Tony Vega Cesar, known professionally as Tony Vega (born July 13, 1957) is a Puerto Rican salsa singer.

Early years

Vega was born in the town of Salinas, Puerto Rico, where he received his primary education. He was born into a family of musicians and therefore learned how to play the bongos and

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). ...

at an early age. In 1967, when he was 10 years old, he played the conga for a children's band called La Prefeida. His family moved to New York City in 1968. In New York, Vega continued to go to school. In his free time however, he played the conga for various local Latin rock bands including City Trash. Latin music was popular in New York during the 1970s and while Vega played the conga for Latin rock bands, he started to become more and more interested in the afroantillano style of music better known as salsa. He listened to and was influenced by Ismael Rivera, Rafael Cortijo, Rafael Ithier and El Gran Combo. Vega started as a member of Orquesta La Preferida from 1971 to 1973. He was the primary conga player and sang coro. One year when the school season ended his parents sent him on vacation to the United States for the two months of the school recess. Upon returning to Puerto Rico and back into the band, there was a replacement on the conga tacking his place. It was suggested to Vega to go up front and try singing, as he had done coro for the band quite well. Thus, his singing career was started. He remained with the band and recorded a 45 rpm record under the supervision of the Pijuan (Melon Records) a director of Pijuan y su sexteto. He also did come coro while a member of the Willie Rosario Orquesta with Gilberto Santarosa on two songs recorded by the Orquesta La Preferida for the late promotor Rueben Haddock. His voice can be heard on the CD ''Al fin contra viento y marea'' by La Preferida.

La Selecta

In 1978, after he graduated from high school, Vega auditioned and was accepted by La Selecta, a well known salsa band directed by

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 ...

. He sang with the band and recorded "Cosquillita" ("Tickle"), "Sheila Taina" and "El Picaflor", which became hits. In 1980, Vega was doing a show with La Selecta and in the audience was another salsa bandleader,

Willie Rosario Willie Rosario (born May 6, 1924), is a musician, composer and bandleader of salsa music. He is also known as Mr. Afinque. Early years Rosario (birth name: Fernando Luis Rosario Marín) was born and raised in Coamo, Puerto Rico, into a poor, ...

. Rosario was impressed with Vega and invited him to join his band. He did and participated in many recordings, and from 1981 to 1986, he shared credits with a young singer, Gilberto Santa Rosa. Vega also played an essential role in the recording of "La Nueva Cosecha" ("The New Harvest") which was nominated for a Grammy Award. He stayed with Rosario for eight years. In 1986, Vega joined the Louie Ramirez band before returning to Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, he was introduced to Eddie Palmieri, by his friend Giovanni Hidalgo. Palmieri recorded Vega and ended up hiring him. Vega participated in the recording of ''La Verdad'' (''The Truth''), which won a Grammy Award for Palmieri. He traveled with the band to Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, and Yugoslavia.

Solo career

In 1988, Vega formed his own band and recorded "solo" for the first time. His album ''Yo Me Quedo!'' (''I Will Stay'') became a best seller, andappearted in the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' tropical/salsa chart in late 1989. He then followed that with the recording of ''Lo Mio es Amor'' (''My Thing is Love''), which included the songs "Ella" ("She") and an English language track "Love is Forever". This album earned him his first gold record. In 1991, Vega won a

platinum record Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...

with the success of his album ''Uno Mismo'' (''Oneself''). That year he performed in Venezuela and later went to New York where in

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

he participated in Tito Puentes 100th recording ''The Mambo King''. He appeared at the New York Salsa Festival in 1989, 1990 and 1991.

Currently

Among his most current productions are ''Si me mira a los ojos'' (''If You Look into My Eyes''), ''Hoy vine a Cantarte'' (''Today I Came to Sing to You''), ''Tropical Tribute to the Beatles'' (1996) and ''La Combinacion Perfecta'' (''The Perfect Combination''). Vega continues to perform but, not as often as before. In 1996 he became a " born again Christian".

Recognitions

In 1992, he was awarded La Husca Award in Panama and in Puerto Rico won the Agüeybaná de Oro Award for Best Orchestra of the Year. That same year Vega and his band performed in Spain, Chile, Colombia and the United States. He was also among a committee sent to Spain by the Government of Puerto Rico to represent the island when it was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award. He performed in the Sports Palace of Madrid. In 1996, Vega participated with

Marc Anthony Marco Antonio Muñiz Rivera (born September 16, 1968), known professionally as Marc Anthony, is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. A three-time Grammy Award and six-time Latin Gra ...

in the opening ceremonies of the 7th Gymnastics World Championships celebrated in Puerto Rico.

Discography

* ''Cosquilla'' * ''Sheila Taina'' * ''El Picaflor'' * ''1980 El 20 De Willie (Willie Rosario)'' * ''Caramelito del Campo'' * ''Busca el Ritmo'' * ''Prohibiciones'' * ''Como es Posible'' * ''El Cuatro'' * ''Yo Me Quedo'' * ''Tu Prenda Tendida'' * ''Nadie te Mando'' * ''Lo mio es Amor'' * ''Ella'' * ''Uno Mismo'' * ''Dame Tiempo'' * ''Ya es tiempo de Olvidar'' * ''Si miras a los Ojos'' * ''Hoy vine a Cantarte'' * ''Tropical Tribute to the Beatles'' * ''La Combinacion Perfecta'' * ''Tu Eres Mi Respirar'' * ''Hoy Quiero Cantarte'' * ''Cuestión de Fé''

Bibliography

* Donald Clarke (1998)
The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 2nd ed., p. 1335
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