AN EVENING OF BOLEROS 50 ANIVERSARIO DEL TRIO LOS CONDES Featuring Trio Los Condes, Odilio González, Trio New York & Trio Ideal May 8, 2010

LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS presents
AN EVENING OF BOLEROS
50 ANIVERSARIO DEL TRIO LOS CONDES
Featuring Trio Los Condes, Odilio González, Trio New York & Trio Ideal
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, in association with West Side Beat Productions, presents an intimate concert honoring the 50th Anniversary of one of the most influential and successful trio groups in the history of Latin popular music – TRIO LOS CONDES – coming direct from Puerto Rico on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 8pm. Trio Los Condes, who captivated an entire generation of Puerto Ricans with their romantic melodies, will be joined by ODILIO GONZÁLEZ “EL JIBARÍTO DE LARES,” TRIO NEW YORK and TRIO IDEAL.
Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468.  Tickets for 50 ANIVERSARIO DEL TRIO LOS CONDES on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 8pm, are: $45, $35, $25 and $20 and can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718.960.8833 (Mon. through Fri., 10am–5pm, Tues. 10am-7pm, and beginning at 12 noon on the day of the concert), or through 24-hour online access at www.LehmanCenter.org. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway. Free on-site parking is available.
Trio Los Condes was formed in 1959 in New York City and became one the leading exponents of romantic bolero music in Puerto Rico, Latin America and the US. The trio’s founding members are Fernando Ramos, from Río Grande, Puerto Rico (requintista or lead guitarist and third voice); the exceptional Rafael “Rafita” Maldonado, from Arecibo, Puerto Rico (lead vocalist and second rhythm guitarist); and Ricardo Blanco, from Havana, Cuba (second voice and rhythm guitar). Their first recording was an LP on the Gema label in 1960, Querube, which included the trio’s first major international hits, “Querube,” written by the famous Puerto Rican songwriter Pedro Flores, and “Por tu ausencia,” composed by Héctor Hernández. “Querube” was a number one hit single in the New York-based “Latin hit” radio shows and lasted a solid 10 weeks on top of the Latin charts in early 1961. Trio Los Condes’ debut album was so popular it earned them their first gold record in the United States.
Odilio González was born in 1939 in the small town of Lares in the center of Puerto Rico. His sweet voice and good looks turned him into a popular child star after radio performances in San Juan. One of Puerto Rico’s most beloved popular singers, González has also enjoyed an avid following for his expert singing of the island’s ancient traditional poetic song form, the décima (known as “jíbaro” music). As “Jibaríto de Lares,” he debuted in 1955 at the age of 16 in New York City, singing before throngs of Puerto Ricans in Teatro Puerto Rico and recorded traditional jíbaro singing for the Ansonia label in New York. Fellow Lares native José Feliciano’s singing style was heavily influenced by González, who was considered a child prodigy during the Golden Age of New York jíbaro music recordings of the 1950s. González crossed over into pop music in 1962 when he recorded Celos sin motivo, composed by Ismael Santiago, and reached a far greater audience. His biggest hit, “Yo tenía una luz” (I Had a Light), recorded in the early ‘70s, became a popular Christmas song and today is considered a traditional song.
Trio New York was formed in 1994 by Guillermo Colon (leader, second voice and second guitar), creating the sound of traditional Puerto Rican jibaro music with a Newyorican urban feel. In 2003 Pablito Martinez (first voice and third guitar), an original member of the famous Quinto De Puerto Rico, joined the trio, followed by Junior Cruz (third voice and first guitar). The trio has performed in most of the clubs in New York and cities across the US and has become part of Odilio González’s traveling band.
Trio Ideal consist of Pedro Velez (lead vocalist); Guillermo Cruz (second voice and second guitarist); and Santos Cruz (lead guitarist and third voice). This wonderful trio has performed at Gracie Mansion for Three Kings Day 2005 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and at Lincoln Marquis Center for the National Puerto Rican Day parade in 2006. Trio Ideal’s latest album, Para el pueblo con amor, includes such songs as “Mi vejo,” “Bajo un palmar” and “Amor de madre.”
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.  Lehman Center also receives support from the New York State Council on the Arts.