Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo S. Alvarado Santos was a Puerto Rican
singer, composer
, and guitarist
. He became internationally famous with Johnny Albino
and Félix ("Ola") Martínez as part of the Trío San Juan during the years 1949-1957. Among his best tunes was the 1956 bolero
named “Siete notas de amor”.
on October 26, 1920. He was the son of the musician Julio Alvarado Tricoche (1886–1970) and Georgina Santos. He was started into the world of music via his own mother, with whom he sing in public as a duet. In 1939 he was part of the “Tribuna del arte”, a WNEL
radio program. Winning the first award in that program marked the beginning of his career. This took him to New York City after getting a contract with Chico Club of Greenwich Village.
, obtaining exposure in the CBS
and NBC
radio networks. In 1944 he joined the Flores Sextet, led by composer Pedro Flores
. He went on his first international tour with this group in 1946. After the breakup of the group, he returned to Puerto Rico and was contracted by WEMB
(Radio El Mundo), in 1947.
He returned to NYC and joined Cuarteto Yalí, headed by Félix Rodríguez «Corozo», in 1948. He joined Trío San Juan, marking the beginning of a new stage in his musical career. Many music experts judged this group to be the best Puerto Rican trio. Trío San Juan was highly regarded in México
and Colombia
, even better than Trío los Panchos. It was also hoighly regarded in Venezuela
, Brazil
, Perú
and Argentina
, in addition to the United States
.
The group enjoyed many hits, but none more successful than “Siete notas de amor”, which has made the soundtrack of the Mexican movies including “El amor que yo te di” and “La cigüeña dijo sí” (1958), plus “¡Viva Jalisco, que es mi tierra!” (1959). It also enjoyed French, Japanese, Italiano, and English versions.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
singer, 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...
, and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He became internationally famous with Johnny Albino
Johnny Albino
Johnny Albino was a Puerto Rican bolero singer, born in Yauco.-Biography:Albino played and sang through his youth years. It wasn't until years later, however, that he would get a chance to sing as part of an organized act...
and Félix ("Ola") Martínez as part of the Trío San Juan during the years 1949-1957. Among his best tunes was the 1956 bolero
Bolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
named “Siete notas de amor”.
Early years
Lorenzo Santiago ("Chago") Alvarado Santos was born in Ponce, Puerto RicoPonce, 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...
on October 26, 1920. He was the son of the musician Julio Alvarado Tricoche (1886–1970) and Georgina Santos. He was started into the world of music via his own mother, with whom he sing in public as a duet. In 1939 he was part of the “Tribuna del arte”, a WNEL
WNEL
WNEL is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Oldies format. Licensed to Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA, it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Turabo Radio Corporation....
radio program. Winning the first award in that program marked the beginning of his career. This took him to New York City after getting a contract with Chico Club of Greenwich Village.
Musical career
In NYC he joined Celso Vega's quintetQuintet
A quintet is a group containing five members.It is commonly associated with musical groups, such as a string quintet, or a group of five singers, but can be applied to any situation where five similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
, obtaining exposure in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
radio networks. In 1944 he joined the Flores Sextet, led by composer Pedro Flores
Pedro Flores (composer)
Pedro Flores born was one Puerto Rico's best known composers of Ballads and Boleros.-Early years:Flores was one of 12 children born into a poor family in the town of Naguabo, Puerto Rico. Flores' father died when he was only nine years old and therefore, he was forced to work at a young age...
. He went on his first international tour with this group in 1946. After the breakup of the group, he returned to Puerto Rico and was contracted by WEMB
WEMB
WEMB is a radio station serving the Tri-Cities region of Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol in Tennessee and Bristol in Virginia. The outlet, owned by WEMB, Inc., is licensed to Erwin, Tennessee.-History:...
(Radio El Mundo), in 1947.
He returned to NYC and joined Cuarteto Yalí, headed by Félix Rodríguez «Corozo», in 1948. He joined Trío San Juan, marking the beginning of a new stage in his musical career. Many music experts judged this group to be the best Puerto Rican trio. Trío San Juan was highly regarded in México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, 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...
, even better than Trío los Panchos. It was also hoighly regarded in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Perú
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, in addition to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The group enjoyed many hits, but none more successful than “Siete notas de amor”, which has made the soundtrack of the Mexican movies including “El amor que yo te di” and “La cigüeña dijo sí” (1958), plus “¡Viva Jalisco, que es mi tierra!” (1959). It also enjoyed French, Japanese, Italiano, and English versions.
Later years
Chago Alvarado lived his last years in Humacao, where he owned a restaurant and night club called "La Brasa Steak House". He performed there live on the weekends. Falling a victim of a renal illness, he died on July 23, 1982, at the age of 62. He had married Irma Gloria Cedeño in 1977 and they had seven children.See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans