Papo Lucca
Biography
With his dynamic piano playing and unique approach to salsa, Papo Lucca (born Enrique Arsenio Lucca, Jr.) has led his band, Sonora Porcena, to the forefront of Latin music. Inheriting the group from his father, Lucca has continued to inspire Sonora Porcena with his innovative playing. While Ruben Blades called Lucca, "the best pianist in the world," Cuban pianist Ruben Gonzalez explained, "of non-Cuban pianists, I most admire (Lucca) because his salsa is very close to son. Son piano is more varied than salsa piano which is more formulaic and holds on to a single riff much longer."
Lucca has been involved with music most of his life. A native of Ponce, a small city on the southern coast of Puerto Rico, he began studying at the city's Free School of Music at the age of six. In addition to being trained in solfeggio, he studied piano, clarinet, saxophone, and music theory. A month after he enrolled in the school, he performed a classical piece on a local radio station. Lucca simultaneously studied privately with pianist Ramon Fernandez. With his father's encouragement, Lucca advanced quickly. Performing with Sonora Porcena at the age of eight, he made his recording debut three years later, when the group accompanied bolero vocalists Felipe Rodriguez and Davilita on their album, Al Compas De Las Sonoras.
Selected Discography
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC.