Héroes de Otra Patria
Héroes de Otra Patria
Héroes de Otra Patria is a 1998 Puerto Rican film, written and directed by Iván Dariel Ortíz....
, about Puerto Rican soldiers in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The film won Honorable Mention in the Festival de Cine de Viña del Mar (Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
) and was the official entry from Puerto Rico in the foreign film category of the 1999 Oscar competition. His more recent film roles included that of a San Juan music promoter in Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
and 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...
s 2007 film "El Cantante
El Cantante
El Cantante is a 2006 American film released in the United States on August 3, 2007. The biopic stars singer Marc Anthony and actress-singer Jennifer Lopez . The film is based on the life story of salsa legend Héctor Lavoe...
"
On March 9, 2011 after feeling off in the afternoon, the singer was taken to UPR Hospital where he was later referred to the Rio Piedras Mdical center. It was discovered that Domingo had suffered a mild stroke. He remained alert and retained use of his hands.