Paquito Cordero (October 16, 1932 – June 30, 2009), was a pioneer of
Puerto Rican television. He was also a comedian and a musical and television producer.
Early years
Cordero (birth name: Francisco Cordero Baez
) was born to Francisco Cordero Paco and Berta Baez de Cordero in
Santurce, Puerto Rico
Santurce (, from the Basque '' Santurtzi'' which means Saint George) is a barrio or district in the municipality of San Juan. Its population in 2020 was 69,469. It is also the biggest and most populated of all the barrios in the capital city wi ...
. Cordero attended Santurce Central High School upon finishing his primary and secondary education. He was a member of his high school's drama club and participated in its plays, where he discovered the art of comedy. Cordero was geatly influenced by his aunt on his father's side,
Mapy Cortés
Maria del Pilar Cordero, better known as Mapy Cortés (Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico March 1, 1910Isla Verde, Puerto Rico August 2, 1998) was a Puerto Rican stage, film and television actress and dancer who participated in many films during the ...
. Mapy Cortés had moved to Mexico from Puerto Rico, where she became an actress. She married the Puerto Rican-born Mexican actor
Fernando Cortés
Fernando "Papi" Cortés (October 4, 1909 – 1979) was a Puerto Rican film actor, writer and director. He was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but he spent most of his adult life in Mexico City, where he died. On 1932, while in New York City, Fe ...
, a childhood friend. After Cordero graduated from high school, he enrolled and attended the
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico ( es, Universidad de Puerto Rico, UPR) is the main public university system in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is a government-owned corporation with 11 campuses and approximately 58,000 students and 5,3 ...
and married his childhood sweetheart, a hairdresser whom everyone knew as "Cuqui". With Cuqui he had three children, two girls and one boy.
[Popular Culture](_blank)
/ref>
Artistic career
Cordero auditioned for a role in a comedy skit which was transmitted through Radio El Mundo and was subsequently hired. He did this in his spare time. His aunt Mapy and her husband Fernando returned to the island and presented an idea for a comedy show to Ángel Ramos, owner of El Mundo Enterprises. On March 28, 1954, Puerto Rico received its first television transmission from Angel Ramos' WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV (channel 2) is a television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, airing programming from the Telemundo and NBC networks. It is Owned-and-operated station, owned and operated by the Telemundo Station Group subsidiary of NBCUniversal. WKAQ-T ...
Telemundo
Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language Terrestrial television, terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Television and Streaming#NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a divi ...
Channel 2. Among the first comedy shows to go on the air was "Mapy Y Papi" with Mapy and Fernando Cortés, María Judith Franco and Paquito Cordero.
During this period in his life, he fell in love with one of the show's dancers, a young girl by the name of Nora. He soon divorced his first wife and asked Nora to marry him. She accepted and together they had a son, Santiago.
Paquito Cordero Productions
In the 1960s, Cordero formed his own production company which he named Paquito Cordero Productions, Inc. His younger sister, Bertita, became his assistant and eventually his younger brother, Jorge, would also join the company as a future co-producer. On January 11, 1965, Telemundo transmitted the first program produced by Paquito called "El Show de las 12" (The 12 O'Clock Show). The first show included appearances by El Gran Combo
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican salsa orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, it was often considered Puerto Rico's most successful musical group. The ...
, Tito Lara
Tito Lara (December 23, 1932 – June 23, 1987), was considered by many to be Puerto Rico's first television singing idol.
Early years
Lara (birth name: Agustín Enrique Lara Olivencia was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. Lara was rai ...
, Los Hispanos, and Olga y Tony
Olga y Tony is a Cuban husband and wife musical duo Olga Chorens and Tony Álvarez. In 1951, Olga Chorens co-hosted and co-starred with her husband Tony Álvarez in the popular entertainment show on Televisora CMQ in Cuba. Known as Olga y Tony af ...
. It also included a section within the show, dedicated to the teenage crowd, called "Canta la Juventud" (Youth Sings). Among those taking part in this section were Alfred D. Herger and Puerto Rican teen idols Lucecita Benítez
Luz Esther Benítez Rosado (born July 22, 1942), also known as Lucecita, is a Puerto Rican singer, part of the country's new wave popular music. Born in Bayamon, a large city in Puerto Rico, she participated in amateur radio shows.
Benítez's m ...
and Chucho Avellanet
Chucho Avellanet, nicknamed "Chucho", is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor of Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spa ...
. "El Show de Las 12" was presented by Miguel Ángel Álvarez
Miguel Ángel Álvarez, also known as "El Men," (August 25, 1941 – January 16, 2011), was a Puerto Rican actor and comedian.
Early years
Álvarez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and when he was a child his family moved to Bayamón, Puerto Ri ...
and Eddie Miró
Eddie Miró (born March 15, 1935 in Humacao, Puerto Rico), is a television show host in Puerto Rico of Sephardic origin. He is best known for being the host of Telemundo Puerto Rico's variety show ''El Show de las 12'' (The 12 pm Show) for over ...
was the scriptwriter. The show was a success and was watched by over 80 percent of the population, becoming one of Puerto Rico's most beloved programs for over 40 years.
Television programs produced by Cordero
Cordero also produced the following shows which were popular in Puerto Rico:
* "El Show de las 12" with "Los Alegres Tres", Silvia, Chapuseaux y Damiron with Clarissa, Militza (La India) and Mary Stull.
* "El Show Sultana", with "Los Hispanos", and Tito Lara
Tito Lara (December 23, 1932 – June 23, 1987), was considered by many to be Puerto Rico's first television singing idol.
Early years
Lara (birth name: Agustín Enrique Lara Olivencia was born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. Lara was rai ...
* "2 a Go Go", with Julio Angel Julio is the Spanish equivalent of the month July and may refer to:
*Julio (given name)
*Julio (surname)
*Júlio de Castilhos, a municipality of the western part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
* ''Julio'' (album), a 1983 compilation albu ...
& Tammy
* "Walter, las Estrellas Y Usted" (Walter, the Stars and You), with Walter Mercado
Walter Mercado Salinas (9 March 1932 – 2 November 2019), also known by his stage name Shanti Ananda, was a Puerto Rican astrologer, actor, dancer, and writer, best known as a television personality for his shows as an astrologer. His astrol ...
* "Mi Hippie Me Encanta" (I love my hippie) with Luis Antonio Rivera
Luis Antonio Rivera a.k.a. "Yoyo Boing" (born April 9, 1930) is a Puerto Rican actor, comedian and television show host, who was also one of the pioneers of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican television.
Early years
Rivera was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico ...
: Yoyo Boing, Rosita Velazquez, Johanna Ferrán, Raquel Montero
Raquel Montero (born 1944 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentine-Puerto Rican television and theater actress, show host and comedian. She is better known for her extensive work on Puerto Rican television during the 1970s and 1980s, on canal ...
and Myrna de Casenave
* "En Broma y en Serio" (Joking and Seriously), with Lou Briel
Lou Briel (born October 19, 1954, Santurce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, comedian, record producer, pianist, and host, among other things.
Musical career Early years with Anexo 3
Lou Briel started his career at a very young ...
, and Dagmar
* "Su Estrella Favorita" (Your Favorite Star)
* "El Show de Chucho", (Chucho's Show), with Chucho Avellanet
Chucho Avellanet, nicknamed "Chucho", is a Puerto Rican singer and comedic actor of Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spa ...
"
* "En Casa de Juanma y Wiwi", (In Juanma & Wiwis' Home), with Awilda Carbia
Awilda "Wiwi" Carbia (January 30, 1938 – March 22, 2009) was a Puerto Rican actress, comedian, and impersonator.
Early years
Awilda Carbia started her acting career at age seven, and later in her acting career. In the 1970s, she hosted the ch ...
, and Juan Manuel Lebrón
Juan Manuel Lebrón Román (born April 22, 1947) is a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican actor, model, screenwriter, television producer and Salsa music, salsa singer.
Career
Juan Manuel Lebrón Román began his show business career as a youngster, then ...
* "Estudio Alegre & Musicomedia", (Cheerful Studio & Musicomedy), with Otilio Warrington
Otilio Warrington, known popularly as Bizcocho (born February 26, 1944) is a comedian, best known for his roles of "Bizcocho" and "Cuca Gómez".
Early years
Warrington was born in the Barrio Obrero area of Santurce, Puerto Rico. When he was nin ...
, Awilda Carbia
Awilda "Wiwi" Carbia (January 30, 1938 – March 22, 2009) was a Puerto Rican actress, comedian, and impersonator.
Early years
Awilda Carbia started her acting career at age seven, and later in her acting career. In the 1970s, she hosted the ch ...
, Adrian Garcia
Adrian Garcia (born December 26, 1960) is an American politician and the current County Commissioner foPrecinct 2in Harris County, Texas. Garcia spent 23 years with the Houston Police Department, before becoming a city councilman. Garcia served ...
and Juan Manuel Lebrón
Juan Manuel Lebrón Román (born April 22, 1947) is a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican actor, model, screenwriter, television producer and Salsa music, salsa singer.
Career
Juan Manuel Lebrón Román began his show business career as a youngster, then ...
* "La Gente Joven de Menudo/Menudomania", with Puerto Rican music group Menudo.
* "Los Kakucómicos", with Adalberto Rodriguez, ''Machuchal'', and Shorty Castro
Israel Castro Vélez, better known as Shorty Castro (January 28, 1928 – January 22, 2018) was a Puerto Rican comedian, actor, comedy writer, stage director, radio host, singer, dancer, composer and musician, with a career spanning over 60 year ...
, among many others
* "La Pensión de Doña Tere", (Lady Tere's Guesthouse), with Norma Candal
Norma Daniela Candal Penedo (April 10, 1927 – February 5, 2006), was a Puerto Rican actress and comedian who was best known for her role as Petunia on ''La criada malcriada''.
Early years
Norma Daniela Candal Penedo was born in 1927 in Fajar ...
, and
* "Noche de Gala", (Gala Night Ball), with Eddie Miró
Eddie Miró (born March 15, 1935 in Humacao, Puerto Rico), is a television show host in Puerto Rico of Sephardic origin. He is best known for being the host of Telemundo Puerto Rico's variety show ''El Show de las 12'' (The 12 pm Show) for over ...
, and in different periods of time co-hosted by, Marisol Malaret
Marisol Malaret Contreras (born October 13, 1949) is a Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican
television host, model and beauty queen. In 1970 she was the first Puerto Rican people, Puerto Rican woman and Caribbean woman to be crowned Miss Universe.
...
, Deborah Carthy Deu, Marilyn Pupo
Marilyn Pupo (born November 23, 1950) is a Cuban-born Puerto Rican actress, singer and television show host. She is known for her stint as a television show host at Telemundo Puerto Rico's Noche de Gala alongside Eddie Miro, and for starring in ...
and Gilda Haddock
Gilda Haddock Acevedo (born 23 February, 1956) is a Puerto Rican actress, gospel singer and dancer. Haddock has acted in many films and telenovelas.
Early life
Haddock was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, to Korean War veteran Jorge Haddock and Fran ...
.
On April 14, 1983, Telemundo was sold to John Blair and Co. and finally, in 2004 became part of the NBC Universal
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
network. This led to many changes and one of the changes was the substitution of locally produced programs with programs produced in other countries such as Mexico. Cordero, however, remained at Telemundo as its main local producer from 1983 to 2004.
On May 6, 2004, television producers Paquito Cordero and Tommy Muñiz
Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez (4 February 1922 – 15 January 2009), better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner. He is considered to be one of the pioneerin ...
received a special recognition on behalf of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico as part of the celebration of the 50 years of uninterrupted transmission on the Telemundo and Televicentro channels.
Telemundo stops transmitting local programs
On February 25, 2005, Telemundo canceled Paquito Cordero's "El Show de las 12", the longest-running television show in Puerto Rico. Telemundo no longer transmits locally produced television programs and thus, is no longer a source of income to the local artistic class.
On the last airing of the show, Eddie Miró took the microphone and said these words:
Musical producer
At one point in his life, Cordero owned a music label, named ''Hit Parade''. One of the acts that Cordero produced albums for was the well-known Merengue band, Conjunto Quisqueya.
Later years
In 2007, Cordero, produced a remake of "Noche de Gala", (Gala Night Ball), broadcast by WIPR-TV
WIPR-TV (channel 6) is a non-commercial educational public television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, owned by the '' Corporación de Puerto Rico para la Difusión Pública'' (English: Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corporation). While WIPR- ...
, Tu Universo Television, channel 6, with Deborah Carthy Deu, as the host. Cordero died of respiratory problems in the morning hours of June 30, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Nora, and four children, Paquitin, Chiqui, Muñeca and Santiago. The governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño
Luis Guillermo Fortuño Burset (born 31 October 1960) is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the governor of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States, from 2009 to 2013.
Fortuño served as the first secretary of econom ...
, declared three days of national mourning. On July 2, a wake was held in the "Salon de Actos" of El Convento Dominicos in Old San Juan
Old San Juan ( es, Viejo San Juan) is a historic district located at the "northwest triangle" of the Isleta de San Juan, islet of San Juan. Its area roughly correlates to the Ballajá, Old San Juan, Ballajá, Catedral, Old San Juan, Catedral, Ma ...
which was assisted by the governor and his wife, local celebrities, and Cordero's family and close friends. Cordero remains were later transferred to the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnight ...
also in Old San Juan where he was buried.Ultimo adios a Paquito Cordero
/ref>
See also
* List of Puerto Ricans
Notes
References
External links
Popular Culture
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cordero, Paquito
1932 births
2009 deaths
Burials at Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery
Puerto Rican comedians
People from San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican television personalities
Puerto Rican television producers
Television pioneers
Deaths from respiratory failure
20th-century American comedians