La Voz (LP)

Lavoe made his solo debut on the Colón-produced album La Voz in 1975.

The album reached gold. José Febles arranged Lavoe’s composition “Paraíso de Dulzura” and dazzlingly updated the ’50s Chappottín classic “Rompe Saragüey,” featuring an elegant and ingenious 2:30 minute piano solo by Mark “Markolino” Dimond. Dimond played piano on Colón’s second and third albums, The Hustler (c. 1968 on Fania) and Guisando – Doing A Job (c. 1969 on Fania) and wrote a track for each record.

Other highlights of La Voz are “El Todopoderoso,” co-written by Lavoe and Colón, who arranged the number, and the Johnny Pacheco penned anthem “Mi Gente”, also arranged by Colón. In May the following year, Lavoe garnered Latin NY magazine awards for “Best Male Vocalist” and “Best Conjunto”.