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 communicated with the Puerto Rican Danny Rivera to ask them to send him a recorded song they had sung together. Until then, COVID-19 it had not entered Manzanero’s life and was the last contact they had.

Therefore, today, when he learned of the death of the legendary singer-songwriter, Danny Rivera, what he felt was a space of deep sadness. They had known each other for several years and shared the stage in February 2020 in what was Manzanero’s last concert in Puerto Rico and one of the last holidays before closing was decreed to prevent COVID-19 infections.

“This morning, when I heard the news, it was raining here in the field and the first phrase that came to mind was exactly ‘this afternoon, I saw it was raining, I saw people running and you weren’t there,'” he said. said the artist in reference to one of Manzanero’s pieces, entitled “This afternoon I saw that it was raining“. “Of course, we will feel his absence now that it rains, sun, night, day, Monday, because he did every season and every place I meet with romance, that there is a Manzanero song weaving and weaving that contact between human beings . He leaves us someone who leaves us a wonderful heritage and that through his inheritance we will live with him forever, “he said. The new day.

His request to the so-called “national voice of Puerto Rico” was granted. It is about the song “About you”, a composition by a friend of Manzanero, who had introduced Danny to sing and record together. Although they sang a concert, she was waiting for the recording.

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

“From the studio, I made him a phone call via Skype. A few days ago I sent it to Laura, her right hand. I hope you heard it. I still don’t know if he heard it, I hope he did. Because he was very anxious and he really liked that song and the way I performed it. I wanted the song because I didn’t have it. He liked to have and gather all the things “said the artist.

These two greats of the song, last February, sang at the concert “The Bolero that unites us”, in an evening held at the Center for Fine Arts in Puerto Rico.

There, the veteran singer-songwriter, winner of a Grammy, author of over 400 songs and over 30 recorded recordings, performed some of his most iconic songs on the piano. Also, together with Danny, for whom he confessed admiration, they sang “Madrigal”, by the 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 Ibero-American music and in the world of romantic song. There is something beautiful in the genius of the great composer Manzanero, namely that his work is like a kaleidoscope of the great universal romance between couples. He knew how to dedicate a song to every aspect of that universal romance, “he said, recalling that Monday before that concert he had to fly to Mexico and took the opportunity to meet while enjoying breakfast. good to refine the details of his presentation in Puerto Rico. .

“I said, ‘Master, I have a diploma, what do you think?’ “Bolero unites us” and he said “this works”. It was based on a song he had written for her 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 will record it in homage to him. It was written to be sung together, but he did not learn it in time. I had to sing it alone. The memory of his presence will live in me forever singing in a theater in my country, by the sea. He was joking about his height, but he was a giant in terms of his genius as a musician. “, stressed the.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    In addition to performing on the island, Manzanero always remembered that his first recorded composition was in 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

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

  • Archive image of the concert at the Centro de Bellas Artes.

    Archive image of the concert at the Centro de Bellas Artes. (GERALD LOPEZ-CEPERO)

  • As various Puerto Rican artists performed his songs, Manzanero did not hesitate to perform some of his favorite Puerto Rican composers.

    As various 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 the themes. (GERALD LOPEZ-CEPERO)

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

    In addition, he admired the work and did not hesitate to perform pieces by 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 sang for the last time in Puerto Rico since February 2020 during the concert

    Manzanero sang for the last time in Puerto Rico since February 2020 at the concert “El bolero nos unites” with Danny Rivera. (Supplied)

  • At the time, he praised Danny Rivera's talent as a duet.

    At that time, he praised the talent of Danny Rivera, with whom he sang in duet “Madrigal” and “With you he learned”. (Supplied)

  • On this occasion, he performed

    On this occasion, he performed “Llorando al sol”, which was the first recorded in his career with the Puerto Rican Bobby Capó, who – as he said then – “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 interrupted his tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic and since September has 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 interrupted his tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic and since September has presented a virtual concert in Mexico. (Supplied)

Producer César Sainz reacts

The producer of the event César Sainz was the one who produced that concert “El bolero nos unites” by Armando Manzanero with Danny Rivera, for which he said that he was emotionally devastated because “he was one of those artists with whom he manages to have a friendship, developed after they have a work experience ”.

On countless occasions after the February concert, I kept in constant communication with Armando and his “manager”. Very affected by this situation. Meet a world-renowned artist. Right now Mexico must be as hit as when Juan Gabriel or José José died, and now Armando Manzanero.

“When I concluded the Armando Manzanero agreement in September 2019, at that time, hours later, Laura, her representative, called me and told me that the” teacher “was a fan of Danny Rivera and if there is a possibility to sing together. It all came from there, “he says.

“Armando’s stay here was a short visit, because the concert was on a Sunday and arrived on Friday. He was extremely humble, there was never a “no” to anything. He received everyone who wanted to meet him in the dressing room about an hour after the concert. He was available, he never objected to me, “said the producer, who revealed that as a result of the success of that concert, the opportunity arose to take the show to Mexico and New York.

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