The quality of her performances became increasingly inconsistent. Fred Weinberg, who was her favorite audio engineer, and also worked with Celia Cruz, Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente, and many more of the Latin American greats, and a producer on several of Lupe's albums, called La Lupe "A talent hurricane" in the studio due to her intense singing and enthusiasm. " Dominique" by The Singing Nun, " Twist & Shout", " Unchained Melody", " Fever" and "America" from West Side Story. She did a wide variety of cover versions in either Spanish or accented English, including " Yesterday", For a good part of the 1960s she was the most acclaimed Latin singer in New York City due to her partnership with Tito Puente. It was her recordings which brought Tite Curet Alonso into prominence as a composer of tough-minded boleros in the salsa style. Lupe's passionate performances covered the range of music: son montuno, bolero, boogaloo, venturing into other Caribbean styles like Dominican merengue, Puerto Rican bomba and plena. She married a second time, to salsa musician Willie García, with whom she had a son. In New York City, Lupe performed at a cabaret named La Berraca and started a new career, making more than 10 records in five years. She approached Celia Cruz and asked for her support to get work, and in turn, Celia recommended her to Mongo Santamaría in New York. Her first television appearance on Puerto Rican television caused a stir due to her frenzied, vibrant performance, which reportedly shocked some viewers. On the album she was backed by two different groups directed by Felipe Dulzaides and Eddy Gaytán. She recorded her first album, Con el diablo en el cuerpo, in 1960 for Discuba, the Cuban subsidiary of RCA Victor. She acquired a devoted following, which included Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Marlon Brando. She began to perform her own act at a small nightclub in Havana, La Red (The Net), which had a clientele of distinguished foreigners. This group, Los Tropicuba, broke up along with her marriage in 1960. Lupe married in 1958 and formed a musical trio with her husband Eulogio "Yoyo" Reyes and another female singer. She admired Celia Cruz and like her, she graduated from teaching instruction before starting her professional singing career. The family moved to Havana in 1955, where she was enrolled at the University of Havana to become a teacher. Lupe escaped from school to sing a bolero of Olga Guillot's, called "Miénteme" (Lie to Me), and won the competition. In 1954 she participated on a radio program which invited fans to sing imitations of their favorite stars. Her father was a worker at the local Bacardí distillery and a major influence on her early life. La Lupe was born in the barrio of San Pedrito in Santiago de Cuba. All three were signed to the RCA Victor subsidiary Discuba. La Lupe with Pacho Alonso (left) and Benny Moré (right), ca.
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