VICTOR PAZ DEAD (88)

 

With great pain in my soul I inform that a great friend has passed away, the glorious Trumpeter Victor "Vitín" Paz, also called "The Trumpet of America". He was born in Panama City on August 30, 1932. The list of singers, groups and musicians that he accompanied with his Trumpet is immense. Rest in peace and words of condolences to his loved ones. 

Victor was a mentor and a role model for me. He has always been in solidarity with young musicians. 

Many of us know “Vitin” Paz for his work with Tito Rodríguez, Eddie Palmieri, Las Estrellas de Fania, among other luminaries of Afro-Cuban music. However, this musician has played with the "who's who" in the artistic universe. According to Víctor himself, he accompanied, as first trumpet, to: Carmen Amaya (flamenco dancer), “El Chucaro” (Argentine dancer), Benny More, Lucho Gatica, El Indio Araucano, Olga Guillot, Carmen Delia Dipini, Toña "La Negra", Tongolele, The Mulatas de Fuego de Cuba, Rolando La Serie, Orlando Contreras, Daniel Santos, Camilo Rodríguez, Tito Contreras, Alfredo Sadel, Luis Sajivela, Antonio Vela, Roberto Carlos, Pedro Vargas, Julio Iglesias, Manny Bolaños , Betty Williamson, Marta Estela Paredes, Myrta Silva, Ruth Fernández, Danny Rivera, Roberto Yánez, Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera, Willie Colón, Alberto Beltrán, Nelson Pinedo, Cascarita, Bienvenido Granda, Daniel Santa Rosa, Libertad Lamarque, Hugo Del Carril , Marianito Mores, Graciela, Celia Cruz, El Cuarteto Los Hispanos, La Lupe, Jaime Ellis, Bárbara Wilson, El Cuarteto de Aida de Cuba and many more. 

Vitín is the soloist in my recording “Camino Al Barrio” by Baquiné De Los Angelitos Negros. 

In the United States, his work was highly valued and rewarded. In that country, according to Paz himself, he played with: Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Mathis, Henry Mancini, Bobby Rosengarden, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Deodato, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Sammy Davis, Jr., The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughan, Bill Evans, Stanley Turrentine, Bill Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Dionne WarwicK, Diana Ross (single), The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four tops, James Brown, Nancy Wilson, Tom Jones, Paul Anka, Peggy Lee, Cleo Laine, Gladys Knight, Shirley Basie, Bobby Darin, “The Dick Cavett Show” (1969-1974, ABC), Antonio Carlos Jobim , Perry Como, Duke Ellington, among others. "Vitin" Paz also made his mark on Broadway, where he worked in the following shows: "Barnum", "Cabaret", "Cats", "Raisin in the Sun", "Guys and Dolls", "Sergeant Pepper", " Liza Minnelli: The Act ”and Marlene Dietrich.