Ismael Quintana

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Ismael Quintana (born June 3, 1937 in Ponce, Puerto Rico), is a singer and composer of salsa music.

Quintana's family moved to the Bronx sector of New York when he was only two weeks old; here he went to school and whilst he was still in high school he formed a band with his neighborhood friends.

In 1961, bandleader Eddie Palmieri heard Quintana sing for an audition and invited him to join his newly organized orchestra "La Perfecta". Quintana accepted and became the lead singer of the band between 1961 and 1971. During this time he co-wrote some of Palmieri's major hit songs. With Palmieri, Quintana was awarded the 1966 Trophy for the "Most Popular Latin Singer of the Year", awarded at the famed Palladium Ballroom in New York.

Ismael Quintana

"Pat" Quintana left Palmieri for a solo career and signed with the Vaya Records (subsidiary of Fania Records) . Between 1974 and 1983, he recorded five albums as a solo artist, scoring his first major hit with "Mi Debilidad" (My Weakness). He followed this with:

"Ismael Quintana" (1974)
"Lo Que Estoy Viviendo" (1976) (What I'm Living Through) and
"Amor, Vida y Sentimiento" (1977) (Love, Life and Feelings).
"Jessica" (1979) (with Ricardo Marrero and The Group).
"Mucho Talento" (1980) (with Papo Lucca).

In addition to solos Quintana also participated with the Fania All-Stars and went on tour with them to Africa, Japan, France, Central and South America and the United States. In 1976, he made an appearance in the movie "Salsa", with Celia Cruz and the Fania All Stars. During the 1980s he recorded "Vamos Hablame Ahora" (Come on Talk to Me Now) with Papo Lucca.

Ismael Quintana semi-retired from the world of music and lived with his family in New York for some time. He currently lives with his family in Colorado.