Ismael Quintana

Early years

Quintana was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. His family moved to The Bronx sector of New York when he was only two weeks old; there he went to school and while he was still in high school he formed a band with his neighborhood friends.

Conjunto La Perfecta

In 1961, bandleader Eddie Palmieri heard Quintana sing for an audition and invited him to join his newly-organized conjunto (small band) La Perfecta. Quintana accepted and became the lead singer of the band between 1961 and 1971. During this time he co-wrote some of Palmieri's major hit songs. With Palmieri, Quintana was awarded the 1966 Trophy for the "Most Popular Latin Singer of the Year", awarded at the famed Palladium Ballroom in New York.

Quintana left Palmieri for a solo career and signed with Vaya Records (subsidiary of Fania Records) . Between 1974 and 1983, he recorded five albums as a solo artist, scoring his first major hit with "Mi Debilidad" (My Weakness).

Tours

In addition to solos Quintana also participated with the Fania All-Stars and went on tour with them to Africa, Japan, France, Central and South America and the United States. In 1976, he made an appearance in the movie "Salsa", with Celia Cruz and the Fania All-Stars. During the 1980s he recorded "Vamos, Háblame Ahora" (Come on, Talk to Me Now) with Papo Lucca.

Later years

Quintana semi-retired from the world of music because of health matters and lived with his family in New York. He moved with his family to Colorado where, on April 16, 2016, he died of heart failure. Quintana was buried in Ponce, the city where he was born, at Cementerio La Piedad. He was survived by his wife Yolanda and three children: Ismael, David, and Jessica.

Recordings

Among Quintana's recordings are the following:

Soloist

With Eddie Palmieri

With Cal Tjader and Eddie Palmieri

With The Fania All-Stars

With Tito Puente

With Vladimir Vassilief

With Jimmy Delgado

With Joe Cuba Sextet