Latin Legend Trini Lopez is Back
By: Nancy Esteves & Annette Reine
What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than with The Future of Legendary Music of Trini Lopez. On February 14th , 2016 Trini Lopez will be honored at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood Florida a fundraiser for the Footlighters Foundation for Indigent Entertainers & Musicians and will be the recipient of the Connie Francis Lifetime Achievement Award. The Golden Years of Trini Lopez has ignited him back to the future with his 72nd album, “Into the Future” a relaunch of his out of this world voice.
It’s by the “Grace of God” that Trini’s father gave him a guitar that he later nailed his career with the No.1 hit song in 38 countries, “If I Had a Hammer.” To follow were many hits that he wrote as well songs like “I’m Coming Home Cindy,” “Michael,” “Lemon Tree,” Kansas City,” and “America” and of course, everyone’s favorite– “La Bamba.”
Trini Lopez formed his first band in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the age of 15. In 1958, at the recommendation of Buddy Holly, Trini and his group “The Big Beats” went to producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico.
Lopez left the group and made his first solo recording, his own composition “The Right To Rock”, for the Dallas-based Volk Records, and then signed with King Records in 1959.
Trini then landed a steady engagement at the nightclub PJ’s, where his audience grew quickly. He was heard there by his all time favorite singer and his idol, Frank Sinatra, who had started his own label Reprise Records, and signed Trini Lopez.
His debut live album, Trini Lopez at PJ’s, was released in 1963.The album included a version of “If I Had a Hammer”, which reached number one in 38 countries (no. 3 in the United States), and was a radio favorite for many years. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
As to his still-to-date famous hit, “La Bamba” it was later reissued as a single in 1966.
His popularity with that song led the Gibson Guitar Corporation to ask him in 1964 to design a guitar for them. He ended up designing two: the Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semi hollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both of these guitars were in production from 1964 until 1971, and are now highly sought-after among collectors.
Exclusive Interview with Trini Lopez:
What inspired you to produce your new album “Into the Future?”
-I wanted to do Frank Sinatra songs my whole life ever since I was eight years old. I always loved his voice; he’s the best singer ever. I used to dream that one day that I would see him walking down the street.
Did you ever work with him?
-I started in a club in Hollywood California called the “Ye Little Club”, where Connie Stevens would come in; I was there for a year but I really wanted to work in PJ’s and that’s where I met Sinatra. He signed me up to his record company REPRISE and gave me an eight year recording contract. That was the beginning of my career.
I understand you also have a new original album?
-14 songs all original songs I produced myself, I also produced “Into the Future.”
Do you have a favorite Latino song that you love to sing?
– I always loved “La Bamba” as my father was a singer, actor, musician and dancer. I was singing “La Bamba with my father since I was eight years old but somebody beat me to recording it –Richie Valens.
Did the Producer’s of the film La Bamba contact you to do the sound track?
– I was always singing La Bamba. It was written in the1920’s as a wedding song and then in 1957 I heard it on the radio. Richie Valens, who sang it was involved in a fatal plane crash, and then a year or so later I was called to go to Hollywood and they took advantage of my popularity and then I recorded it, and I made the song international…everybody thought the movie was about my life story but it really was about Richie Valens.
You just finished your life story for your novel, what will the title be?
– “By the Grace of God.” “My secretary took years to do my life story.
Tell us about the February 14th Valentrini Day event at the Seminole Hard Rock? Do you enjoy helping charities?
-I’ve been working with charities since 1963 there is a list at my website.
How did you become affiliated with the Footlighter’s Club?
-It was my turn I guess. They will be playing one of my songs from my new CD “Fly like an Eagle” by Steve Miller, will performing it at the Hard Rock show in February.
At age your age, how do you keep your voice so fabulous?
-I take care of myself. I play tennis and golf.
Are you a health freak?
-I am a health conscious person. Even since I was young, I never drank hard liquor, never smoked or used drugs. I love Budweiser. I am a happy camper just with my beer.
My mind and soul are in the right place because I like people, I love my fans.”
-Were you friends with Elvis?
Elvis was my friend he was a great guy he was so nice, very down to earth, that’s why I liked him, he would always want to talk to me about religion, he was my neighbor in Palm Springs. I met all the Memphis Mafia.”
Who are some of your favorite legends?
– Frank Sinatra. Bob Hope, Jack Penny, Woody Allen, and Carol Burnett.
Would acting be of interest to you again?
-I would love too! I was in “Marriage on the Rocks and the Dirty Dozen”.
What do you think about the new music compared to the music of yesterday?
– There are some pretty good songs and talented artists out there… As a matter of fact my new album is even going to have some Reggae. Music before was more romantic–I love ballads. Some of my favorite songs are Frank Sinatra songs.”
Where do you live now?
-I live in Palm Springs. I retired in 1981. I got bored of traveling around the world, like twenty times, so then I would sleep nine to ten hours a night and play tennis and golf.”
To read more about Trini Lopez, you can visit his website: www.trinilopez.com
Contact Us