Tommy Olivencia Tommy Olivencia (May 15, 1938 – September 22, 2006) was a renowned bandleader of salsa music. Early years Olivencia (birth name: Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán was born in the Villa Palmeras section of Santurce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to the city of Arecibo when he was just a child. There received his primary and secondary education. As a young man, he became fascinated with the trumpet and learned to play the musical instrument. In 1954, Olivencia sang and played the trumpet for local bands. He graduated from high school in 1957 and his family relocated once again to Santurce. La Primerisima Orquesta de Puerto Rico In 1960, Olivencia organized his first orchestra, which he named the “Tommy Olivencia y La Primerísima Orquesta de Puerto Rico”. His band combined swing and melodic styles together. This combination, plus a strong brass contingent in the band was his trademark. Olivencia signed a contract with Inca Records and remained with that label until 1978. In 1972, he had his first major “hit” with Secuestro (Kidnapped) and followed that hit with Juntos de Nuevo (Together Again) in 1974 and Planté Bandera in 1975. Olivencia’s band was also known as the “Tommy Olivencia School”, because the band produced some of the best and most talented singers and musicians of salsa in the island. Among those to have belonged to the band at one time or another were: Chamaco Ramirez, Sammy “El Rolo” González, Simon Perez, Paquito Guzman, Ubaldo “Lalo” Rodriguez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Marvin Santiago, Frankie Ruiz, Hector Tricoche, Carlos Alexis, Hector “Pichie” Perez, Paquito “Junior” Acosta and Mel Martínez. Discography Among the albums recorded by Olivencia and his band are: Trucutu (1965) Jala-Jala y Guaguancó (1966) La Nueva Sensación Musical de Puerto Rico (196?) [Repackaging of “Trucutu”] Fire-Fire (1967) A Toda Máquina..! (1968) Cuero…Salsa y Sentimiento (1971) Secuestro (1972) Juntos de Nuevo (1974) Planté Bandera (1975) Introducing Lalo Rodríguez and Simón Pérez (1976) El Negro Chombo (1977) La Primerísima (1978) Sweet Trumpet Hot “Salsa” (1978) Tommy Olivencia & Orchestra (1979) Un Triángulo de Triunfo (1981) Cantan: Frankie Ruiz y Carlos Alexis (1983) Celebrando Otro Aniversario (1984) Ayer, Hoy, Mañana y Siempre (1986) 30° Aniversario (1987) El Jeque (1988) Enamorado y Qué! (1990) Vive la Leyenda (1998) 40° Aniversario Live (2002) The following are considered among the top 100 greatest salsa songs: Casimira Cómo lo Hacen Trucutu Pa’ Lante Otra Vez Lobo Domesticado No Me Tires la Primera Piedra Awards and recognitions Among the many awards and recognitions which have been bestowed upon Olivencia are the following: The Puerto Rican Senate passed a resolution congratulating Olivencia and his band for their contributions to Puerto Rico’s music. El Cordero de Oro (The Golden Lamb) and El Buho de Oro (The Golden Owl) Awards from Panama, for the best foreign band. The Agüeybaná de Oro Award from Puerto Rico The November 11 Award from Colombia Later years and death On August 2000, Olivencia celebrated his 40th anniversary in the music industry at the Tito Puente Theater in San Juan, an event attended by many of the former members of his band. On May 15, 2004, Olivencia celebrated his 66th birthday and 45 years with the band with a live recording concert. The annual “Day of Salsa” of 2005, celebrated in Puerto Rico was dedicated to Olivencia. He died on September 22, 2006, aged 68, in San Juan, Puerto Rico from complications of diabetes, which he had battled his entire life. Videos: Credits: 2015 La Salsa Romántica II Primary Artist 2014 Salsa Legends, Vol. 3 Primary Artist Antología: Somos La 2013 Primary Artist Salsa Leyendas De La Fania, 2012 Primary Artist Vol. 4 Fania Records 1964-1980: 2011 The Original Sound of Primary Artist Latin New York 2010 Lo Esencial de Fania Primary Artist A Man and His Songs: Tite Curet Featured Artist, 2009 Alma de Poeta Alonso Primary Artist Fania Live 03: From the 2008 DJ Sake1 Primary Artist Fresh Coast Hot and Spicy Salsa Hits 2008 Primary Artist [Madacy Latino 2008] Leyendas de La Fania, 2008 Primary Artist Vol. 7 2008 Pure Salsa [Universal] Primary Artist 2008 Salsa One Primary Artist 2008 Salsa: A Musical History Primary Artist The Best of the Greatest 2008 Primary Artist Salsa Ever, Vol. 2 Tommy 2008 The Greatest Salsa Ever Primary Artist Olivencia 2007 Cuba Libre: Un Nuevo Dia Primary Artist Greatest Salsa Ever Box 2007 Primary Artist Set Tommy 2007 La Historia… Mis Exitos Primary Artist Olivencia Leyendas de La Fania, 2007 Primary Artist Vol. 1 Leyendas de la Fania, 2007 Primary Artist Vol. 4 NYC Salsa: The 2007 Incendiary Sound of Primary Artist Latin New York 2007 New York City Salsa Primary Artist Pure Salsa: Recuento 2007 Primary Artist Musical Rumba at the Palladium, 2007 Primary Artist Vol. 1 Tommy 2007 Serie 3 X 4 Primary Artist Olivencia The Greatest Salsa Ever, 2007 Primary Artist Vol. 3 Tributo a Los Orishas: 2007 Primary Artist Ashe Para Todos Tommy Musical Director, 2006 40 Aniversario [Machete] Olivencia Primary Artist 2006 Dance Hits Salsa, Vol. 1 Primary Artist 2006 Dance Hits Salsa, Vol. 4 Primary Artist Tommy 2006 Exitos Eternos Primary Artist Olivencia Tommy 2006 La Herencia Primary Artist Olivencia Tommy 2006 Pura Salsa Primary Artist Olivencia The Greatest Salsa Ever, 2006 Primary Artist Vol. 1 The Greatest Salsa Ever, 2006 Primary Artist Vol. 2 Old School Original 2005 Salsa Classics Deluxe Primary Artist Box Old School Salsa 2005 Classics, Vol. 5: 8th Primary Artist Street Edition 3 Momentos De Colección, Paquito 2004 Primary Artist Vol. 2 Guzmán Aqui Esta La Salsa 2004 Primary Artist [Universal] Tommy 2004 Las 32 Mas Grandes De… Primary Artist Olivencia 2004 Va Por Ti, Frankie! Primary Artist Lo Mejor de Oro Salsero, 2003 Primary Artist Vol. 1 2003 Tropical Latin Primary Artist 40 Aniversario [Sony Tommy 2002 Primary Artist International] Olivencia Old School Original 2002 Primary Artist Salsa Classics, Vol. 1 Old School Original 2002 Primary Artist Salsa Classics, Vol. 2 Performer, Primary 2002 Voces del Milenio: Salsa Artist Aqui Esta la Salsa Performer, Primary 2001 [Platano] Artist Salsa Caliente [Madacy Performer, Primary 2001 Latino] Artist Salsa Selecta: A Taste Performer, Primary 2001 of Nuyorican Latin Artist Flavours Tommy 2001 Serie 32 Primary Artist Olivencia 2000 Fania Superhits Primary Artist Fania All- Performer, Primary 2000 Golden Drops Stars Artist Grandes del Bolero Performer, Primary 2000 [Fania] Artist La Sensación de Tommy Tommy 2000 Primary Artist Olivencia Olivencia Tommy 2000 Lo Mejor De Primary Artist Olivencia Frankie Primary Artist, 2000 Salsa Live, Vol. 1 Ruiz Vocals Salsa de Primera Clase Y Performer, Primary 2000 Seis Grandes de Puerto Artist Rico Tommy 1999 30 Aniversario Primary Artist Olivencia Tommy 1999 Exitos, Vol. 1 Primary Artist Olivencia Tommy 1999 Serie Millennium 21 Primary Artist Olivencia Director, Musical Cantan: Frankie Ruiz & Tommy 1998 Director, Primary Carlos Alexis Olivencia Artist, Trumpet Performer, Primary 1998 Lo Mejor de Oro Salsero Artist Lo Mejor de la Musica Performer, Primary 1998 Tropical [PSM] Artist Oro Salsero 10 Exitos, Tommy 1998 Primary Artist Vol. 1 Olivencia Oro Salsero 10 Exitos, Tommy 1998 Primary Artist Vol. 2 Olivencia Tommy Director, Primary 1998 Vive la Leyenda Olivencia Artist Tommy 1997 Coleccion Mi Historia Primary Artist Olivencia Performer, Primary 1997 Sabrosa Salsa [Essecx] Artist Performer, Primary 1997 Salsa Picante [CEMA] Artist Mejor de Rodven En 15 1996 Primary Artist Anos: Salsa Hector 1996 Oro Salsero/20 Exitos Orchestra Tricoche Tommy 1996 Oro Salsero: 20 Exitos Primary Artist Olivencia Primary Artist, Salsa Fresca! Dance Hits 1996 Unknown of the ’90s Contributor Role Salsa: Hot an Spicy Performer, Primary 1996 Dance Hits Artist Tommy 1996 Show Primary Artist Olivencia Magic of Salsa Ayer Y Performer, Primary 1995 Hoy Artist Fania Records 1964 – Performer, Primary 1994 1994: 30 Great Years, Artist Vol. 2 Salsa Puerto Rico Vs. Performer, Primary 1994 Salsa New York Artist Ayer Hoy Manana Y Tommy 1993 Primary Artist Siempre Olivencia Bailables Del Ano, Vol. 1993 Primary Artist 5 Tesoros de la Musica Todos Performer, Primary 1993 Afrolatina, Vol. 2 Estrellas Artist Tommy 1992 Haciendo Estrellas Primary Artist Olivencia Performer, Primary 1992 La Salsa de Hoy Artist Performer, Primary 1992 Salsa Caliente [CEMA] Artist Special Performer, Primary 1992 Tesoro Romantico Offer Artist Tommy 1992 Tommy Olivencia [RCA] Primary Artist Olivencia Bailables del Ano, Vol. Performer, Primary 1991 1 Artist Titanes de La Salsa, Performer, Primary 1991 Vol. 2 Artist Tommy Olivencia [T.H. Tommy 1991 Primary Artist Rodven] Olivencia Bailables del Ano, Vol. 1990 Primary Artist 9 1990 Decada De La Sa Primary Artist Tommy 1990 Enamorado…Y Que! Primary Artist Olivencia Performer, Primary 1990 Salsa en la Calle 8 ’90 Artist Tommy 1990 Tommy Olivencia, Vol. 1 Primary Artist Olivencia Performer, Primary 1989 Non-Stop Dancing [Sony] Artist Bailables del Ano, Vol. 1988 Primary Artist 6 Bailables del Ano, Vol. Performer, Primary 1988 7 Artist Tommy 1988 El Jeque Primary Artist Olivencia Segundo Concierto de la Performer, Primary 1988 Familia TH, Vol. 2 Artist Celebrando Otro Tommy Musical Director, 1982 Aniversario Olivencia Primary Artist Tommy Olivencia y su Tommy 1982 Primary Artist Orquesta Olivencia Bandleader, Tommy 1981 Un Triangulo de Triunfo Musical Director, Olivencia Primary Artist Tommy 1979 12 Grandes Primary Artist Olivencia Tommy Olivencia & His Tommy 1979 Primary Artist Orchestra