Héctor was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico to Pachita and Luis Perez, and raised in the Machuelito barrio of the city. He was inspired early in life by his musically-talented family. His grandfather Don Juan Martínez was a singer of controversial songs, which often went from vocal conflict to physical confrontations. His uncle was a well- known tres player in Ponce. His mother Pachita was well known among her family and towns people for her beautiful singing voice. His father Luis supported his wife and eight children by singing and playing guitar with trios and big bands. In 1967, he met Salsa star Willie Colón. Pacheco, co-owner of Fania Records, and its recording musical director, arranged for Lavoe to record with Willie Colón on his first album El Malo. Willie never officially asked Lavoe to join his band, but after the recording, Willie said to him, "On Saturday we start at 10 p.m. at El Tropicoro Club." The album's success significantly transformed both Willie's and Héctor's lives...LISTEN

Willie Colón was born in the Bronx, New York, to Puerto Rican parents. He picked up the trumpet from a young age, and later switched to trombone, inspired by the all-trombone sound of Mon Rivera and -at least during a specific period in the 1960s- that of Eddie Palmieri. He was bullied in his neighborhood because of this, and had to defend himself quite often from gang members. In a way similar to Bob Marley's, he gained a reputation for being tough and fierce in combat, even if his height could put him in a disadvantage (Willie is 5ft. 6in. -168 cm- tall). He was signed to Fania Records at 15 and recorded his first album at age 17, which ultimately sold more than 300,000 copies. Due to fortuituous events (he had no singer for his band at recording time since his first candidate was killed in a street fight), the main record producer at Fania at the time, Johnny Pacheco, recommended Héctor Lavoe to him. This led to a very successful collaboration between the two. The rest is in the History books.

This design is inspired by their Music and pays respects to the two baddest Salseros that ever lived. Their music discribed the Latin American Roots and the street way of life. Hector Lavoe and Willie Colon gave Latin America and the World "Salsa".....RAICES LATINA. LISTEN...

Price:$26.00