Miguel Poventud
Miguel Poventud | |
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Boleros | |
Instrument(s) | Guitar |
Labels | Spanoramic records RCA (Mexico) Orfeon (International releases) |
Miguel Poventud a.k.a. "El Niño Prodigio de Guayama" and "Miguelito" (August 4, 1942 – March 3, 1983), was a
Early years
Poventud was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico, to Francisco Poventud, a law enforcement officer in the San Juan Police Department, and Concepción Aponte, a seamstress. A descendant of Carlos Armstrong and Eulalia Pou, Poventud was the youngest of five siblings. From the age of five Poventud looked forward to trips to the town Plaza accompanied by his mother, dressed in clothes that she herself had sewn. While he was a student at the Escuela Parada Guamani, he suffered a spinal cord injury caused by a biking accident and was hospitalized for two years, which left him immobile at the age of 10. His mother was stricken by TB and died shortly after he was discharged from the hospital.[1]
When Poventud's father gave him a guitar, he taught himself to play it. He re-arranged the guitar strings upside down since he was
Musical career
Victor Alonso of Spanoramic records became interested in Poventud's musical work. Before his mother died, Alonso promised her that he would give Poventud a career opportunity. He made Poventud an offer that included the recording of Poventud's first record album titled Pobre Huerfanito (Poor Little Orphan) in New York City. At this point, Poventud's father again resisted the boy's musical career, and his older brother Carlos argued with the father about Miguelito's future. After this argument, Carlos took young Poventud to live with him in New York City, and became his legal guardian.
New York City
In New York, Poventud continued his primary and secondary education at P.S. 93 Elementary School, then at Joan of Arc High School.[1]
Poventud wrote his first composition at age 14 titled Ya No Soy Un Niño. (I'm Not a Child Anymore). His primary inspirations were his deceased mother, his new reality in New York, a growing romanticism, and the melancholy of diaspora - a nostalgia for the island and the people that he'd left behind. In 1956, still at the age of 14, Poventud was invited to sing in the wedding of Grace Kelly and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.[1]
Poventud made his professional debut in
Poventud participated in a comedy sketch with Mexican comedian
In 1964, Poventud filled in for
Poventud returned to New York, attended
Che Guevara Speaks
In 1975, Poventud and José Glóro provided the musical background for
In 1978 Gilberto Monroig, a member of Tito Puente's Orchestra, and Poventud recorded various songs. Among them were Que Chevere and Malcriada. Que Chevere was often played on Radio WADO.[7]
Niegalo
Poventud's interpretation of the song Niegalo (Deny it) resulted he being invited to appear at Mexico's El Teatro Lirico. The song Niegalo was also interpreted by
Another Puerto Rican singer, Daniel Santos, recorded Poventud's Si Yo Fuera Millonario (If I Were a Millionaire). The jibaro song, Joven Contra Viejo (Young Against Old) featured Héctor Lavoe and Daniel Santos settling their age-based differences on-stage, but not without a heavy dose of humor and (yet again) Yomo Toro's cuatro music as a backdrop. It included a song from Poventud Una Pena en La Navidad. (A Pain in Christmas).[9]
Later years
Poventud lived in
Selected compositions
External audio | |
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You may listen to Miguel Poventud and his group Los Menores sing Mi Amada Diana on YouTube . |
Among Poventud's many musical compositions, which can be found in libraries, are the following:[10]
- Che Guevara Speaks - (Poventud provided the musical background)- 2 editions published between 1973 and re-leased in 2000 in Spanish and held by 17 libraries worldwide.
- Bailemos Twist - Held by 2 libraries worldwide
- Mi Amada Diana - Held by 2 libraries worldwide
- No me Importa tu Suerte - Held by 1 library worldwide
- Feliz Navidad - Held by 1 library worldwide
- Agonias de Amor - Held by 1 library worldwide
Compositions with Words and Music by Miguel Poventud 1970
- Esto Sigue and Chevere - Recorded by Gilberto Monroig
- Voy a Combiar Mi Corazon - Recorded by Marco Antonio Muñiz
- Al Fin Del Mundo; Recordar Es Morir; Quien and Flor - Recorded by Pepe y Flora
- No Me Importa Ya Tu Suerte and Devuelveme Mis Cosas
1975
- Mami Donde Esta Papi
- Otra Navidad Sin Ti and En La Navidad Una Pena-Recorded by Héctor Lavoe
- Fuiquiti, La Casa Nuestra and Tradicion Eterna (new title Salve Mi Pueblo)-Recorded by Yomo Toro
Author, Music and Lyrics
- Devuelveme Mis Cosas
- El Ultimo Beso - (co-written with Francisco De La Barrera Gonzalez)
- Que Cosa Te Hice Yo - (co-written with Francisco De La Barrera Gonzalez)
- Voy a Cambiar mi Corazon
- Yo Siento Quererte
Recordings by Poventud
- Tin Tan y Miguelito Poventud, and Pobre Huerfanito, Canta Miguel Poventud-Recorded at Spanoramic Recordings, New York
- Miguel Poventud, Agonias de Amor - Recorded at RCA Victor of Mexico
- Ven at Industrias Electronicas Y Musicales Peruanas S.A.
- De Paranda - Recorded at Blank Tapes NYC Mfd.
- Miguelito Poventud, Tu Mente; Miguelito Poventud, Tu Mente and El Bardo-Recorded at Orfeon in Mexico
- Miguel Poventud, Al Ladito Tuyo - Recorded at Milly Latino
- Miguel Poventud, Eres Todo En mi - Recorded at WS Latino
- Have a Good Time - Recorded at Mapa records
- De Parranda - Recorded at Orfeon in NYC
In 1997, Yomo Toro re-released Fuikiti and Una Pena en la Navidad with original compositions by Miguel Poventud in an album titled Celebremos Navidad (Let us Celebrate Christmas), produced by Rachel Faro and Sammy Figueroa. The album won the "Indie Award Best Latin Album" and the "Paoli Prize Best Christmas Album" award.[11] In 2009, Toro once more released the album Fuikiti, which included Poventud's compositions Esta Navidad (This Christmas); Otra Navidad Sin Ti (Another Christmas Without You); Despierta, Despierta (Wake Up, Wake Up); and Fuikiti.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "El Diario-La Prensa"; March 10, 1983
- ^ a b "El Diario-La Prensa"; 1964
- ^ Johnny Albino[permanent dead link]
- ^ "José Torres canta a Mexico"; by Carlos Diaz; Diario de Mexico,;1965;
- ^ "Latin Cool Mambo Boys". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
- ^ Interview with Barbara Dane and Irwin Silber, page 89
- ^ PRPOP-Gilberto Monroig
- ^ PRPOP-Chago Alvarado
- ^ Trajic Events[permanent dead link]
- ^ Worldcats identity
- ^ Musica de Puerto Rico