Pijuán

José Juan Piñero González
José Juan Piñero González
Birth name	José Juan Piñero González
Also known as	Pijuán
Born	August 29, 1942; Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Died	March 14, 2018 (aged 75); Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Genres	Salsa, son, guaguancó, boogaloo, bomba, plena
Occupations	Musician, Pianist, Band Leader, A&R Representative, TV Producer
Instruments	Piano, organ, lyre, melodica
Labels	Musigol Records
Website	Website

José Juan Piñero González (August 29, 1942 - March 14, 2018), better known as Pijuán, was a Puerto Rican musician who produced and/or has been credited on several albums under the record labels Phillips Borinquen, Hit Parade, Kubaney, Discos Melón, TH Records, Private Ranch Records and Musigol Records.

Early life and career

Pijuán's love for music began during childhood, entertaining the crowds with a small band while attending Escuela Superior República de Colombia in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After completing studies at the University of Puerto Rico, Pijuán combined tropical rhythms creating his own musical identity called "salsa lounge", throughout festivals playing salsa, son, guaguancó, guaracha, bomba, plena, ballad, mambo, jala jala, calypso, and bugalú.^[1]

During his career, he met instrumental individuals such as the director of the orchestra Rafael Muñoz, expanding the opportunity to play in prestigious hotels around Puerto Rico.^[2] Another key individual and composer was Paquito López Vidal, with whom Pijuán worked together at the Fiesta Room in the Hotel Condado Beach.^[3]

In 1964, Pijuán put together a sextet of musicians to work at the Barraca, has worked in several countries throughout the world, such as Aruba, Curazao, Colombia, Venezuela, Panamá, Perú, and the United States (Washington and New York City), thus establishing the sextet at the very same Hotel Condado Beach the following year.

TV shows

During the next decades, Pijuán showcased his vibrant Sextet to Puerto Rican TV viewers, and/or invited local musicians to shows like Show Coca-Cola, Sábado a las 12 con Pijuán and Fiestas Fijas con Pijuán - Telemundo Canal 2 (1967-1972); produced and directed La Factoría de la Salsa - TeleSiete (1973-1974); El Show del Mediodía - Channel 4 - WAPA-TV (1974-1976); and again, followed same format for the ‘new’ show Pijuán produced/directed La Nueva Factoría de la Salsa - TeleSiete (1980-1981); Encantados con Maggie (1983-1986) was part of the segment called El show de las 12 produced by Paquito Cordero and hosted by Eddie Miro - Telemundo / Canal 2 (until 1Q-2005); and Con La Música X Dentro - CLMXD on WPRV TV / Canal 13 – or Tele-Oro, broadcast directly from Pijuán's home, along with telecancionero—a karaoke format show (2007-2009).

News

Pijuán recorded with Baby Boomer Boys, a group consisting of Edward Delgado, Harry Fraticelli,^[4] Esteban Rivera, Sammy Aguirre and Tony Guayama.^[5]

Pijuán worked both media circuits, TV and music, for several years, providing a stepping stone for others to follow. Pijuán met famous acclaimed musicians and actors like Rocio Durcal, and Liza Minnelli to mention a couple.

In 2016, Pijuán celebrated his fifty-year career as a professional musician by playing at several venues around Puerto Rico.^[6]^[7]

Pijuan died on Tuesday March 14, 2018 at age 76 due to cardiac complications at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital, in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.^[8]

Discography

LPs compiled compliments of Herencia Latina:

2010 - Pijuán y Los Baby Boomer Boys – Bohemia Bailable – Musigol Records
1986 - Bizcocho & Pijuán – El premio 'Gordo' del Sabor – Private Ranch Records
1983 - Grandes Hits Navideños de Pijuán – Private Ranch Records
1982 - Harry Fraticelli – El Cantante del Pueblo (produced by Pijuán) – Private Ranch Records
1982 - Orlando Pabellón – Ahora Sí Que Estamos...Heavy (produced by Pijuán) – Private Ranch Records
1982 - Pijuán – Temas de Amor – Introducing Sammy Aguirre – Private Ranch Records
1981 - Pijuán – La Supertrulla [La Súper Trulla] # No. 3 – Discos Melón | TH Records
1980 - Pijuán – La Supertrulla [La Súper Trulla] # No. 2 – Discos Melón | TH Records
1979 - Pijuán – Emociones - vocals Hanibal – Discos Melón | TH Records

1978 - Pijuán – Salsa de Salón – Discos Melón
1978 - Puerto Rican Power – La Pura Naturaleza de la Salsa (produced by Pijuán) – Discos Melón
1977 - Pijuán – Merengues a Lo Pijuán – Discos Melón
1975 - Pijuán – La Supertrulla [La Súper Trulla] – Discos Melón All-Stars – Discos Melón
1974 - Pijuán – La Factoria de la Salsa - vocals Tony Guayama – Discos Melón
1973 - Pijuán – Un Chorrito de Pitorro – Discos Melón
1972 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – El Nuevo Album de Pijuán... – Discos Melón
1972 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – Mas Producción en Salsa Melódica – Discos REX SA (Discos Melón)
1971 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – Arráncame la Vida – Kubaney

1970 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – Ahora Es Cuando...É – Kubaney
1970 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – Ahora Sí – Kubaney
1970 - Pijuán (45rpm) – La Maestranza (A) - La Piragua (B) – Kubaney K-5362 (two cuts from the 'Ahora Sí')
1969 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – Sabor a Pueblo – A Soul Full Latin Sound for 69 – Hit Parade
1968 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – Estamos en Todas – Groovy – Hit Parade
1967 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – Swing-A-Ling y Boogaloo – Phillips Borinquen
1966 - Pijuán y su Sexteto – En el Tradewinds ‘El Floron’ | Swing with the Tide at the Tradewinds – Phillips Borinquen