La Lupe and controversy over drugs

The following entry is posted on behalf of Ela Troyano, the producer of La Lupe, Queen of Latin Soul.  The film can be seen on Tuesday, June 5 at 10pm on WPBT, Channel 2 in Miami, as part of the series Independent Lens.  You can see two short interviews with Ms. Troyano at uVu.channel2.org (pt.1/ pt.2) excerpts from a full  program, Viva Voz, which can be seen on Vme (digital channel 2.3). You can read the first part of Ela's entry here.

La Lupe and controversy over drugs

Almost everyone I interviewed for the documentary brought up the issue of drugs one way or the other.  Some wanted to know my position before agreeing to an interview, often insisting, adamantly that La Lupe never did any drugs.  It became a kind of litmus test.

There were many things that seemed odd and unfair about these discussions.  For one the 60’s and 70’s, La Lupe’s era was one of tremendous cultural change, and drugs and sex played interlocking roles.  While there were many Latino musicians that did their share of drugs, only La Lupe and Hector Lavoe were branded in public as drug users.

Often La Lupe’s friends will insist that “no one saw her use drugs.”  As Izzy Sanabria claims in the doc “If you took me to a court of law… I never saw La Lupe do drugs cause she never shared, I never did coke with her.”  Perhaps Richie Viera Jr’s explanation for this is the most plausible, he believes that she was private about any drug use because she was scared of being deported back to Cuba, back to Fidel.

There are credible witnesses “off the record” who claim they saw her do drugs.  And there are other factors – her first husband in Cuba, the band leader Eulogio “Yoyo” Reyes was a known drug user, even seller according to some.  But in the club scene in Cuba in 1957 musicians considered smoking weed to be the same as drinking rum, simply no big deal.  At that time La Lupe had just finished her studies in La Escuela Normal, with a teaching degree, an innocent twenty-one year old arriving in the big city.  By the mid 70’s towards the end of her music career she got together with Mario "Chango" Di Frisco, the father of her daughter Rainbow; it is public record that Mario is a recovering drug user.  There were drugs near her throughout her life.

Her long time personal assistants Merceditas Rojas and Viola Vazquez insist she did no drugs but both agree that she was “pastillera,” that she took pills, “up's and down"s.” 

Why is the discussion of drugs off limits in any discussion of latin music when it has been a presence in all American music?   Why were drugs, something so prevalent in that era used to discredit La Lupe, to belittle her contribution as the Queen of Latin Soul?

Comments

[J.]

I am happy you wrote more about this issue.
I was showing videos of la Lupe on the internet to some friends of mine during the weekend after watching the screening on Thursday, and everyone was asking me what kind of drugs was she using...
I could only repeat "One pill up and pill down" as the woman from the movie says.
I have two questions about the movie. How come there are no interviews of Tito Puente on La Lupe? And why her children did not participate verbally in the documentary?
It seemed to me that they all played a major role in her life and were the on who spent a lot of time with her.

[Ela]

Tito Puente died in 2000, before we had started the documentary -- it was one of the reasons that I felt it was so important, we had to start finding documents. We had one photo of La Lupe when we started.

Celia Cruz died in 2003, I was on the plane going to Cuba when we heard an announcement over the loudspeaker. When we got to La Habana everyone was watching her funeral on illegal cable hookups, this was going on day and night.

Mongo Santamaria probably gave me the last interview in his life. I shot it myself with a minidv camera I bought that day -- the only person that I "pre-shot". As it turned out it was the only interview.

My choice was to try and get interviews that gave a sense of who she was and the era. I love story telling, love to hear older people recount their history.

I approached the family but they had been burnt by so many people approaching them that I think they were hesitant. At the time they decided to work on a book with a journalist and wanted to do their own documentary. I think they have a unique story and am hoping they get to tell it.

[J.]

Thank you for answering. It was very helpful. I became a Lupe addict now singing her song all around my house with my sister and trying to imitate her dance moves.
It was a great idea to do that documentary. So many people don't know about her.
Do you think you will release the documentary on dvd? Or is it already done?

[Ela]

Hopefully the documentary will be released on DVD later on this year.

Please look for it, it should have additional materials that could not be included in the one hour PBS program. These would include Norma Yoli's anecdotes about La Lupe as a child in Santiago, Mongo Santamaria's anecdotes on travelling in the south; Lupe's preparations before a show, etc.

[Katrina]

We saw an ad on PBS in NYC (ch. 13) last week indicating that your film would be shown tonight (6/5/07) - my husband and I were so excited that we even marked it on the calendar. We were suprised today to see that it's been replaced on the TV listings by something about Doo-Wop. Any word on why, and if they will indeed be showing it? We were really looking forward to it!

[Amanda]

Is there a mailing list where I can sign up for information about the DVD? My local station didn't broadcast the program on its premiere last night and I was extremely disappointed. I am eager to see it! (I marked it on my calendar too!!)

[Ela]

Thank you for asking about the schedule change --
WNET in NYC like other local PBS stations, in Chicago, Houston, LA, SF, etc. decided to run their fundraising programs June 5th when we were scheduled for broadcast. We expect to be scheduled again in the Fall. Please check local listings; you can also contact your local PBS station and let them know you want to see La Lupe Queen of Latin Soul. Thank you Channel 2 Miami for presenting us!

[Pilar]

I heard about the program and watched at a neighbors b/c I don't have digital. The program was excellent.I also saw a few years ago a play about her in Ny (PR Traveling Theather)which was also excellent. I saw another pre-play(in Ny The Spanish Repritorio) and there it was discussed that her daughter objected and threaten a lawsuit if there was mention of drug use. The is another web site that says she was survived by her husband Willie. I was given the impression from both plays that he died and one of the reasons she went broke was b/c she spent her money taking care of Willies hospital bills.

[Ela]

Willie did survive La Lupe. There are many reasons why she ended up broke. More tomorrow on this...

[Bobby Bodden]

One night having been a salsa musician for 20 yrs.,I was playing in a Club in the Bronx called side street(circa 84-85) doing a tribute to another well known salsero- Jimmy Sabater. I believe she was also receiving an award. Having seen her as a teen, she exuded energy. If you were tired she would wake you up! No one was quite like her. This night she came on stage exuding that same energy. I was privileged to have LA LUPE almost knock over my keyboard. She still possessed that energy!!! LAUREN VELEZ SHOULD BE CHOSEN TO PLAY HER! I repeat LAUREN VELEZ!!!

[Will Alvarez Jr]

I am a musician since 15 yrs of age that has chosen other professional career avenues. That era had many musicians and singers that were photographed and these photos at times were put on the magazines of that time. I remember seeing as a kid. Cheo Feliciano, Joe Cuba, La Lupe, Santos Colon, Tito Puente,Jimmy Sabater to name a few. At a photgraphed club scene. My Mom & Dad were weekend dancers at the time. My dad is from Mayaguez P.R as is Santos Colon. My dad would share some stories with me about this scene before becoming a percussionist.
My question to you is. Some of these greats are still alive and have shared intimate moments and stages with La Lupe and can give these stories to you.

Willie was with Joe Cuba at that time. Many of his alumni can give insight. Why not them??? Haila Mompie has the voice to imitate La Lupe. She is from Cuba and has tremendous chops and cache to do the job. Few women singers here of caribbean decent, if any have that cuban sabor and way to even attempt to imitate La Lupe. Much make-up and dress up must be done for Haila. But I can bet that I am 85% close in terms of a candidate for voice and other attributes. Haila can swing and I recommend her to our latin contingent in terms of new generation. Bless La Lupe! La Unica!

[Frank]

The documentary was on twice on channel 132 in NJ last weekend. What a wonderfull piece of work, from the clips to the commentary from La Lupe's sister in Cuba. I was wondering if the dvd would have more material on it and I'm happy to see that it will.

I have been a La Lupe fan since the 60s. I saw her at Carnegie Hall in 1969 and is one of the highlights of my memory bank. At 1 point, she sat on a stool with a light shined on her and she did slow songs. EVERY woman in the audience seemed to be weeping. La Lupe was the best. Thanks for the stellar documentary and I hope the dvd is for sale soon.

[Mike]

Ela,

do you know whatever happened with the development of the movie with Lauren Velez. I know when she was on NY Undercover there was talk about it but I havent heard anything since. I was just curious! I actually saw the Documentary on Cahannel 13 last night and it was great. I'm glad someone actually took the time to bring this person to the masses.

[Mike]

Ela,

Do you know whatever happened with the development of the movie with Lauren Velez. I know when she was on NY Undercover there was talk about it but I havent heard anything since. I was just curious! I actually saw the Documentary on Cahannel 13 last night and it was great. I'm glad someone actually took the time to bring this person to the masses.

[Juan I. Sanchez]

Despite much fame on The Queen La Lupe, La YiYiYi. When her era was swept-away from her. And finally after much devotion to Jesus Christ, he took her home, to HEAVEN. La Lupe was laid to rest in an unmark grave. Visiting and seeing that number 88, hurt me. I decided first with my own monies (and family)I put a lay-away on a headstone;ZERO, Hunts Point Section. Gradually, I received contributions from many. Finally, April 2000, The Queen, La Lupe, had her headstone with her photo, also. Visit, and take her some flowers; St. Raymonds Cemetery, St. Matthew Section, Range 7, Grave 88. Say a prayer, and afterwards, say "Ahi Na'Ma La YiYiYi, La Lupe," she's shine from HEAVEN. Amen. Juan Ignacio Sanchez (Lifetime admirer), Bronx, New York

[monica h]

There might be a chance that the La Lupe film will come to fruition! Lauren Velez will do a one night only show of "La Lupe: A One Woman Show" April 15, 2009 in Miami Beach. Wish I could be there !!!!!!
Her boyfriend and writer/creator of Showtime's Dexter, James Manos Jr. wrote and directed it.
The show is mainly to raise interest in possible investors to produce a full feature film. I hope it goes well for them She is long overdue and I think she'll nail it.