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La Sonora Ponceña

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents a national treasure of music from Puerto Rico, LA SONORA PONCEÑA with special guests LUISITO CARRIÓN, PEQUEÑO JOHNNY, AND REYNALDO JORGE, on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 8pm. Founded in 1954, the iconic Puerto Rican salsa band returns to Lehman Center to celebrate their 70th anniversary of musical excellence! 

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for LA SONORA PONCEÑA on Saturday, March 30th, 2024 at 8pm ($125, $95, $75, $60, $50) can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Friday, 10am–5pm, and beginning at 4pm on the day of the concert), or through online access at https://www.lehmancenter.org/events/sonora-poncena. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway.

LA SONORA PONCEÑA was formed in 1954 in Ponce, Puerto Rico by Enrique “Quique” Lucca, who named the band after the famous Cuban band Sonora Matancera, and his home city of Ponce, thus Sonora Ponceña. They are hailed as one of New York’s longest running salsa bands. Don Quique created a distinct salsa sound using a full percussion section, with only trumpets in his horn section that in turn harmonized with the piano and vocals. By 1956, the group included pianist Vicentico Morales, with Quique’s ten-year-old son, Enrique “PAPO” Lucca Jr., already at the piano writing arrangements. By 1960, the band had performed in New York, catching the attention of Fania/Inca Records owner Jerry Masucci. Since 1968, they have been directed by Enrique “Papo” Lucca Jr. In 1969, they released their first Inca LP, with all arrangements by Papo, Hachero Pa’ Un Palo, whose hit title song established them as salsa pioneers. La Sonora Ponceña recorded 29 more albums for Inca, including 8 that featured singer Yolanda Rivera, and 1979’s album La Ceiba that featured Cuban singer Celia Cruz. For their 1980 release, New Heights, they began to make albums in English and to include Latin jazz themes, establishing the international character of the band. As salsa romántica became popular, they adjusted to commercial forces without deserting their trademark sound. In 1993, the band was awarded the Congo de Oro for best international band. La Sonora Ponceña has recorded over 35 albums, garnering dozens of platinum and gold releases of unforgettable music with hits such as “Fuego en El 23”, “30 Anos”, “Juana Bayona”, “Moreno Soy“, “Borinquen“ and “Suena El Piano“. They have been praised for their superb contributions to the world of salsa over the past 70 years. 











When: Sat., Mar. 30, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Where: Lehman College
250 Bedford Park Boulevard West
718-960-8000
Price: ($125, $95, $75, $60, $50)
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Lehman Center for the Performing Arts presents a national treasure of music from Puerto Rico, LA SONORA PONCEÑA with special guests LUISITO CARRIÓN, PEQUEÑO JOHNNY, AND REYNALDO JORGE, on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 8pm. Founded in 1954, the iconic Puerto Rican salsa band returns to Lehman Center to celebrate their 70th anniversary of musical excellence! 

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for LA SONORA PONCEÑA on Saturday, March 30th, 2024 at 8pm ($125, $95, $75, $60, $50) can be purchased by calling the Lehman Center box office at 718-960-8833 (Monday through Friday, 10am–5pm, and beginning at 4pm on the day of the concert), or through online access at https://www.lehmancenter.org/events/sonora-poncena. Lehman Center is accessible by #4 or D train to Bedford Park Blvd. and is off the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Major Deegan Expressway.

LA SONORA PONCEÑA was formed in 1954 in Ponce, Puerto Rico by Enrique “Quique” Lucca, who named the band after the famous Cuban band Sonora Matancera, and his home city of Ponce, thus Sonora Ponceña. They are hailed as one of New York’s longest running salsa bands. Don Quique created a distinct salsa sound using a full percussion section, with only trumpets in his horn section that in turn harmonized with the piano and vocals. By 1956, the group included pianist Vicentico Morales, with Quique’s ten-year-old son, Enrique “PAPO” Lucca Jr., already at the piano writing arrangements. By 1960, the band had performed in New York, catching the attention of Fania/Inca Records owner Jerry Masucci. Since 1968, they have been directed by Enrique “Papo” Lucca Jr. In 1969, they released their first Inca LP, with all arrangements by Papo, Hachero Pa’ Un Palo, whose hit title song established them as salsa pioneers. La Sonora Ponceña recorded 29 more albums for Inca, including 8 that featured singer Yolanda Rivera, and 1979’s album La Ceiba that featured Cuban singer Celia Cruz. For their 1980 release, New Heights, they began to make albums in English and to include Latin jazz themes, establishing the international character of the band. As salsa romántica became popular, they adjusted to commercial forces without deserting their trademark sound. In 1993, the band was awarded the Congo de Oro for best international band. La Sonora Ponceña has recorded over 35 albums, garnering dozens of platinum and gold releases of unforgettable music with hits such as “Fuego en El 23”, “30 Anos”, “Juana Bayona”, “Moreno Soy“, “Borinquen“ and “Suena El Piano“. They have been praised for their superb contributions to the world of salsa over the past 70 years. 

Buy tickets/get more info now