Vitín Avilés (Mayagüez, Puerto Rico September 30, 1930 – Manhattan, New York, January 1, 2004) was a Puerto Rican singer, Born in the Barrio San Silvestre of Mayagüez. He learned from his father the Barber job, while he was singing his first gigs in amateur radio shows. In 1943 started as a lead singer on the Orquesta Hatuey of William Manzano and with the Orquesta Anacaona. In 1944 he went to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to sing with the Orquesta of Miguelito Miranda on where he recorded his first album. who in the 1940s and 1950s often went unnoticed, even though he was among Latin music's five most popular band singers during the period. He sang in Tito Puente's orchestra and was lead vocals on the hit single Ran Kan Kan. He also sang with Tito Rodríguez, Carlos Varela (bandleader), with his own orchestra, and for Charlie Palmieri. He died January 1, 2004, at St. Vincent's Hospital, in Manhattan, New York.
References
- Max Salazar, Max Salazar Primero 2002 "VITIN AVILES For decades, the talent of vocalist Vitin Aviles went unnoticed, even though he was among Latin music's five most popular singers during the 1940s and 1950s. He is one of a few vocalists who can sing uptempo salsa as well as ...
- Mambo Diablo: My Journey with Tito Puente - Page 134 Joe Conzo, David A. Pérez - 2010 "The lead voice on “Ran Kan Kan,” Vitin Aviles was known as “El Cantante Del Amor” (the singer of love) was born in Mayagüez, September 30, 1930. He passed away January 1, 2004 at a New York hospital. He had a long and successful career ...
- Billboard - 17 Oct 1964 - Page 57 No. 42 " TITO RODRIGUEZ PRESENTS VITIN AVILES Vitin Aviles Fantastic Latin singing star presented by Tito Rodriguez. Promises to capture the Latin American market with his ...
- Billboard - 8 Mar 1947 Victor 70-7327 EL MUNDO SE ACABA Vitin Aviles (Carlos Varela and His "Havana Madrid" Ork)
- Billboard - 28 Oct 1957 - Page 8 "VITIN AVILES Y SU ORQUESTA (1-12")- Ansonia ALP 1218— Lively, varied collections of cha cha chas, boleros, merengues, guara- chas and mambos, ... Singer Vitin Aviles ably fronts combo which boasts better than average arrangements."
- Silvio H. Alava Spanish Harlem's Musical Legacy: 1930-1980 2007 Page 62 "On the left is Vitin Aviles, with Charlie Palmieri at the piano and Leonel Bravet standing on the right. This photograph was taken at the 1957 recording session of Palmieri's album Orquesta La Duboney con Johnny Pacheco and Vitin Aviles ..."
- The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Lincoln, Abe-Primettes ed, Colin Larkin - 1995 "PALMIERI, EDDIE in 1972 to share lead vocals with Vitin Aviles, then departed to join Louie Ramirez's band."
- César Miguel Rondón, Frances R. Aparicio, Jackie White The Book of Salsa: A Chronicle of Urban Music from the Caribbean Page 127 - 2008 "One such performer was Vitín Avilés, an experienced Puerto Rican singer with plenty of talent for smoothing the way between the guaracha and the bolero. Vitín's vocal timbre, in fact, was very similar to Tito's, and, in certain ways, ..."
- Raúl A. Fernández From Afro-Cuban rhythms to Latin jazz Page 137 2006 "He recorded with Mon Rivera, Moncho Leña, and Sexteto La Playa, performing a potpourri of boleros with sextet vocalist Vitín Avilés. Chocolate had, as did many Latin musicians in the United States, his share of dry times when there no ...
- Tito Puente and the making of Latin music Page 14 Steven Joseph Loza - 1999 "... the famous and great Bobby Rodriguez on bass; bongosero Ray Rodriguez; as well as the powerfully polished trumpet and saxophone sections — complemented by the outstanding chorus work of Vitin Aviles, Otto Olivar, and Santitos Colon.