Carmen Delia Dipiní
Carmen Delia Dipiní Piñero was a Puerto Rican singer of boleros. In 2002, she was inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame.
Early years
Dipiní was born in Naguabo to Justo Dipiní Castro and Concepción Piñero Medina. Dipiní often entertained her family and friends as a child with her singing. She attended the Eugenio Brac Elementary School where one of the teachers, Mrs. Brenes, realized that Dipiní was talented as a singer and encouraged the 7-year-old student to become a singer. In 1941, when she was 14 years old, Dipiní went with her parents to San Juan with the intention of participating in a radio talent show. As a result, she would make her radio singing debut on the radio program of Rafael Quiñones Vidal.Music career
In 1948, Dipiní, who had befriended fellow Puerto Rican singer Ruth Fernández, left for New York City at her friend's recommendation. While in New York, she participated and won the first place prize in a talent show held at the Triboro Theater. Part of the prize was a singing contract with Johnny Albino y El Trío San Juan and she would go on to record her first hit "El día que nací yo" with the trio.While in New York she worked in various theaters and nightclubs. She received an offer from another recording company, Seeco Records, and recorded a tango titled "Besos de fuego" which earned her international acclaim. She later joined Johnny Rodríguez's band, for whom she sang and recorded the following songs:
- "Fichas negras" ;
- "Son amores" ;
- "Dímelo" ;
- "Experiencia" ;
- "Si no vuelves" ;
- "No es venganza".
When she returned to Puerto Rico, she joined Tito Rodríguez and later recorded "Somos el prójimo", the Spanish version of "We Are The World". She also recorded a tribute to Sylvia Rexach with the quartet Los Hispanos. Among her last recordings were the songs "Amor perdido" and "Congoja". She had made over thirty albums in her lifetime.