All roads led thousands of salsa fans to La Guancha Ponce, Puerto Rico, Sunday September 28th, 2003, to the 4th annual Z-93 (salsa station) anniversary, to commemorate the 57th birthday ( were he still alive), of one of our greatest salsa idols, Hectoe Lavoe.  Invigorating, pulsating, pounding and captivating are just a few words to describe this free open-air concert which brought back so many fond and exciting memories that many of us still hold dearly with respect to "el cantante de cantantes", "the singer of singers", Hector Juan Perez Martinez ( Hector Lavoe ) and his performances.  His daughter Leslie was also present for the event. 

 

Participating bands in this tribute were: Costa Brava, Victor Manuele ( who did a heart-breaking medley of Lavoe's songs), Gilbertito Santarosa,  Bobby Valentin and Oscar de Leon with his orchestra ( who sang " La bomba de Puerto Rico" to the music of  "La Murga de Panama") and caused so much euphoria amongst the crowd when he embraced the Puerto Rican flag. Everyone was jumping, dancing, and singing to the sassy hot Afro-Antillean rhythms of classic salsa.

 

 

The event was well organized, orderly and an overwhelming success . Our sincere thanks go out to the Z-93 staff and participating bands for this well deserved, beautifully executed and free to the public tribute to one of our dearest salsa Fania All-Stars: Hector Lavoe !!!  " Que viva para siempre el jibarito de Ponce".

 

Contributed by: Mari B./Groups.msn.com/Puerto Rico and Fan of Enbreve.com