Pedro Ortiz Davila a. k. a. "Davilita" (May 21, 1912 – July 8, 1986) was a popular singer of boleros and Puerto Rican patriotic songs. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The Music of Puerto Rico has been influenced by the African, Taíno Indians and the Spanish, and has become very popular across
Contents |
Early years
Davilita was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, his parents however, moved to New York when he was only a child and settled down in East Harlem which is also known as "Spanish Harlem" or "El Barrio". Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center Spanish Harlem, also known as El Barrio and East Harlem, is a low income neighborhood in Harlem area of New York City, Davilita learned to play the guitar at a young age and entertained his family with his voice. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles One of the places which Davilita frequented was Hernandez Record Store in "El Barrio" which was a common gathering place for young Latin musicians at the time. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a
Lamento Borincano
In 1929, 17 year old Davilita met by chance the renowned Puerto Rican composer, Rafael Hernandez. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance Rafael Hernández may refer to Rafael Hernández Colón, (born 1936 4th Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Davilita got along with Hernandez and was able to see the unfinished version of Hernandez's composition "Lamento Borincano". Davilita asked Hernandez if he could record the song but, Hernandez thought that he was too young and declined his request.
The song was to be recorded by Ramon "Canario" Quiroz with Davilita and Fausto Delgado as back-ups but fate had a different plan. Quiroz became ill on the day of the recording and Davilita ended up doing the recording as the lead voice.
Pedro Flores
Davilita became very popular in the New York Latin scene and was soon working with many Latin artists. It wasn't long before he met Pedro Flores, a fellow Puerto Rican and composer. Pedro Flores born ( March 9, 1897 &ndash July 14, 1979) was one Puerto Rico 's best known composers of Ballads and He was asked by Flores to join his "Sexteto Flores" along with Myrta Silva and Daniel Santos. Myrta Silva ( September 11 1917 &ndash December 2 1987) was a Puerto Rican Singer, composer and T Daniel Santos (February 5 1916 &ndash November 27 1992 was a singer and Composer of boleros, and an overall performer of multiple Caribbean music Davilita accepted and became the lead singer in many of Flores' boleros. He traveled to many countries with the sexteto.
Musical career
In 1954, Davilita had returned to Puerto Rico where he joined Felipe "La Voz" Rodriguez and together formed a duo. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Luis Felipe Rodriguez, better known as Felipe "La Voz" Rodríguez, ( May 8, 1926 &ndash May 26, 1999) born in Caguas Even though Davilita's voice wasn't as sharp as when he was young, they were able to score many "hits". The duo was successful in Puerto Rico, the United States and Latin-America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In the 1960s, they together with Rafael Cortijo and El Gran Combo were able to successfully confronted the wave of rock music invading the island. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Rafael Cortijo ( January 11, 1928 &ndash October 3, 1982) was a Puerto Rican musician orchestra leader and composer El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo is a Puerto Rican Salsa music orchestra Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African
In 1973, Davilita and Felipe recorded "Canciones de Pedro Flores" (The Songs of Pedro Flores) and in 1974, they recorded "Canciones de Rafael Hernandez" (The Songs of Rafael Hernandez). Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Rafael Hernández may refer to Rafael Hernández Colón, (born 1936 4th Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Also in 1974, Davilita, Felipe and Pellin Rodriguez (no relation to Felipe) recorded a trilogy which are considered Puerto Rican "classics". Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Pellin Rodríguez ( December 4, 1926 &ndash October 31, 1984) was a renowned salsa Singer. A trilogy is a set of three works of art usually Literature, Film, or Video games, that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or three These were "La Protesta de los Reyes" (The Protest of the Wisemen), "Parranda parrandera" and "Navidad" (Christmas).
Later years
Davilita was also a strong supporter of the cause for Puerto Rican independence. In many occasions, he stated, he was discriminated against for this reason, to the point of endangering his livelihood when the singing contracts trickled down during the late 1950's and early 1960's. He recorded an album of Puerto Rican patriotic standards with Daniel Santos (another strong pro-independence supporter) in the early 1970's, including "El Bambú" and "El Yunque y El Cordero". Daniel Santos (February 5 1916 &ndash November 27 1992 was a singer and Composer of boleros, and an overall performer of multiple Caribbean music
Pedro Ortiz "Davilita" Davila had recorded over 3,000 songs before his death in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on July 8, 1986. He is buried in the Braulio Dueño Colon cemetery in Bayamon. Dueño Colón Braulio ( March 26, 1854 &ndash April 4, 1934) was a Puerto Rican Musician and Composer.
See also
External links
This list of Puerto Ricans includes people who were born in Puerto Rico, people who are of Puerto Rican ancestry and many long-term residents and/or ImmigrantsDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic