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 1-25 of 55 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-84008 10-in. 8/17/1934 Besos Grupo "La Perla del Sur" Instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-84009 10-in. 8/17/1934 Por tu amor Grupo "La Perla del Sur" Instrumental ensemble composer, lyricist  
Victor BS-057720 10-in. 11/19/1940 Uri-uri-ura Panchito and his Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-057721 10-in. 11/19/1940 Juan Manno Panchito and his Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-057722 10-in. 11/19/1940 Estrellita mia Panchito and his Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-057723 10-in. 11/19/1940 La negra del Batey Panchito and his Orchestra Male vocal solo, with vocal and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-073295 10-in. 5/29/1942 En mi soledad Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-073297 10-in. 5/29/1942 Por si acaso me quieres Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-073681 10-in. 4/7/1942 De castigo Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-073682 10-in. 4/7/1942 Te lo juro Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-073683 10-in. 4/7/1942 Estoy enamorado Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-073684 10-in. 4/7/1942 Que mulata Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-075320 10-in. 6/5/1942 Déjame soñar Hernando Aviles ; Orquesta Bobby Quintón Male vocal ensemble, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet, songwriter  
Victor BS-075321 10-in. 6/5/1942 En un beso....la vida Hernando Aviles ; Orquesta Bobby Quintón Male vocal ensemble, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-075322 10-in. 6/5/1942 Ven, te quiero ver Hernando Aviles Male vocal ensemble, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-075323 10-in. 6/5/1942 Tengo que amar Hernando Aviles Male vocal ensemble, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-075326 10-in. 6/10/1942 Virgen de la media noche Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-075327 10-in. 6/10/1942 Me extraña Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-075328 10-in. 6/10/1942 No vuelvas Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor BS-075329 10-in. 6/10/1942 Preciosidad Orquesta Daniel Santos Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, trumpet  
Victor PR-444-B 10-in. before 12/10/1947 Aquí me tienes Eddie Gómez ; Orquesta César Concepción Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group, composer, leader  
Victor PR-445-B 10-in. before 12/10/1947 ¡Qué pollo! Eddie Gómez ; Orquesta César Concepción Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble Musical group, composer, leader  
Victor PR-32-A 10-in. before 8/15/1949 Promesa Orquesta César Concepción ; Joe Valle Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group, leader  
Victor PR-33-A 10-in. before 8/2/1949 Bendito Orquesta César Concepción ; Joe Valle Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group, composer, leader  
Victor PR-34-A 10-in. before 8/2/1949 Que linda eres Orquesta César Concepción ; Joe Valle Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo Musical group, leader  
(Results 1-25 of 55 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "César Concepción y su Orquesta," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112984.

César Concepción y su Orquesta. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112984.

"César Concepción y su Orquesta." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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