SONORA PONCEÑA



A misinterpretation of a conversation that the singer Humberto Luis “Tito Gómez and the first trumpet Joe Rodríguez had with some of the members of La Sonora Ponceña about sound equipment that they wanted to purchase in order to earn extra cash, gave rise to Tito’s and Joe’s departure from the band as the other members thought it was a plot to form a new orchestra. From their abrupt exit from Sonora they formed Orquesta La Terrifica (The Terrific Orchestra) in 1972.

The album Sonora Ponceña, catalogue number XSLP-1033 on the Inca label, was Tito's farewell. The following year, he was replaced with sonero Miguelito Ortiz.

Tito Gómez, who died in the morning of June 12, 2007, will always be remembered as the most versatile singer in the 50-plus history of La Sonora Ponceña. As an interpreter of the upbeat guaguancó and son montuno genres, he recorded hits such as “Tumba La Caña Jibarito,” “Prende El Fogón” and “El Hablador.” He was equally good performing boleros and merengues.

His contribution on this record, which was produced by Larry Harlow, was limited to the boleros “Imploración,” “Espejismo,” “Cariño Mentiroso” and the merengue “Nació Cansao,” written by fellow vocalist Luigi Texidor. Until 1977, Texidor was responsible for the band's most dance-friendly hits.

Backed by veteran vocalists Eladio “Yayo El Indio” and Adalberto Santiago, Luigi sings about Yoruba religion on the guaguancó “Changüirí”, an original composition that he would record in 1977 with the Puerto Rico All Stars, using a new musical arrangement by Papo Lucca. Lucca has been the only keyboardist who performed with both the Puerto Rico All Stars and the Fania All Stars.

The santería theme is reprised on “Tu Son Mi Soro,” a Papo Lucca composition based on an African accented beat. Luigi also performs “Suena Tu Bongó,” a son montuno boasting the excellent contribution of Mikey Ortíz on bongos.

Yet another one of his irresistible interpretations is “Tú y Yo Na' ma’,” a guaguancó about a love affair hurt by infidelity. Papo's solo, which quotes a few bars off the standard “A Night In Tunisia,” by Dizzy Gillespie, leads us to a rollicking mambo segment pushed forward by the timbales of Edgardo Morales.

“Como Mango,” which compares the sweet Caribbean fruit with a woman's beauty, is another of Luigi's hits from this album. The cover art, designed by Walter Vélez, is a reference to colonialist Juan Ponce de León. Papo, whose solo quotes the melody of the classic “Manteca,” by Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo, established himself as one of the premier pianists of the '70s salsa explosion.

In 1972, Sonora Ponceña was on its way to become the most popular salsa orchestra in Puerto Rico, together with El Gran Combo and Tommy Olivencia's La Primerísima. The brilliant combination of its three trumpets and its contrapunctual solos pioneered a sound that defines its identity to this very day, unequaled by other Ponce bands like La Terrífica and Conjunto La Perla. That year, at the age of 26, Papo Lucca established himself as a prodigy. A few years later, he would be recruited as a pianist by Johnny Pacheco to replace the producer of this record Larry Harlow in the Fania All Stars.

His virtuoso chops and versatility are apparent in the arrangements, and solos on piano and vibes in boleros such as “Espejismo” and “Imploración.” He also performs a Cuban tres solo, in pure Arsenio Rodríguez fashion, on the son montuno “Yo Vengo Del Monte.”

The remastered edition of this disc serves as a fitting tribute to the late singer Tito Gómez, as well as a timely recognition to Don Enrique “Quique” Lucca, who turned 95 on December 12, 2007.


Credits:


Enrique “Quique” Lucca – Director
Enrique “Papo” Lucca, Jr. – Piano, Vibes, Tres
Joe Rodríguez – Trumpet
Ramón A. (Tony “El Cordobes” ) Rodríguez – Trumpet
Delfín Pérez “El Del Cáfe” – Trumpet
Antonio “Tato” Santaella – Baby Bass
Fernando Torres – Congas
Edgardo Morales – Timbales
Mikey Ortíz – Bongos, Cowbell

Lead Singers – Luigi Texidor, Tito Gómez
Chorus – Eladio Peguero “Yayo El Indio”, Adalberto Santiago

Producer – Larry Harlow
Recording Director – Enrique “Quique” Lucca
Musical Arrangements – Enrique “Papo” Lucca
Recorded At – Good Vibrations Sound Studios, NY
Sound Engineer – Jon Fausty
Original Album Design – WE-2 Graphic Designs Inc., NY
Original Album Design and Illustration – Walter Vélez
Original Album Art Director – Izzy Sanabria
Historian and Editor – Richie Viera
Written by Jaime Torres-Torres

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