It is now about one month before the twentieth anniversary of the death of legendary Puerto Rican salsa singer Hector Lavoe, who is remember by some of his colleagues for his jovial personality and his outstanding career.

Hector Juan Perez Martinez, Lavoe's real name, died of AIDS on June 29, 1993 in Saint Claire Hospital in New York, at age 47.

The singer of legendary songs like "Todo tiene su final", "El todopoderoso", "Aguanile", "El Cantante", "Rompe Saraguey" and "Paraiso de dulzura" contracted the AIDS virus by sharing needles for heroine.

The Puerto Rican salsa singer Ismael Miranda, one of Lavoe's former orchestra members, said the late singer was his best friend and was also the one who gave him to try his first marijuana cigarette.

"Hector was always a great singer and a very funny guy. Always with a smile," said Miranda. "I always saw him as a really cool and nice guy", but "at some point he became addicted to drugs", which ended up destroying his life.

Interestingly, Ismael Miranda also portrayed Lavoe's father in the film "El Cantante" (The Singer), which also starred Puerto Rican salsa singer Marc Anthony.

Before Lavoe died, he had attempted suicide several times because of the drugs and shock of the death of one of his sons who was accidental shot by a friend in 1987. The same year that his father and mother died.

"He was very sick, drug addiction is a disease. If you remove that, he was an excellent person. I have nothing bad to say about him," said Miranda.

Hector Lavoe died on June 29, 1993 in New York City. He was initially buried in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx, but in June 2002, the bodies of both Lavoe and his son were exhumed per his family's request. They were reburied in his native Ponce, Puerto Rico, along with his widow Nilda who died a few weeks before.

Follow Sandiegored on Facebook. Click here.

Editorial@Sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@Sandiegored.com