César Concepción

Césario Concepción Martínez, (28 July 1909 – 11 March 1974), was a Puerto Rican musician, big band leader and composer, who brought the music of his native land to the United States, mainly New York City, and Latin American ballroom dancing between the 1940s and early 1970s and to ballrooms all over the world. He popularized the modern plena as a Latin song style.

Concepción was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and was a prolific composer, writing music based on contemporary Puerto Rican scenes and vistas. He wrote over 100 mambos, calypsos, boleros and plenas songs to honor cities such as San Juan, Mayagüez, Ponce, Yauco, Plena Criolla (for Caguas), San German, Pa Mi Pueblo, Cayey his town and Santurce among many others. In addition, he directed his own orchestra non stop for 27 years.

In 1933 together with his family boarded a ship, SS San Juan and migrated to New York City. Here he played as lead trumpet for many big bands, however spent most of his time with Eddie LeBaron and His Orchestra, which played at the Rainbow Room, a landmark, located on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center until it closed in 1942.

Upon his return to Puerto Rico founded, on June 14, 1947, "César Concepción y su Orquesta" and made its first presentation at the New Yorker Hotel, later known as Flamboyan Hotel, via live broadcast from WIAC radio station.

His orchestra which consisted of 15 musicians was known for decades as the “best and most popular orchestra in Puerto Rico”, which was presented for many years by radio and television legendary personality Mariano Artau. Together with singer Joe Valle the orchestra obtained its highest popularity.

He died in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico of a heart attack at the age of 64.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1909 (Cayey), Died 1974 (Río Piedras)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1934 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group, leader, trumpet, composer, lyricist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-56 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor PR-524 10-in. before 4/26/1950 Santurce Orquesta César Concepción ; Joe Valle Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo lyricist, leader, composer, instrumentalist, trumpet, Musical group  
Victor PR-554 10-in. before 9/25/1950 No voy a llorar Orquesta César Concepción ; Joe Valle Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group, leader, composer  
Victor PR-555 10-in. before 9/21/1950 Tienes miedo de quererme Orquesta César Concepción ; Joe Valle Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group, leader  
Victor PR-556 10-in. before 9/25/1950 Se impone el mambo Orquesta César Concepción Instrumental ensemble Musical group, leader, composer  
Victor PR-557 10-in. before 9/21/1950 Plena en Ponce Orquesta César Concepción ; Joe Valle Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group, leader, composer  
Columbia CO16821 10-in. 2/7/1935 Ya que tu no estás : Bolero Pedro Marcano y su Orquesta Vocal and instrumental ensemble composer  
(Results 51-56 of 56 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "César Concepción y su Orquesta," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/112984.

César Concepción y su Orquesta. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/112984.

"César Concepción y su Orquesta." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/112984

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