Dakota Beacon

On August 11 we lost an American treasure - Trini Lopez, singer, guitarist and actor - to complications from COVID 19.  

Trinidad Lopez III was born in Dallas to immigrant parents from Mexico, May 13, 1937.  His father, in Mexico, had been an actor, singer, dancer and musician.  Trini left high school to go to work to help support his family.  At fifteen he started his first band.  By 1955 he had landed a gig at Jack Ruby’s Vegas Club in Dallas.  Buddy Holly’s father suggested Lopez get in touch with a record producer, Norman Petty, who got them a contract with Columbia Records.  By the early 1960s he was singing at a club called PJ’s and was heard by Frank Sinatra.  Sinatra signed Trini to his newly established label, Reprise.  His cover of “If I Had a Hammer” from his first album with Reprise, Trini Lopez at PJ’s, soard to number 1 in many countries, number 3 in the United States.

THroughout his career, Lopez charted with covers of folk, country and latin hits.  Eventually he was featured in a number of movies, notably, The Dirty Dozen.  He was asked to design two guitars by Gibson, which are connosseurs' collector’s items now.  He performed world-wide, appearing with Dutch maestro Andre Rieu in Maastricht and remained active professionally throughout his life.  He recorded some 32 albums in addition to charitable works, including relief efforts to benefit victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.  He is honored in the International Latin Music Hall of Fame, and the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.  

Little has been written about Trini Lopez’s personal life - he never married or had children  Here are a few hits to remember Trini Lopez by:

“Guantanamera”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oux9cvMu9hU

“La Bamba” with Jose Feliciano:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqdeEYigMKQ

“Kansas City”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsj4WxcY0fk

With Andre Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra in Maastricht - “If I Had a Hammer”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC91QRXkbSA

A pastiche of vintage Trini in France:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjmqnc6Wjbg

Trini Lopez The Latin Album:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOaVUfs1EeU

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