La Lupe
| La Lupe | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lupe Victoria Yolí Raymond |
| Also known as | La Lupe La Yiyiyi "La Reina de la Canción Latina (The Queen of Latin Soul)" |
| Born | December 23, 1939 |
| Origin | Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
| Died | February 29, 1992 (aged 52) Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Salsa, Bolero |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1958–1980 |
| Associated acts | Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, Celia Cruz |
La Lupe (born Lupe Victoria Yolí Raymond) (Santiago de Cuba, 23 December 1939 – Bronx, New York City, New York, 29 February 1992), was a Cuban singer of several musical genres, including boleros, guarachas and Latin soul in particular, known for her energetic, sometimes controversial performances.
La Lupe was born in the barrio of San Pedrito in Santiago de Cuba. Her father was a worker at the local Bacardí distillery and a major influence on her early life. In 1954 she participated on a radio program which invited fans to sing imitations of their favorite stars. Lupe escaped from school to sing a bolero of Olga Guillot's, called Miénteme ("Lie to Me"), and won the competition. The family moved to Havana in 1955, where she was enrolled at the University of Havana to become a teacher. She admired Celia Cruz and like her, she graduated from teaching instruction before starting to sing.
Lupe married in 1958 and formed a musical trio with her husband Eulogio "Yoyo" Reyes and another female singer. This group, Los Tropiccuba, broke up along with her marriage in 1960. She began to perform her own act at a small nightclub in Havana, La Red (The Net), which had a clientele of distinguished foreigners. She acquired a devoted following, which included Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Marlon Brando. She released her first album, Con El Diablo en El Cuerpo (With the Devil Inside) in 1960, for RCA Victor. Her first television appearance on Puerto Rican television caused a stir due to her frenzied, vibrant performance, which reportedly shocked some viewers.
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