Trini Lopez, 1960s- Era Singer Mentored By Sinatra, Dies
Source: AP News
By Russell Contreras and Hillel Italie, 3 mins ago.
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) Trini Lopez, a singer and guitarist who gained fame for his versions of Lemon Tree and If I Had a Hammer in the 1960s and took his talents to Hollywood, died Tuesday. He was 83.
Filmmaker P. David Ebersole, who just finished shooting a documentary on Lopez with Todd Hughes, confirmed that Lopez died from complications of COVID-19 at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California.
Mentored by Buddy Holly and Frank Sinatra, Lopez became an international star while performing in English and Spanish. Unlike Mexican American singers such as Ritchie Valens, Lopez rejected advice to change his name and openly embraced his Mexican American heritage despite warnings it would hurt his career.
I insisted on keeping my name Lopez, he told The Dallas Morning News in 2017. Im proud to be a Lopez. Im proud to be a Mexicano. Born Trinidad Lopez III to immigrants from Guanajuato, Mexico, Lopez grew up in Dallas poor, Little Mexico neighborhood. The familys dire economic situation forced Lopez to drop out of high school and work...
Read more: https://apnews.com/49e05165e18bc84ce6e38901bbbad077
Jan. 1, 2002 photo of Trini Lopez in Dallas.
hlthe2b
(102,509 posts)tblue37
(65,528 posts)634-5789
(4,175 posts)RIP, Brother, You did good. 🌹
PlanetBev
(4,104 posts)Just as good as the Richie Valens version, in my opinion.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)Very high energy. Trini was muy cool.
2naSalit
(86,920 posts)I had no idea he was still alive. Now I'm sad that he died from Covid19.
RIP, man. Your music was a balm to my soul back then.
Cha
(298,021 posts)RIP~Trini Lopez
Talitha
(6,637 posts)ProfessorGAC
(65,381 posts)I liked that song when I was a little kid!
RIP, Trini.
Marthe48
(17,112 posts)I liked him when I was growing up. We got 3 channels on TV and music from Dean Martin, Andy Williams, Trini Lopez, Harry belafonte and so many others dominated the variety shows and even some of the radio stations people in my family listened to. Pleasant memories.
Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)Dave Grohl plays a custom Trini Lopez Model Gibson. It's his favorite guitar.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Dave Starsky
(5,914 posts)After a stint drumming for another even more obscure group called Nerv... Nerve something. Nerve Vanna, I think.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)wolfie001
(2,298 posts)Single-handedly I might add. lol
niyad
(113,860 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,493 posts)oasis
(49,480 posts)Steelrolled
(2,022 posts)Fresca!
Warpy
(111,437 posts)He always brought special energy to the stage.
I also applauded him for not becoming Tim Lewis.
RIP, Trini. You did good.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)Thanks for the wonderful vibes...both musically and spiritually.
CatWoman
(79,302 posts)nuxvomica
(12,465 posts)His music was fun, full of energy, and memorable, especially Lemon Tree.
Raine
(30,541 posts)Submariner
(12,513 posts)SunSeeker
(51,797 posts)Lopez had been in and out of a hospital setting for about six weeks before dying about 5 a.m. at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California, said songwriting partner Joe Chavira.
The last song Lopez wrote with Chavira, "If By Now," was performed for a half-hour coronavirus fundraiser expected to air over the weekend on local television in Chavira's home city of Santa Barbara, he said.
"He passed trying to tell people about COVID," he said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/music/60s-crooner-trini-lopez-83-dies-while-battling-coronavirus-n1236479
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)I had a crush on him back in '67 or whenever it was. I had crushes on lots of singers, like 3/4 of the Beatles, 1/2 of the Monkees & John Sebastian.
There was a big Democratic wingding at the Astrodome, I think it was in '68. I guess it was a campaign appearance by Humphrey. In the audience down by the stage, I think I spotted Luci Baines Johnson and Lyndon's first grandchild, also named Lyndon.
Trini sang and I was in LOVE!!! I remember my dad telling me that Trini was a poor boy from Dallas. I am sure there were other singers, but he's the only one I remember!
The two Hispanic celebrities I remember from the 60s were Trini Lopez and Lee Trevino "Super-Mex", the golfer. My sister had a Pancho Gonzales tennis racket. Does that count?
Linda Ed
(493 posts)was one of my favorites that he sang!