José Vega Santana
Encyclopedia
José Vega Santana a.k.a "Remi" (born February 28, 1958) is a clown
from Puerto Rico
. A book "Remi, El Clown" describes his adventures as a clown. He has made many presentations in the United States. While he was a student at the Inter-American University he developed the character of "Remi". His group called themselves as "Los Dulces Payasos" or "The Sweet Clowns".
, his mother was the lead singer in "Googie Santana" and his grandfather was former baseball
player Pepe Santana. Ever since he was young, Santana knew that he wanted to be an entertainer. He started as a radio
music
programmer and announcer. Later, he joined the dance and theater company of Maria Teresa Miranda.
In the mid-1970s, Santana was a Psychology
student in the Inter-American University
. During that time he also took painting classes in the School of Plastic Arts in San Juan. It is there that he, together with some other students decided to form an "Artisans Market" at the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park
. The purpose of the "Market" was to give painting classes to young children, and on one occasion they dressed up as clowns. This was when Santana developed and created the character of "Remi". They became so popular that they decided to form a group and call themselves Los Dulces Payasos (The Sweet Clowns).
In 1983, Santana and the group received an offer from local T.V. producer Tommy Muñiz
to work in "Channel 7". The channel gave them their own children's show. During this time they also recorded an album with songs composed by Santana. They have the distinction of being the first "cultural clowns" to create new children's songs in Puerto Rico.
During the time that Santana wasn't actingin his clown character, he sang and composed songs for the group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son
. Santana composed "Mi Son", a song that summarized the band's journey from the first album until the last studio album Llegaremos. He participated in the group until the live album, Punto Final (1986). He also did a solo of one of his compositions called "Personajes".
In 1985, Santana developed a new concept in children's television, which he called Chiquimundo, and whose main objective was to educate children. This show was also transmitted on "Channel 7" and was produced by Rafo Muñiz
(Tommy's son). "Remi" was joined by the clowns "Colorina" and "Cascabel". The show was an instant hit with the children and their parents in Puerto Rico.
In 1986, the three clowns recorded an album for children which became a local hit. Santana joined forces with the musician Pedro Rivera Toledo and produced the theater production of El Soldadito de Plomo (The Little Lead Soldier) in which Santana played the leading role.
" which was celebrated in the city of Acapulco, Mexico. In the festival he sang one of his compositions Con Una Cancion (With A Song) and won first place as "Best Singer". He also won a second place prize for "Best Composer". The last time a Puerto Rican had received a distinction in the "OTI" festival was in 1980, when Rafael Jose
won as "Best Singer". Santana received a hero's welcome upon his return to the island and was honored by the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and Senate for his distinguished career of 20 years.
making presentations as "Remi". He had a comic book which was called Remi, El Clown which presented the adventures of Puerto Rico's Clown, Remi.
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
from 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...
. A book "Remi, El Clown" describes his adventures as a clown. He has made many presentations in the United States. While he was a student at the Inter-American University he developed the character of "Remi". His group called themselves as "Los Dulces Payasos" or "The Sweet Clowns".
Early years
Santana was born in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan 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...
, his mother was the lead singer in "Googie Santana" and his grandfather was former baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player Pepe Santana. Ever since he was young, Santana knew that he wanted to be an entertainer. He started as a 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...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
programmer and announcer. Later, he joined the dance and theater company of Maria Teresa Miranda.
In the mid-1970s, Santana was a Psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
student in the Inter-American University
Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
The Inter American University of Puerto Rico —or Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Spanish, and often referred as "Inter"— is a private university system in Puerto Rico. It was founded in 1912 in San German, Puerto Rico. The University has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas,...
. During that time he also took painting classes in the School of Plastic Arts in San Juan. It is there that he, together with some other students decided to form an "Artisans Market" at the Luis Muñoz Rivera Park
Luis Muñoz Rivera Park
The Luis Muñoz Rivera Park is a 27.2 acre recreational park located in Puerta de Tierra in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The park was named in honor of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera.-History:...
. The purpose of the "Market" was to give painting classes to young children, and on one occasion they dressed up as clowns. This was when Santana developed and created the character of "Remi". They became so popular that they decided to form a group and call themselves Los Dulces Payasos (The Sweet Clowns).
Remi the clown
Tommy Muñiz
Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez , better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner...
to work in "Channel 7". The channel gave them their own children's show. During this time they also recorded an album with songs composed by Santana. They have the distinction of being the first "cultural clowns" to create new children's songs in Puerto Rico.
During the time that Santana wasn't actingin his clown character, he sang and composed songs for the group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son
Haciendo Punto en Otro Son
Haciendo Punto en Otro Son is a Nueva Trova band from Puerto Rico, founded in 1975. They recorded fourteen albums and performed in Latin America, the Caribbean and USA....
. Santana composed "Mi Son", a song that summarized the band's journey from the first album until the last studio album Llegaremos. He participated in the group until the live album, Punto Final (1986). He also did a solo of one of his compositions called "Personajes".
In 1985, Santana developed a new concept in children's television, which he called Chiquimundo, and whose main objective was to educate children. This show was also transmitted on "Channel 7" and was produced by Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz is a Puerto Rican actor, comedian, director and, more notably, producer of television shows and concerts.The son of legendary comic actor and producer Tommy Muñiz and brother of Pedro Muñiz; who is also a producer and actor, Rafo began acting as the young neighbor of M\"Miguel" in ...
(Tommy's son). "Remi" was joined by the clowns "Colorina" and "Cascabel". The show was an instant hit with the children and their parents in Puerto Rico.
In 1986, the three clowns recorded an album for children which became a local hit. Santana joined forces with the musician Pedro Rivera Toledo and produced the theater production of El Soldadito de Plomo (The Little Lead Soldier) in which Santana played the leading role.
Singing career
In the year 2000, Santana was selected to represent Puerto Rico in the international song festival known as the "OTIOTI
As a three-letter acronym, OTI may refer to:* Office of Transition Initiatives, an office of United States Agency for International Development founded in 1994...
" which was celebrated in the city of Acapulco, Mexico. In the festival he sang one of his compositions Con Una Cancion (With A Song) and won first place as "Best Singer". He also won a second place prize for "Best Composer". The last time a Puerto Rican had received a distinction in the "OTI" festival was in 1980, when Rafael Jose
Rafael José
Dr. Rafael José Diaz is a Puerto Rican television show host born in Manatí, Puerto Rico, where his father, a physician born in the Dominican Republic, was the medical director of the local hospital. His family eventually moved to Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, where he was raised...
won as "Best Singer". Santana received a hero's welcome upon his return to the island and was honored by the Puerto Rico House of Representatives and Senate for his distinguished career of 20 years.
Later years
Santana has traveled to many cities in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
making presentations as "Remi". He had a comic book which was called Remi, El Clown which presented the adventures of Puerto Rico's Clown, Remi.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican songwriters