Hector Lavoe, a Grammy-nominated singer of salsa music, died Tuesday of cardiac arrest in a Manhattan hospital. He was 46.
Mr. Lavoe was an incandescent singer, an improviser who used a boyish sound to impart passion. His voice, high and pure, turned the most banal lyrics into pleas, and when he improvised, he moved from clipped, abrupt rhythms to a graceful float.
Mr. Lavoe often shared the stage with some of the top tropical music acts, notably Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and Ruben Blades.
Mr. Lavoe, whose original name was Hector Perez, was born in Puerto Rico and was brought to the United States at age 6. He first found work as a singer and trombonist with Johnny Pacheco and the Orchestra New Yorkers and then formed a group with the trombonist Willie Colon in 1966 to create one of the most important bands in salsa.
One of his hits was “Mi Gente” (My People), written by Pacheco and taken as an anthem of Hispanic pride.
By 1974, Mr. Lavoe had taken over the band and expanded it.
At the height of his popularity, Mr. Lavoe suffered personal problems and absences from music.
But Mr. Lavoe had a series of comebacks as well, including an album, “Comedia,” in 1978, that is considered one of his best. He continued recording into the 1980s and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1988 for his recording “Lavoe Strikes Back.”
