Porfirio Antonio Jiménez Núñez (February 16, 1928 – June 8, 2010) was a Dominican composer, arranger, and bandleader. A native of Hato Mayor Province, he played professionally under the name Porfi Jiménez.[1]
Background
Jiménez' father died when he was three years old, and his mother gave him a trumpet when he turned eight. He began playing the instrument at school in 1940, turning himself into a professional musician two years later.[1]
Jiménez was 26 years old when he arrived in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. He started to play with orchestras led by Rafael Minaya, Pedro José Belisario and Chucho Sanoja, as well as for the Billo's Caracas Boys. In the early 1960s, he became noted for his arrangements for bolero singers Felipe Pirela and Blanca Rosa Gil. He started his own Latin music dance band in 1963. With lead vocalists Kiko Mendive and Chico Salas, Jimenez' orchestra made its recording debut on the "Velvet" label. He made several albums for them in the late 1960s and mid 1970s, and helped popularize the salsa rage.[1][2][3]
Career
Jiménez and his ensemble recorded their version of "Pata Pata" which made it info the Record World Miami Hit Single Parade in April 1968.[4]
Jiménez enjoyed a huge success in the mid 1980s while recording for "Sonografica" label, with albums combining salsa, cumbia, and his native Dominican merengue. Some of his most popular songs include La negra Celina, Se hunde el barco, Dolores and Culu Cucú, which reached number one on the Colombian, Dominican and Venezuelan Hit Parade charts. Beside this, he conducted a 17-piece Jazz orchestra to promote the big band tradition by featuring his own repertoire and selected works of Thad Jones, Chico O'Farrill, among others.[1][3]
Later years
In January 2007 Jiménez was honored in New York City by the United Nations Orchestra, created by Dizzy Gillespie, for his long and storied career in Latin music.[5]
Death
Jiménez died in Caracas at the age of 82 on June 8, 2010.[6]
Discography
Esto es ritmo 1964 • Porfi y Su Conjunto Ritmico
Únicamente tú 1964 • Felipe Pirela & Porfi Jiménez y Su Orquesta
A bailar con Porfi 1966
Ron con coco 1966
Pata-pata con ¡Porfi! 1967
Y el negro ahi! 1967
Orquesta Porfi Jiménez: Canta Felipe Pirela 1967 • Felipe Pirela & Porfi Jiménez y Su Orquesta
Casatshok Latin Soul 1968
Por fin Porfi 1968
Rate La machaca 1972
Así soy yo 1973
El rico sabor de Porfi Jiménez y Su Orquesta 1974
Cortando cabezas 1977
20 Años 1985
Porfi '85 1985
Bula bula 1988
Ululukukulala 1989
Parrandeando con la trigueña hermosa! 1990 • Porfi Jimenez y Su Orquesta Parrandeando
Como siempre 1992
Porfi Jiménez – Saludos a Puerto Rico 1997
Sources
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