Tommy Olivencia

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Tommy Olivencia
Alias =


Img_capt = Tommy Olivencia
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán
Born = birth date|1938|5|15
Santurce, Puerto Rico
Died = Death date and age|2006|9|22|1938|5|15

Genre = Salsa
Occupation: Singer-Songwriter, Bandleader
Years_active = 1960—2006
Label =
URL =

Tommy Olivencia (May 15 1938 - September 22 2006) was a renowned bandleader of salsa music.

Early years

Olivencia, was born Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to the city of Arecibo when he was just a child. There received his primary and secondary education. As a young man, he became fascinated with the trumpet and learned to play the musical instrument. In 1954, Olivencia sang and played the trumpet for local bands. He graduated from high school in 1957 and his family relocated once again to Santurce.

La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico

In 1960, Olivencia organized his first orchestra, which he named the "Tommy Olivencia y La Primerísima Orquesta de Puerto Rico". His band combined swing and melodic styles together. This combination, plus a strong brass contingent in the band was his trademark. Olivencia signed a contract with Inca Records and remained with that label until 1978. In 1972, he had his first major "hit" with "Secuestro" (Kidnapped) and followed that hit with "Juntos de Nuevo" (Together Again) in 1974 and "Planté Bandera" in 1975.

Olivencia's band was also known as the "Tommy Olivencia School", because the band produced some of the best and most talented singers and musicians of salsa in the island. Among those to have belonged to the band at one time or another were: Chamaco Ramirez, Sammy "El Rolo" González, Simon Perez, Paquito Guzman, Ubaldo "Lalo" Rodriguez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Marvin Santiago, Frankie Ruiz, Hector Tricoche, Carlos Alexis, Hector "Pichie" Perez, Paquito "Junior" Acosta and Mel Martínez.

Albums Recorded

Among the albums recorded by Olivencia and his band are:
* "Trucu-Tu"
* "La Nueva Sensacion Musical De Puerto Rico" 1965
* "Jala-Jala y Guaguancó" 1966
* "Fire Fire" 1967
* "A Toda Maquina" 1968
* "Cuero...Salsa y Sentimiento" 1971
* "Secuestro" (Kidnapped) 1972
* "Juntos de Nuevo" (Together Again) 1974
* "Planté Bandera" 1975
* "Introducing Lalo Rodríguez and Simón Pérez" (1976)
* "El Negro Chombo 1977
* "La Primerísima" 1978
* "Sweet Trumpet-Hot Salsa" 1978
* "Tommy Olivencia y su Orquesta with Paquito Guzmán & Gilberto Santa Rosa " (1979)
* "Un Triangulo De Triunfo" (Triangle of Triumph) (1981)
* "Tommy Olivencia y su Orquesta with Frankie Ruiz & Carlos Alexis" 1983
* "Celebrando Otro Aniversario"(Celebrating Another Anniversary) (1984)
* "Ayer, Hoy, Mañana y Siempre"(Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow and Always) (1985)
* "30 Aniversario" 1987
* "El Jeque" 1990
* "Enamorado y Que!" (I'm in Love, What about it?) 1991
* "Vive La Leyenda" 1998
* "40 Aniversario Live" 2002

The following are considered among the top 100 greatest salsa songs:
* "Casimira"
* "Como Lo Hacen" (How they do it)
* "Trucutru"
* "Pa'Lante Otra Vez"
* "Lobo Domesticado" (Domestic Wolf)
* "No Me Tires La Primera Piedra"

Awards and Recognitions

Among the many awards and recognitions which have been bestowed upon Olivencia are the following:

* The Puerto Rican Senate passed a resolution congratulating Olivencia and his band for their contributions to Puerto Rico's music.
* El Cordero de Oro (The Golden Lamb) and El Buho de Oro (The Golden Owl) Awards from Panama, for the best foreign band.
* The Golden Agueybana Award from Puerto Rico
* The November 11 Award from Colombia

Later years and death

On August 2000, Olivencia celebrated his 40th anniversary in the music industry at the Tito Puente Theater in San Juan, an event attended by many of the former members of his band. On May 15 2004, Olivencia celebrated his 66th birthday and 45 years with the band with a live recording concert. The annual "Day of Salsa" of 2005, celebrated in Puerto Rico was dedicated to Olivencia.

He died on September 22 2006, aged 68, from complications of diabetes, which he had battled his entire life.

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans

External links

* [http://www.prpop.org/biografias/PR Popular Culture]
* [http://www.salsaclasica.com/tommyolivencia Unofficial Site - Biography, Discography, Lyrics]