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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Con Los Jóvenes Del Cayo
World - Released by Fania on Jan 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos Con Su Sonora Boricua
World - Released by Fania on Oct 16, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos... Especial
Latin America - Released by Pueblo Viejo on Mar 21, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Viajero Mundial, Vol. 3
Latin America - Released by Ansonia Records on Jan 23, 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Juan (va pa' la guerra)
World - Released by Spanoramic Records on Mar 9, 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Inquieto Anacobero, Vol. 1
World - Released by YOYO USA Digital on Dec 20, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Boleros en Vivo
Bolero - Released by Lo Mejor Records on Oct 2, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daniel Santos El Inquieto Anacobero Volume 6
World - Released by YOYO USA Digital on Dec 20, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Último Adiós
Bolero - Released by 2023 Discos Fuentes on Sep 23, 1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Acuarela Romántica: Daniel Santos, Vol. 2
Bolero - Released by Antología Musical on May 16, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Los Jefes Cantan a Duo
Orlando Contreras, Daniel Santos
World - Released by 2014 Imex Media on Sep 30, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
El Juego De La Vida
Pop - Released by Digital Perfection on Jun 1, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Todos Mis Boleros, Daniel Santos
World - Released by Artys-Digital on Nov 8, 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Boleros Daniel Santos
Bolero - Released by Vibra Music Entertainment S.A.S. on Oct 31, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Estos Son los Cantantes
Bolero - Released by YOYO USA Digital on Nov 11, 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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En Colombia
World - Released by 2015 Discos Fuentes on Jul 31, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hoja Seca (De Colección)
Latin America - Released by Universal Music Mexico on Jan 1, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo