Trini Lopez Biography

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Trini Lopez
Folk Music | 3 CD Set
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Trini Lopez was born May 15, 1937 in Dallas, the son of Mexican immigrants and a father who had been an entertainer in Mexico but moved north to better the family’s life while instilling ethnic pride in his son. Trini was pretty adamant early in his career that his Mexican-American heritage be recognized. Early on, Trini was met with ethnic attitudes when a record producer would not use his Latin name. He was eighteen and had recorded his "The Right To Rock" for a minor label, the side getting a reaction from a larger label in Cincinnati. The producer wanted to change his name but he refused and headed for the door. The producer did change his mind, however, and the singer's career was on the rise. It was not long before he met fellow Texan, Buddy Holly, who suggested he meet his record producer. Lopez and his band moved to Clovis, New Mexico to meet the producer but the same problem came up – change his name. The producer refused to allow Trini’s name on the label but his group took the producer’s side and what was supposed to be a vocal became an instrumental by a group called The Big Beats. Trini then fired his associates and formed a new band. The Buddy Holly connection continued, though, as his band the Crickets sought him to take over the singing duties after Holly was killed in a tragic plane crash in 1959. He traveled to Los Angeles to join but the band realized it could survive on the now-expanding royalties from Holly hits and quit performing for a while, putting Trini out of work. Staying in Los Angeles, he soon began a two-week gig at a Beverly Hills club that turned into a year, a sign that his solo career was blossoming. Next came work at the popular nightclub PJ’s, where he met Frank Sinatra’s producer/conductor Don Costa, who in turn introduced him to Sinatra. Frank signed Lopez to his new label, Reprise, and released his first album, "Trini Lopez at PJ's," in 1963. The album became a major hit collection that included his first hit single, a monster hit called “If I Had A Hammer," which rocketed to No. 3 on the pop chart, his first of four Top 40 hits he had through 1966. "Hammer" was a folk song written by Pete Seeger for his group the Weavers, and it was just one of many styles of pop music Lopez was to sing as his career ratcheted up. Among his Top 30 hits were Kansas City," "Lemon Tree," and "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy," but he also produced a number of lesser hits that were to bring the Trini Lopez name to millions around the world, including his version of the song "La Bamba." That tune was an old Latin folk song that Trini learned from his father and also the name of a popular movie about the life of Ritchie Valens, who died in the same crash that claimed Holly. He has released over 50 albums over the span of his musical career and is still popular in Europe and South America. As late as 1988, he put out the album "Trini Lopez Dance Party" for the BMG label in Germany, where he is a superstar. In 2000, he signed with Sony Records and in 2001 did a number of theater concerts in Florida. Besides music, Trini found a parallel career in acting, starting with the "Adam 12" television series and then appearing in a couple of movies, including "Marriage On The Rocks" with Sinatra and Dean Martin and one with Sean Connery before landing a role in the hit "The Dirty Dozen." He also had a television variety show. Lopez has relaxed his touring schedule in recent years and now resides in Palm Springs, where he plays a lot of golf and tennis. He is also an active volunteer in many charitable organizations, including the March of Dimes, Cancer Research, Boy Scouts and more.

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