| Trini Lopez recorded a series of upbeat tunes for Reprise during the mid-'60s, including a smash rendering of the folk standard "If I Had A Hammer" in 1963. The Dallas native cut some Ritchie Valens-influenced rockers for the King label prior to his discovery by producer Don Costa. Lopez's hits capture the excitement of his live performances, and his driving renditions of "Kansas City" (1963), "Lemon Tree" (1965), and "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (1966) were substantial sellers. Reportedly one of Dean Martin's favorite performers, Lopez hosted his own network TV variety program and co-starred as one of "The Dirty Dozen" in the popular 1967 movie. By the 1970's Lopez was all but forgotten when he made a desperate attempt as a disco artist for a comeback. His 1978 Roulette 12" single of "Helplessly" and "Trini's Medley" did nothing for his career or the label. The song went unplayed, and the record went unsold. Trini then moved to the lucrative Latin market and has continued to record and tour throughout the remainder of the century. In July, 2001, Trini was honored by the group "Nosotros" in Beverly Hills, California. He was presented with the prestigious "LIVING LEGEND AWARD." |
