Vega was born in the town of Salinas, Puerto Rico,[2] where he received his primary education. He was born into a family of musicians and therefore learned how to play the bongos and conga 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.[3]
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.[4]
Vega started as a member of Orquesta La Preferida from 1971 to 1973.[1] 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.[1] 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. 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.[1] 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.[4]
In 1986, Vega joined the Louie Ramirez band before returning to Puerto Rico.[1] In Puerto Rico, he was introduced to Eddie Palmieri,[1] by his friend Giovanni Hidalgo. Palmieri recorded Vega and ended up hiring him.[1] Vega participated in the recording of La Verdad (The Truth), which won a Grammy Award for Palmieri.[1] He traveled with the band to Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, and Yugoslavia.[3]
Solo career
In 1988, Vega formed his own band and recorded "solo" for the first time.[1] His album Yo Me Quedo! (I Will Stay) became a best seller, andappearted in the Billboard tropical/salsa chart in late 1989.[1] He then followed that with the recording of Lo Mio es Amor (My Thing is Love),[1] which included the songs "Ella" ("She") and an English language track "Love is Forever".[2] This album earned him his first gold record.[2] In 1991, Vega won a platinum record with the success of his album Uno Mismo (Oneself).[1][2] That year he performed in Venezuela and later went to New York where in Madison Square Garden he participated in Tito Puentes 100th recording The Mambo King.[3] He appeared at the New York Salsa Festival in 1989, 1990 and 1991.[1]
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".[3]
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.[2] That same year Vega and his band performed in Spain, Chile, Colombia and the United States.[2] 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.[4]
In 1996, Vega participated with Marc Anthony in the opening ceremonies of the 7th Gymnastics World Championships celebrated in Puerto Rico.[3]
^ abcdef"Tony Vega | Biography". Salsablvd.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
^ abcde"Artists - Vega, Tony". Musicofpuertorico.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
^ abc"Priscilla Flores – Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular". Prpop.org. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
External links
Popular Culture
February 15, 2023
tony, vega, jockey, jockey, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, espec. For the jockey see Tony Vega jockey This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources Tony Vega news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Tony Vega Cesar known professionally as Tony Vega born July 13 1957 1 is a Puerto Rican salsa singer Tony VegaBirth nameTony Vega CesarBorn 1957 07 13 July 13 1957 age 65 Salinas Puerto RicoGenresSalsaOccupation s Salsa singer bandleader Instrument s bongos and conga Contents 1 Early years 2 La Selecta 3 Solo career 4 Currently 5 Recognitions 6 Discography 7 See also 8 Bibliography 9 References 10 External linksEarly years EditVega was born in the town of Salinas Puerto Rico 2 where he received his primary education He was born into a family of musicians and therefore learned how to play the bongos and conga 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 3 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 4 Vega started as a member of Orquesta La Preferida from 1971 to 1973 1 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 EditIn 1978 after he graduated from high school Vega auditioned and was accepted by La Selecta a well known salsa band directed by Raphy Leavitt 1 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 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 1 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 4 In 1986 Vega joined the Louie Ramirez band before returning to Puerto Rico 1 In Puerto Rico he was introduced to Eddie Palmieri 1 by his friend Giovanni Hidalgo Palmieri recorded Vega and ended up hiring him 1 Vega participated in the recording of La Verdad The Truth which won a Grammy Award for Palmieri 1 He traveled with the band to Spain the Netherlands Switzerland Germany Denmark and Yugoslavia 3 Solo career EditIn 1988 Vega formed his own band and recorded solo for the first time 1 His album Yo Me Quedo I Will Stay became a best seller andappearted in the Billboard tropical salsa chart in late 1989 1 He then followed that with the recording of Lo Mio es Amor My Thing is Love 1 which included the songs Ella She and an English language track Love is Forever 2 This album earned him his first gold record 2 In 1991 Vega won a platinum record with the success of his album Uno Mismo Oneself 1 2 That year he performed in Venezuela and later went to New York where in Madison Square Garden he participated in Tito Puentes 100th recording The Mambo King 3 He appeared at the New York Salsa Festival in 1989 1990 and 1991 1 Currently EditAmong 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 3 Recognitions EditIn 1992 he was awarded La Husca Award in Panama and in Puerto Rico won the Agueybana de Oro Award for Best Orchestra of the Year 2 That same year Vega and his band performed in Spain Chile Colombia and the United States 2 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 4 In 1996 Vega participated with Marc Anthony in the opening ceremonies of the 7th Gymnastics World Championships celebrated in Puerto Rico 3 Discography EditExternal audio You may listen to Tony Vega s Esa mujer here 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 Cuestion de FeSee also Edit Puerto Rico portal Biography portalList of Puerto RicansBibliography EditDonald Clarke 1998 The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music 2nd ed p 1335 ISBN 0 14 051370 1References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 2585 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 a b c d e f Tony Vega Biography Salsablvd com Retrieved October 17 2021 a b c d e Artists Vega Tony Musicofpuertorico com Retrieved October 17 2021 a b c Priscilla Flores Fundacion Nacional para la Cultura Popular Prpop org Retrieved October 17 2021 External links EditPopular Culture Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tony Vega amp oldid 1053311077, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
