Juanchín Ramírez

Life and career The Septeto Puerto Rico in the early 1930s. Ramírez is sitting, on the left. Born in San Juan on April 22, 1906, son of Lino Ramírez, Spanish, and Marta Rivera, from Bayamón, Juanchín became interested in music from a young age. His uncle Paco played euphonium, while the Lumbano family (related to Ramírez through his mother's previous marriage) contained several percussionists. After four years, Ramírez left the Septeto and was replaced by Miguelito Miranda, in order to join Orquesta Modelo, while also playing with Rafael Hernández's group, and shortly afterwards the Orquesta Carmelo Díaz Soler. This was the first group to record a guaracha in Puerto Rico, doing so in 1932.

Around 1944, Ramírez emigrated to New York, where he joined Los Segundo Afro Cubanos de Varona. The Pleneros were founded as the house band of TV channel WIPR-TV, and often featured Rafael Cepeda as lead singer, although the main vocalist was Tasso Peña.

Ramírez died in Río Piedras, San Juan, on June 16, 1986. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Banda del Instituto de Cultura.