Tommy Olivencia

Singer and bandleader Tommy Olivencia was a pioneer in the evolution of Puerto Rican salsa music. His legendary backing combo, la Primerisima, was the launching pad for future stars including Frankie Ruiz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and Marvin Santiago. Born Ángel Tomás Olivencia Pagán in the Santurce section of San Juan on May 15, 1938, he spent much of his adolescence in the city of Arecibo, where he learned to play trumpet. By his mid-teens Olivencia was a staple of local dance bands, and in 1960 founded his first group, la Primerisima Orchestra de Puerto Rico. With their brassy ...