Juan “Juancito” Torres Velez (January 14, 1936 – July 26, 2003), also known as "La Trompeta Nacional De Puerto Rico", was a Puerto Rican

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: A ...

and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

player, composer, arranger, producer and musical director best known for his association with the

Fania All-Stars The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time. History Beginnings In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, ...

from 1979 to 1985. He was known as a great soloist, specializing in upper register.

Early life

Torres was born in

Caguas Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was founded ...

Puerto Rico on January 14, 1936, and began in music by playing violin in his hometown, where he belonged to the Municipal Band. Torres began formal musical studies at the age of fourteen when he enrolled at the Escuela Libre de Música. In 1952 he joined the orchestra of jazz musician Ramón Usera Vives. In 1955 he moved to New York City, where he performed with

Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was a Spanish musician and bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. In New York City ...

Noro Morales Norosbaldo Morales (January 4, 1911 – January 15, 1964) was a Puerto Rican pianist and bandleader. Biography Morales was born in the subbarrio Puerta de Tierra of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and learned several instruments as a child. He played ...

and

Lecuona Cuban Boys The Lecuona Cuban Boys was a popular Cuban orchestra which toured the world for over forty years. The band was founded by Ernesto Lecuona, whose role was that of a patron-entrepreneur. He did not actually play with the band, but sometimes gave a pi ...

. He also performed with the orchestras of

Pupi Campo Pupi Campo (May 1, 1920, in Havana, Cuba – December 12, 2011, in Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state ...

and

Tito Rodríguez Pablo Rodríguez Lozada (January 4, 1923 – February 28, 1973), better known as Tito Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He started his career singing under the tutelage of his brother, Johnny Rodríguez. In the 1940s, both m ...

as well as with

René Touzet René Touzet y Monte (September 8, 1916 in Havana, Cuba – June 15, 2003 in Miami, Florida) was a Cuban-born American composer, pianist and bandleader. Career as bandleader Living in the city of Cojimar, he learned classical piano from the ag ...

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and

Eddie Cano Edward Cano (June 6, 1927 – January 30, 1988) was an Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin jazz pianist and composer. Early life Cano was born in Los Angeles on June 6, 1927. His mother was Mexican-American, and his father, a bass guitarist, was Mexican. Can ...

. Torres returned to Puerto Rico in 1960 and continued his studies at the

Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music ( es, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico) is a public conservatory in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto RicoSOBRE EL CONSERVATORIO DE MÚSICA DE PUERTO RICO: Información General d ...

. He would later become the trumpet player for the

Puerto Rico All Stars The Puerto Rico All Stars were a salsa and Latin Jazz band founded in 1977 by Frankie Gregory. Based in Puerto Rico, the All-Stars were an alternative and rival to the Fania All-Stars created by Johnny Pacheco. From 1977–1979, the Puerto Rico A ...

as well as Batacumbele.

Career

Torres performed with some of the best artists of the 1950s Latin big band era, including that of Rafael Muñoz, Miguelito Miranda and Moncho Usera's orchestra as well as with the Noro Morales Orchestra based out of the La Concha Hotel in

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John, may refer to: Places Argentina * San Juan Province, Argentina * San Juan, Argentina, the capital of that province * San Juan, Salta, a village in Iruya, Salta Province * San Juan (Buenos Aires Underground), ...

, Puerto Rico. In 1965 he recorded an album with

Bobby Capó Félix Manuel "Bobby" Rodríguez Capó (January 1, 1922 – December 18, 1989) was a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. He usually combined ballads with classical music and was deeply involved in Puerto Rican folk elements and even Andalusi ...

and his Orchestra. At the end of the sixties, Torres joined the orchestra of

Bobby Valentín Roberto "Bobby" Valentín (born June 9, 1941), is a musician and salsa bandleader. He is known as "El Rey del Bajo" (King of the Bass). Early years Valentín was born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico. He was taught by his father to play the guitar at ...

, who was also a trumpet player, with whom he participated in the recording of five albums between 1969 and 1975. During the 1970s he recorded with

Frank Ferrer Frank Ferrer (born March 25, 1966) is an American rock drummer. He is best known as the drummer for hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he has played, toured, and recorded since 2006. Ferrer was also a member of The Psychedelic Furs, Love S ...

Justo Betancourt Justo Betancourt (born December 6, 1940) is a Cuban singer famous for his interpretation of "Pa' bravo yo". He was born in Matanzas, Cuba, but has lived a significant amount of time in __Betancourt_led_a_group_called_Borincuba_(Conjunto_Borincuba) ...

and

Marvin Santiago Marvin Santiago (December 26, 1947 – October 6, 2004) was a Puerto Rican salsa singer who became famous all across Latin America during the 1970s. He was also a part-time comedian on Puerto Rican television.Marvin Santiago El Sonero Del Puebl ...

. He also performed with

Tito Rodriguez Tito may refer to: People Mononyms *Josip Broz Tito (1892–1980), commonly known mononymously as Tito, Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman *Roberto Arias (1918–1989), aka Tito, Panamanian international lawyer, diplomat, and journal ...

, Joe Quijano, Sexteto Silver,

Charlie Palmieri Carlos Manuel "Charlie" Palmieri (November 21, 1927 – September 12, 1988) was an American bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as the "Giant of the Keyboards". Early years Palmieri's parents migrated to New York from Po ...

Johnny Pacheco Juan Pablo Knipping Pacheco (25 March 1935 – 15 February 2021), known as Johnny Pacheco, was a Dominican musician, arranger, composer, bandleader, and record producer who in the 1970s became one of the leading exponents of salsa as well in t ...

Bobby Valentin Bobby or Bobbie may refer to: People * Bobby (given name), a list of names * Bobby (actress), from Bangladesh * Bobby (rapper) (born 1995), from South Korea * Bobby (screenwriter) (born 1983), Indian screenwriter * Bobby, old slang for a constabl ...

and many other Latin Jazz musicians. In 1979 Vélez began recording, and performing in international tours with the famous

Fania All Stars The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time. History Beginnings In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, a ...

orchestra. Between 1979 and 1997, he performed and recorded Johny Pacheco for

Jerry Masucci Gerald "Jerry" Masucci (October 7, 1934 – December 21, 1997) was an American attorney, businessman and was co-founder of Fania Records. Biography Masucci was born in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrant parents Urbano and Elvira Masucci. He w ...

, on multiple albums. These include: Habana Jam, Commitment, Latin Connection, Lo que Pide la Gente, "Live", Viva Colombia and Bravo. He has also recorded and performed with

Cheo Feliciano Cheo Feliciano (3 July 1935 – 17 April 2014) was a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican Singing, singer and composer of Salsa music, salsa and bolero music. Feliciano was the owner of a recording company called "Coche Records". He was the first t ...

Tommy Olivencia Tommy Olivencia (May 15, 1938 – September 22, 2006) was a renowned Puerto Rican bandleader of salsa music. Early years Olivencia (birth name: Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán) was born in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, San Juan, Puert ...

and his Orchestra,

Raphy Leavitt Raphy Leavitt (September 17, 1948 – August 5, 2015) was a Puerto Rican composer and founder of the salsa orchestra, La Selecta. Early years Rafael Angel Leavitt Rey, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was the second of four siblings in his family ...

and La Selecta,

Adalberto Santiago Adalberto Santiago (born April 23, 1937, in Pozas barrio, Ciales, Puerto Rico) is an internationally known salsa singer. Career Adalberto's relaxed and flawless lead vocals are among the best in the salsa genre of Latin music. His early influ ...

Roberto Roena Roberto Roena Vázquez (January 16, 1940 – September 23, 2021) was a Puerto Rican salsa music percussionist, orchestra leader, and dancer. Roena was one of the original members of Cortijo y su combo and later with El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. ...

Sonora Ponceña Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into 72 municipalities; the ...

Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. Early life Pal ...

Tito Rojas Julio César Rojas López, better known by his stage name Tito Rojas (June 14, 1955 – December 26, 2020) and also known as "El Gallo Salsero", was a Puerto Rican salsa singer and songwriter. Early years Tito Rojas was born and raised in the ...

, Pedro Arroyo, Descarga Boricua,

Lalo Rodríguez Ubaldo Rodríguez Santos (May 16, 1958 – December 13, 2022), known professionally as Lalo Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican salsa music, salsa singer recognized as one of the pioneers of the subgenre of Salsa romántica, Romantic or Erotic Sals ...

and

Ray Barreto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...

and

Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz c ...

among many others. In 1992, he joined the Dutch salsa orchestra Nueva Manteca.

Death

Torres died on July 27, 2003, in Carolina Puerto Rico, in his sleep from a heart attack.

Selected discography

*2010 Ponte Duro: The Fania All Stars Story Fania All-Stars Soloist, Trumpet *2008 Campeones: A Band and Their Music Fania All-Stars Soloist, Trumpet *2008 Cien Anos Con Albizu Andrés Jiménez Trumpet *2008 Trompeta Tropical Humberto Ramírez Primary Artist, Trumpet *2004 Fuerza Gigante: Live in Puerto Rico April 27, 2001 Ray Barretto Trumpet *2003 Cuban All Jazz ropical Trumpet *2003 Feeling Good Again Charlie Sepulveda Flugelhorn, Guest Artist *2003 Las Noches de Nydia Nydia Caro Trumpet *2002 Paradise Humberto Ramírez Flugelhorn, Trumpet *2001 Barreto 50th Anniversary Ray Barretto Trumpet *2001 El Duque de la Salsa Herb Flores Trumpet *2001 Union Puya Trumpet *1999 50 Anos en Su Musica Miguelito Miranda Trumpet *1999 Bobby Capo y Orquesta Bobby Capó Trumpet *1999 Interpreta a Placido Acevedo Anoranzas y Quimeras Gilberto Monroig Guest Artist, Trumpet *1999 Noche Caliente Trumpet *1999 Puerto Rican Jazz Caunedo y Su Orquesta Primary Artist, Trumpet *1998 Roberto Clemente: Un Tributo Musical (Tribute in Song) Trumpet *1998 Somos Uno Descarga Boricua Trumpet *1997 Bravo 97 Fania All-Stars Trumpet *1997 Carlos David Carlos David Trumpet *1997 Personal Hector Rey Trumpet *1997 Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound: Mi Música 1997 Roberto Roena Trumpet *1997 Volver Tito Gomez Trumpet *1996 Abrazate: Descarga Boricua, Vol. 2 Descarga Boricua Collaboration, Trumpet *1996 De Regreso Puerto Rico All Stars Trumpet *1995 Live: June 11–1994, Puerto Rico Fania All-Stars Soloist, Trumpet, Unknown Contributor Role *1994 El Maestro Nino Segarra Trumpet *1994 Naci Para Cantar Lalo Rodríguez Trumpet *1993 Lo Sabemos Justo Betancourt Flugelhorn *1992 A Dos Tiempos de un Tiempo Gilberto Santa Rosa Flugelhorn, Trumpet *1992 Capricornio Dario Estrella Trumpet *1991 Fuego a La Jicotea H RodvenMarvin Santiago Trumpet *1991 Tropico Pedro Arroyo Trumpet *1990 Con Mas Power Puerto Rican Power Orchestra Trumpet *1990 Te Tengo Que Olvidar Sergio Hernandez Trumpet *1989 Live Session, Vol. 2 Steve Nelson Flugelhorn *1989 Vine Pa’ Quedarme Pedro Arroyo Trumpet *1985 El Nino, El Hombre, El Sonador, El Loco Lalo Rodríguez Flugelhorn *1984 Lo Que Pide La Gente Fania All-Stars Trumpet *1982 Calidad Adalberto Santiago Main Personnel, Trumpet *1982 Determination La Sonora Ponceña Flugelhorn, Main Personnel *1982 Profundo Cheo Feliciano Flugelhorn, Main Personnel *1982 Super Apollo 47:50 Roberto Roena Main Personnel, Trumpet *1981 Latin Connection Fania All-Stars Trumpet *1981 Social Change Fania All-Stars Flugelhorn, Trumpet *1981 Un Triangulo de Triunfo Tommy Olivencia Trumpet *1980 Commitment Fania All-Stars Flugelhorn, Trumpet *1980 Sentimiento Tu Cheo Feliciano Flugelhorn, Main Personnel, Trumpet *1978 Los Profesionales Puerto Rico All Stars Composer, Producer, Trumpet, Vocals, Vocals (Background) *1977 Puerto Rico All Stars Puerto Rico All Stars Trumpet *1976 Puerto Rico All Stars Puerto Rico All Stars Trumpet *1974 In Motion Bobby Valentín Featured Artist, Trumpet *1974 Aleluyah Frank Ferrer, Trumpet *1969 Se La Comió Bobby Valentin, Trumpet *1964 Bobby Capó And His Orchestra, Trumpet

References

External links