Bobby Capó (1922-1989)

Escerpts froml Banco Popular TV special "Siempre Piel Canela" and the talk show "Ahora Podemos Hablar", with Carmen Jovet

Information from the television special "Siempre Piel Canela" by Banco Popular and the talk show "Ahora Podemos Hablar", with Carmen Jovet Félix Manuel Rodríguez Capó was born in Coamo January 1st, 1922. During his school years, he played the clarinet with the José I. Quintón School Band. He composed his first song at 13 years of age. He started his singing career after high-school graduation. In 1940 he toured as part of Rafael Hernandez's Cuarteto Victoria, and recorded his first songs in Nueva York: Noche y Dia, Francia, El Soldado, y Lo Siento Por Ti. He sang the great hits of the 40's (La Mucura, La Cocaleca) and was one of the first stars of Latin American television. He also performed in several Mexican movies and was one of the first singers to perform his hits in an Hispanic movie (Luna de Miel en Puerto Rico y Piel Canela , of which there are more than 200 recordings). His plena El Negro Bembón was performed by Ismael Rivera y Cortijo y su Combo in the Puerto Rrican movie "Maruja". He wrote about 2,000 songs, among them: Soñando con Puerto Rico, the Christmas carol (aguinaldo) De La Montaña Venimos, El Bardo, Que Falta Tu Me Haces and Sin Fe. His music has been recorded by musicians of may nations. He was the creator of the bolero rítmico, and some credit him with the creation of mambo. He died in New York on December 18, 1989, at 68 years of age, and was buried at Coamo. His wife, the Brazilian María La Gloria de Oliveira, gave al the mementos from Bobby's carreer to his family. His first wife, Irma Nidia Vázquez, is the director of the Fundación Bobby Capó, to preserve his musical legacy.

Listen to Bobby Capo's music:
(files provided by Luciano's Piano Bar)