The song that Armando Manzanero asked Danny Rivera to record before he died

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It’s been about a month since the Mexican singer-songwriter Armando Manzanero had communicated with the Puerto Rican Danny Rivera to ask him to send her a recorded song they had sung together. By then the COVID-19 it had not entered Manzanero’s life and it was the last contact they had.

Therefore, today, when he heard of the death of legendary singer-songwriter Danny Rivera, he felt a space of deep sadness. They had known each other for a number of years, sharing the stage in February 2020 at what was Manzanero’s last concert in Puerto Rico and one of the last celebrations before childbirth was declared to avoid COVID-19 infections.

“This morning when I heard the news, it is raining here in the field and the first sentence that came to mind was exactly ‘this afternoon, I saw it raining, I saw people running and you weren’t there,’ ” said the artist. reference to one of Manzanero’s songs entitled “This afternoon I saw it rain”. “Of course, that absence of him now we will feel it raining, sunny, at night, during the day, from Monday, because he has made every season and every place I meet with romance, that there is a Manzanero song weaving and weaving that contact between people. Someone leaves us who will leave us a beautiful legacy and that through his legacy we will live with him forever, ”he said The new day.

That request he made to one known as “the national voice of Puerto Rico” was fulfilled. It is about the song “About you”, a composition by a friend of Manzanero, who proposed Danny to sing and record together. Although they sang it at a concert, it was awaiting recording.

“It was written by a friend of his, José (Antonio) Ceballos, whom he wanted to surprise. He said, ‘Danny, I don’t have that song you did. I want to surprise him that you’ve already recorded it, and I’m listening to it because I didn’t hear it. I want to have it and give it to you as a present. Simply take it for me, but I want it. That was the last contact I had, ”recalls Danny, who immediately contacted Puerto Rican-French musician and producer Julián Gil to record“ A purpose of you ”.

“We called him from the studio via Skype. Days ago I sent it to Laura, her right hand. I hope you heard. I still don’t know if he heard it, I hope so. Because he was very anxious and he really liked that song and how I interpreted it. I wanted the number because I didn’t have it. He loved to have and collect everything “said the artist.

These two greats of the song performed at the concert “The Bolero That Unites Us” last February, one evening at the Puerto Rico Fine Arts Center.

There, the veteran singer-songwriter, Grammy winner, author of more than 400 songs and with more than 30 recorded albums, sang some of his most emblematic songs on piano. Likewise, they sang along with Danny, for whom he admired, “Madrigal” by Puerto Rican composer Rafael Hernández and “Contigolearned” by Manzanero.

“It was an experience full of enthusiasm, joy and pride to be able to share with one of the most important characters in the world of Latin music and in the world of romantic singing. There is something beautiful in the genius of the great composer Manzanero, and that is that his work is a kaleidoscope of the great universal romanticism between couples. He knew how to dedicate a song to every aspect of that universal romance, ”he said, recalling that he had to fly to Mexico months prior to that concert and that they took the opportunity to meet while enjoying a good breakfast to refine the details of its presentation in Puerto Rico. .

‘I said,’ Master, I have a degree, guess what? ‘The bolero unites us’ and he said ‘that’s okay’. It was based on a song I wrote for him with that title. It was a very nice concert, we sang together, we had a lot of fun and it was a moment of happiness. ‘El boleros nos unites’ is a song that I haven’t recorded yet and I’m going to record it as a tribute to him. It was written to be sung together, but he didn’t learn it in time. I just had to sing it. The memory of his presence will live in me forever, singing in a theater in my country, by the sea. He joked about his height, but he was a giant in terms of his genius as a musician. “, he emphasized.

  • Armando Manzanero visited the island several times to give concerts. (PHOTO BY ANDRE KANG / FIRST HOUR)

    Armando Manzanero visited the island several times to give concerts. (PHOTO BY ANDRE KANG / FIRST HOUR) (ANDRE KANG)

  • In this image from September 2000, he was preparing in a rehearsal room at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce. (PHOTO BY ANDRE KANG / FIRST HOUR)

    In this image from September 2000, he was preparing in a rehearsal room at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Santurce. (PHOTO BY ANDRE KANG / FIRST HOUR) (ANDRE KANG)

  • At that concert he performed alongside the Peruvian singer Tania Libertad, with whom he recorded several times. PHOTO: LUIS ALCALA DEL OLMO

    At that concert he performed alongside the Peruvian singer Tania Libertad, with whom he recorded several times. PHOTO: LUIS ALCALA DEL OLMO (LUIS ALCALA DEL OLMO)

  • In addition to performing on the island, Manzanero always remembered that the first composition of his to be recorded was the voice of a Puerto Rican: Bobby Capó. PHOTO: LUIS ALCALA DEL OLMO

    Besides performing on the island, Manzanero always remembered that the first composition of his to be recorded was the voice of a Puerto Rican: Bobby Capó. PHOTO: LUIS ALCALA DEL OLMO (LUIS ALCALA DEL OLMO)

  • Three years later he returned with Marco Antonio Muñiz for the concert “Siempre romanticos” at the Caribe Hilton Hotel. (Xavier J. Araujo / The New Day / 2003) (Xavier J. Araujo)

  • Archival image of the concert in the Centro de Bellas Artes.

    Archival image of the concert in the Centro de Bellas Artes. (GERALD LOPEZ-CEPERO)

  • Just as several Puerto Rican artists performed his songs, Manzanero did not hesitate to perform some of his favorite Puerto Rican composers.

    Just as several Puerto Rican artists performed his songs, Manzanero did not hesitate to perform some of his favorite Puerto Rican composers. (GERALD LOPEZ-CEPERO)

  • “Honeymoon in Puerto Rico”, by Bobby Capó, and “Madrigal”, by Felipe Rosario Goyco, were some of those themes. (GERALD LOPEZ-CEPERO)

  • In addition, he admired the work and did not hesitate to perform songs by the Puerto Rican Sylvia Rexach.

    In addition, he admired the work and did not hesitate to perform songs by the Puerto Rican Sylvia Rexach. (GERALD LOPEZ-CEPERO)

  • Both singers returned to the island in May 2009 for a concert at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas.

    Both singers returned to the island in May 2009 for a concert at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas. (Juan Angel Alicea Mercado)

  • Manzanero last performed in Puerto Rico in February 2020 at the concert “El bolero nos unites”, along with Danny Rivera. (Supplied)

  • At the time, he praised the talent of Danny Rivera, with whom he sang “Madrigal” and “With you learn” as a duet. (Supplied)

  • On this occasion he played “Llorando al sol”, the first recording in his career with the Puerto Rican Bobby Capó, who – as he said at the time – “left a wonderful legacy”. (Supplied)

  • “God bless Puerto Rico and God bless Puerto Ricans,” he said. (Supplied)

  • It was one of the last face-to-face concerts on the island and one of the last face-to-face concerts of Manzanero himself, who stopped his tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as late as September presented a virtual concert in Mexico.

    It was one of the last face-to-face concerts on the island and one of the last face-to-face concerts of Manzanero himself, who stopped his tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic and as late as September presented a virtual concert in Mexico. (Supplied)

Producer César Sainz responds

Event producer César Sainz was the one who produced Armando Manzanero’s concert ‘El bolero nos unites’ with Danny Rivera, for which he said he was emotionally devastated because have work experience ”.

After the concert in February, I kept in constant contact with Armando and his ‘manager’ numerous times. Very affected by this situation. Meet an artist known all over the world. Right now, Mexico must have been as affected as it was when Juan Gabriel or José José died, and now Armando Manzanero.

“When I made the Armando Manzanero Agreement in September 2019, Laura, her representative, at that point, hours later, called me and told me that ‘the teacher’ was a fan of Danny Rivera and if there was an opportunity to work together. to sing. Everything came from there, ”he says.

“Armando’s stay here was a short visit as the concert was on Sunday and he arrived on Friday. He was extremely humble, there was never a ‘no’ to anything. About an hour after the concert, he received everyone who wanted to greet him in the dressing room. He was available, he never objected to me, ”said the producer, revealing that the success of that concert opened up the possibility of taking the show to Mexico and New York.

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