Daniel Santos
Born into poverty in Puerto Rico, Daniel Santos became one of the most influential singers and songwriters in Latin and South America during the middle of the century. From the pen of Pedro Flores, his early love-lost lyrics -- a series of aching, mostly one-word hits such as "Despedida," "Obsesión," "Irresistible," "Perdón," "Venganza" -- influenced author Gabriel García Márquez as much as other singers, while his later, patriotic material riled American intelligence officers and inspired Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution.
Santos was born in 1916 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Though he was transplanted from school to the workforce to supplement his family's wages, he later returned to sing in the school choir and also learned English. Still, he was living on his own by the age of 14 and joined the local Trio Lírico for several years. Like many of his countrymen, Santos made the move to New York in the mid-'30s, and impressed Puerto Rican songwriter Pedro Flores with his reading of the maestro's "Amor Perdido."
By 1938, Daniel Santos was performing and recording with the Flores Quartet, with whom he recorded most of his early hits: "Tú Serás Mía," "Venganza," "Esperanza Inútil," "Perdón," "Irresistible," and the definitive version of Flores' best composition, "Despedida." After Miguelito Valdés left Xavier Cugat's Orchestra for a solo career in 1942, Santos hopped from Flores into Cugat's famous orchestra, but soon after, he was drafted to serve in the military.
Santos returned from war with a renewed sense of purpose for his singing career. He began recording and writing patriotic material, working in conjunction with Pedro Ortiz Dávila on "Los Patriotas." Beginning in 1946, he spent much time performing in Cuba and was inspired to write dozens of songs, one of which ("Sierra Maestra") was broadcast by Castro during the Movimiento 26 de Julio. By 1961, however, Santos grew wary of the movement, specifically the policy of training children to fight in the army. He continued performing in the United States as well as Latin America, performing his most famous songs and relating many anecdotes concerning his wild private life (during his early years, he'd reportedly spent time in jails all over the continent). He was living in quiet retirement in Florida at his death from a heart attack in 1992.
© John Bush /TiVo
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15 Grandes Exitos
Classical - Released by 2014 Imex Media on 7 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Guarachando
Latin America - Released by Antología Musical on 16 May 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lo Mejor De Lo Mejor, Vol. 2
World - Released by Mayra Music on 12 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Acuarela Romántica, Vol. 3: Daniel Santos
Daniel Santos, El Cuarteto Flores
Bolero - Released by Antología Musical on 11 May 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Noche de Ronda
Bolero - Released by Multimusic México on 9 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Somos Diferentes
Bolero - Released by Multimusic México on 9 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Four Fears
Paula Hontanilla, Miguel Diaz, Daniel Santos, Sara de la Torre, Arthropoda
Metal - Released by iM Arthropoda on 24 Aug 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Joyas Musicales
World - Released by YOYO USA, Inc. on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Virgen de Media Noche
Bolero - Released by Vintage Music on 7 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Triste Carta
World - Released by Eben Entertainment on 2 Sep 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Daniel Santos Selected Hits Vol. 3
World - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos Selected Hits Vol. 4
World - Released by Charly Records on 13 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos Selected Hits Vol. 1
World - Released by Charly Records on 13 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos Selected Hits Vol. 2
World - Released by Charly Records on 13 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos Selected Hits Vol. 3
World - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos Selected Hits Vol. 4
World - Released by Charly Records on 13 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo