More Info on Tommy OlivenciaSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist|name = Tommy Olivencia|alias =|image =|caption = Tommy Olivencia |background = solo_singer|birth_name = Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán|birth_date = Birth date|1938|5|15|birth_place = Santurce, Puerto Rico |death_date = Death date and age|2006|9|22|1938|5|15|genre = Salsa music|Salsa |Occupation: Singer-Songwriter , Bandleader |years_active = 1960–2006|label =|associated_acts = Lalo Rodriguez , Frankie Ruiz , Gilberto Santa Rosa , Hector Tricoche|website = Tommy Olivencia (May 15, 1938 - September 22, 2006) was a renowned bandleader of Music of Puerto Rico|salsa music.
Early years
Olivencia, was born Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, Puerto Rico . His family moved to the city of Arecibo when he was just a child. There received his primary and secondary education. As a young man, he became fascinated with the trumpet and learned to play the musical instrument. In 1954, Olivencia sang and played the trumpet for local bands. He graduated from high school in 1957 and his family relocated once again to Santurce.
La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico
In 1960, Olivencia organized his first orchestra, which he named the "Tommy Olivencia y La Primerísima Orquesta de Puerto Rico". His band combined swing and melodic styles together. This combination, plus a strong brass contingent in the band was his trademark. Olivencia signed a contract with Inca Records and remained with that label until 1978. In 1972, he had his first major "hit" with Secuestro (Kidnapped) and followed that hit with Juntos de Nuevo (Together Again) in 1974 and Planté Bandera in 1975.
Olivencia's band was also known as the "Tommy Olivencia School", because the band produced some of the best and most talented singers and musicians of salsa in the island. Among those to have belonged to the band at one time or another were: Chamaco Ramirez , Sammy "El Rolo" González, Simon Perez, Paquito Guzman, Lalo Rodríguez|Ubaldo "Lalo" Rodriguez , Gilberto Santa Rosa , Marvin Santiago , Frankie Ruiz , Hector Tricoche, Carlos Alexis, Hector "Pichie" Perez, Paquito "Junior" Acosta and Mel Martínez.
Discography
Among the albums recorded by Olivencia and his band are:
Among the many awards and recognitions which have been bestowed upon Olivencia are the following:
The Puerto Rican Senate passed a resolution congratulating Olivencia and his band for their contributions to Puerto Rico's music.
El Cordero de Oro (The Golden Lamb) and El Buho de Oro (The Golden Owl) Awards from Panama , for the best foreign band.
The Golden Agueybana Award from Puerto Rico
The November 11 Award from Colombia
Later years and death
On August 2000, Olivencia celebrated his 40th anniversary in the music industry at the Tito Puente Theater in San Juan, an event attended by many of the former members of his band. On May 15, 2004, Olivencia celebrated his 66th birthday and 45 years with the band with a live recording concert. The annual "Day of Salsa" of 2005, celebrated in Puerto Rico was dedicated to Olivencia.
He died on September 22, 2006, aged 68, from complications of diabetes, which he had battled his entire life.
See also
portal|Puerto Rico
List of famous Puerto Ricans
External links
http://www.prpop.org/biografias/PR Popular Culture
http://www.salsaclasica.com/tommyolivencia Unofficial Site - Biography, Discography, Lyrics
Persondata | NAME =Olivencia, Tommy | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =May 15, 1938 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Santurce, Puerto Rico | DATE OF DEATH =September 22, 2006 | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Olivencia, Tommy Category:1938 births Category:2006 deaths Category:Deaths from diabetes Category:People from Santurce, Puerto Rico Category:Puerto Rican musicians Category:Puerto Rican singers Category:Salsa musicians Category:Place of death missing
