Childhood

• Born Hector Juan Perez Martinez on September 30, 1946, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Lavoe studied at a local music school as a child. He developed an interest in music and moved to New York City at age 17.
  
  

Early Career

• Adopting the stage name "Lavoe," he joined Willie Colon's band. While recording a number of hit songs in the salsa genre, he became addicted to drugs, and Colon eventually fired him.
  
  

Success

• In his solo career, Lavoe had great success with his own band, with which he recorded his most successful hits, "El Cantante," "Bandolera" and "El Periodico de Ayer." Lavoe also became a guest vocalist with the Fania All Stars.
  
  

Rehab

• During the late 1970s, Lavoe was in the midst of a depression. His drug addiction peaked and he sought the help of a Santeria priest. He rehabilitated himself, but relapsed following the deaths of three family members, including his son.
  
  

Death

• Lavoe was eventually diagnosed with HIV in the late 1980s, which prompted him to attempt suicide by jumping off a hotel balcony. He survived the fall but died in 1993 from AIDS.