Juan “Juancito” Torres Velez (January 14, 1936 – July 26, 2003), also known as "La Trompeta Nacional De Puerto Rico", was a Puerto Rican

salsa Salsa most often refers to: * Salsa (food), a variety of sauces used as condiments * Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music * Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music Salsa or SALSA may also refer to: Arts and ent ...

and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...

player, composer, arranger, producer and musical director best known for his association with the

Fania All-Stars The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time. History Beginnings In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, ...

from 1979 to 1985. He was known as a great soloist, specializing in upper register.

Early life

Torres was born in

Caguas Caguas (, ) is a city and municipality in central eastern Puerto Rico. Located in the eponymous Caguas Valley between the Sierra de Cayey and Sierra de Luquillo of the Central Mountain Range, it is bordered by San Juan and Trujillo Alto to ...

Puerto Rico on January 14, 1936, and began in music by playing violin in his hometown, where he belonged to the Municipal Band. Torres began formal musical studies at the age of fourteen when he enrolled at the Escuela Libre de Música. In 1952 he joined the orchestra of jazz musician Ramón Usera Vives. In 1955 he moved to New York City, where he performed with

Xavier Cugat Xavier Cugat (; ; 1 January 1900 – 27 October 1990) was an American musician and bandleader who was a leading figure in the spread of Latin music. Originally from Girona, Spain, he spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba, before arriving i ...

Noro Morales Norberto "Noro" Morales (January 4, 1911 – January 15, 1964) was a Puerto Rican pianist and bandleader. Biography Morales was born in the subbarrio Puerta de Tierra of San Juan, Puerto Rico to father Luis Morales Barada, a musician, and m ...

and

Lecuona Cuban Boys The Lecuona Cuban Boys (Spanish: ''Muchachos cubanos de Lecuona'') was a popular Cuban orchestra which toured the world for over forty years. The band was founded by Ernesto Lecuona, whose role was that of a patron-entrepreneur. He did not actual ...

. He also performed with the orchestras of

Pupi Campo Jacinto "Pupi" Campo (May 1, 1920 – December 12, 2011) was a Cuban entertainer, dancer and bandleader who spent most of his life in the United States. As a bandleader in the 1940s and 50s, he made recordings for labels such as Seeco and Tico. ...

and

Tito Rodríguez Pablo Rodríguez Lozada (January 4, 1923 – February 28, 1973), better known as Tito Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He started his career singing under the tutelage of his brother, Johnny Rodríguez. In the 1940s, both m ...

as well as with

René Touzet René Touzet y Monte (September 8, 1916, in Havana, Cuba – June 15, 2003, in Miami, Florida) was a Cuban composer, pianist and bandleader. Career as bandleader Growing up in the city of Cojimar, Touzet learned classical piano from the age o ...

Dámaso Pérez Prado Dámaso is a Spanish masculine given name. The name is equivalent to that of Pope Damasus I in English. The name also exists in Italian as Damaso, though it is uncommon. People * Dámaso Alonso (1898–1990), Spanish poet * Dámaso Berenguer, 1s ...

and

Eddie Cano Edward Cano (June 6, 1927 – January 30, 1988) was an Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin jazz pianist and composer. Early life Cano was born in Los Angeles on June 6, 1927. His mother was Mexican-American, and his father, a bass guitarist, was Mexican. C ...

. Torres returned to Puerto Rico in 1960 and continued his studies at the

Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music () is a public conservatory in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto RicoSOBRE EL CONSERVATORIO DE MÚSICA DE PUERTO RICO: Información General del Conservatorio.Retrieved: February 14, 200 ...

. He would later become the trumpet player for the Puerto Rico All Stars as well as Batacumbele.

Career

Torres performed with some of the best artists of the 1950s Latin big band era, including that of Rafael Muñoz, Miguelito Miranda and Moncho Usera's orchestra as well as with the Noro Morales Orchestra based out of the La Concha Hotel in

San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to: * San Juan, Puerto Rico * San Juan, Argentina * San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines San Juan may also refer to: Places Arge ...

, Puerto Rico. In 1965 he recorded an album with

Bobby Capó Félix Manuel "Bobby" Rodríguez Capó (January 1, 1922 – December 18, 1989) was a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. He usually combined ballads with European classical music, classical music and was deeply involved in Puerto Rican folk ...

and his Orchestra. At the end of the sixties, Torres joined the orchestra of

Bobby Valentín Roberto "Bobby" Valentín Fret (born June 9, 1941), is a Puerto Rican musician and salsa bandleader. He is known as "El Rey del Bajo" (King of the Bass). Early years Valentín was born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico. He was taught by his father to p ...

, who was also a trumpet player, with whom he participated in the recording of five albums between 1969 and 1975. During the 1970s he recorded with

Frank Ferrer Frank Ferrer (born March 25, 1966) is an American musician. He is best known as the drummer for hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he played, toured, and recorded from 2006 to 2025. He was the longest tenured drummer in the band's history. ...

Justo Betancourt Justo Betancourt (born December 6, 1940) is a Cuban singer famous for his interpretation of "Pa' bravo yo". He was born in Matanzas, Cuba, but has lived a significant amount of time in Puerto Rico. Betancourt led a group called Borincuba (Conjunt ...

, Puerto Rico All Stars and Marvin Santiago. He also performed with Tito Rodriguez, Joe Quijano, Sexteto Silver,

Charlie Palmieri Carlos Manuel "Charlie" Palmieri (November 21, 1927 – September 12, 1988) was an American bandleader and musical director of salsa music. He was known as the "Giant of the Keyboards". Early years Palmieri's parents migrated to New York from P ...

Johnny Pacheco Juan Pablo Knipping Pacheco (25 March 1935 – 15 February 2021), known as Johnny Pacheco, was a Dominican musician, arranger, composer, bandleader, and record producer. Born in the Dominican Republic, Pacheco became a leading figure in the New ...

, Bobby Valentin and many other Latin Jazz musicians. In 1979 Vélez began recording, and performing in international tours with the famous

Fania All Stars The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time. History Beginnings In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucc ...

orchestra. Between 1979 and 1997, he performed and recorded Johny Pacheco for

Jerry Masucci Gerald "Jerry" Masucci (October 7, 1934 – December 21, 1997) was an American attorney, businessman and was co-founder of Fania Records. Biography Masucci was born in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrant parents Urbano and Elvira Masucci. He w ...

, on multiple albums. These include: Habana Jam, Commitment, Latin Connection, Lo que Pide la Gente, "Live", Viva Colombia and Bravo. He has also recorded and performed with

Cheo Feliciano Cheo Feliciano (3 July 1935 – 17 April 2014) was a Puerto Rican singer and composer of salsa and bolero music. Feliciano was the owner of a recording company called "Coche Records". He was the first tropical singer to perform at the "Amira ...

Tommy Olivencia Tommy Olivencia (May 15, 1938 – September 22, 2006) was a renowned Puerto Rican bandleader of salsa music. Early years Olivencia (birth name: Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán) was born in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, San Juan, Puert ...

and his Orchestra, Raphy Leavitt and La Selecta,

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, Roberto Roena,

Sonora Ponceña Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...

Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Corsican and Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. ...

Tito Rojas Julio César "Tito" Rojas López (June 14, 1955 – December 26, 2020), also known as "El Gallo Salsero", was a Puerto Rican salsa singer and songwriter. Early years Tito Rojas was born and raised in the town of Humacao, Puerto Rico, which is ...

, Pedro Arroyo, Descarga Boricua,

Lalo Rodríguez Ubaldo Rodríguez Santos (May 16, 1958 – December 13, 2022), known professionally as Lalo Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer recognized as one of the pioneers of the subgenre of Romantic or Erotic Salsa. Early life Rodriguez was ...

and

Ray Barreto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...

and

Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – May 31, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and record producer. He composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. He was also k ...

among many others. In 1992, he joined the Dutch salsa orchestra Nueva Manteca.

Death

Torres died on July 27, 2003, in Carolina Puerto Rico, in his sleep from a heart attack.

Selected discography

*2010 Ponte Duro: The Fania All Stars Story Fania All-Stars Soloist, Trumpet *2008 Campeones: A Band and Their Music Fania All-Stars Soloist, Trumpet *2008 Cien Anos Con Albizu Andrés Jiménez Trumpet *2008 Trompeta Tropical Humberto Ramírez Primary Artist, Trumpet *2004 Fuerza Gigante: Live in Puerto Rico April 27, 2001 Ray Barretto Trumpet *2003 Cuban All Jazz ropical Trumpet *2003 Feeling Good Again Charlie Sepulveda Flugelhorn, Guest Artist *2003 Las Noches de Nydia Nydia Caro Trumpet *2002 Paradise Humberto Ramírez Flugelhorn, Trumpet *2001 Barreto 50th Anniversary Ray Barretto Trumpet *2001 El Duque de la Salsa Herb Flores Trumpet *2001 Union Puya Trumpet *1999 50 Anos en Su Musica Miguelito Miranda Trumpet *1999 Bobby Capo y Orquesta Bobby Capó Trumpet *1999 Interpreta a Placido Acevedo Anoranzas y Quimeras Gilberto Monroig Guest Artist, Trumpet *1999 Noche Caliente Trumpet *1999 Puerto Rican Jazz Caunedo y Su Orquesta Primary Artist, Trumpet *1998 Roberto Clemente: Un Tributo Musical (Tribute in Song) Trumpet *1998 Somos Uno Descarga Boricua Trumpet *1997 Bravo 97 Fania All-Stars Trumpet *1997 Carlos David Carlos David Trumpet *1997 Personal Hector Rey Trumpet *1997 Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound: Mi Música 1997 Roberto Roena Trumpet *1997 Volver Tito Gomez Trumpet *1996 Abrazate: Descarga Boricua, Vol. 2 Descarga Boricua Collaboration, Trumpet *1996 De Regreso Puerto Rico All Stars Trumpet *1995 Live: June 11–1994, Puerto Rico Fania All-Stars Soloist, Trumpet, Unknown Contributor Role *1994 El Maestro Nino Segarra Trumpet *1994 Naci Para Cantar Lalo Rodríguez Trumpet *1993 Lo Sabemos Justo Betancourt Flugelhorn *1992 A Dos Tiempos de un Tiempo Gilberto Santa Rosa Flugelhorn, Trumpet *1992 Capricornio Dario Estrella Trumpet *1991 Fuego a La Jicotea H RodvenMarvin Santiago Trumpet *1991 Tropico Pedro Arroyo Trumpet *1990 Con Mas Power Puerto Rican Power Orchestra Trumpet *1990 Te Tengo Que Olvidar Sergio Hernandez Trumpet *1989 Live Session, Vol. 2 Steve Nelson Flugelhorn *1989 Vine Pa’ Quedarme Pedro Arroyo Trumpet *1985 El Nino, El Hombre, El Sonador, El Loco Lalo Rodríguez Flugelhorn *1984 Lo Que Pide La Gente Fania All-Stars Trumpet *1982 Calidad Adalberto Santiago Main Personnel, Trumpet *1982 Determination La Sonora Ponceña Flugelhorn, Main Personnel *1982 Profundo Cheo Feliciano Flugelhorn, Main Personnel *1982 Super Apollo 47:50 Roberto Roena Main Personnel, Trumpet *1981 Latin Connection Fania All-Stars Trumpet *1981 Social Change Fania All-Stars Flugelhorn, Trumpet *1981 Un Triangulo de Triunfo Tommy Olivencia Trumpet *1980 Commitment Fania All-Stars Flugelhorn, Trumpet *1980 Sentimiento Tu Cheo Feliciano Flugelhorn, Main Personnel, Trumpet *1978 Los Profesionales Puerto Rico All Stars Composer, Producer, Trumpet, Vocals, Vocals (Background) *1977 Puerto Rico All Stars Puerto Rico All Stars Trumpet *1976 Puerto Rico All Stars Puerto Rico All Stars Trumpet *1974 In Motion Bobby Valentín Featured Artist, Trumpet *1974 Aleluyah Frank Ferrer, Trumpet *1969 Se La Comió Bobby Valentin, Trumpet *1964 Bobby Capó And His Orchestra, Trumpet

References

External links