Raphy Leavitt Can’t Rest in Peace
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Raphy Leavitt’s widow continues her shameful pursuit of lawsuits and money against her late husband’s bandmates of La Selecta!
Raphy Leavitt Must be Turning in his Grave
Why would this woman go after the people that worked with her husband, and helped him build his legacy? They simply want to extend that legacy while making a living! I don’t get it!
According to a local newspaper, now the widow wants $850,000 from these blue-collar musicians, for the only sin of preserving her late husband’s legacy. What a shame!
I bet Raphy would’ve been more than happy to see his ex-bandmates continue to carry the torch of his music with La Selecta.
It turns out that his widow wouldn’t let La Selecta’s legendary singer Sammy Marrero and his other bandmates use the name of the band! Unfortunately, she won that battle!
There’s a saying in Spanish that roughly translates to “She’s like the Lutheran’s dog; won’t eat and won’t let anyone else eat”.
Most late great musicians have the reverse problem. They may ask themselves…who will carry on my legacy?
Raphy Leavitt must be turning in his grave for the legal actions his widow is carrying out against his ex-bandmates! Doesn’t she remember the words her late husband wrote in “Jibaro Soy”?
“My song is an altar..
..it’s not the yell of a rebel…
..God deliver me from that fate…
..if I’m to wound a Puerto Rican…
..here, take my hands…
..don’t let me attempt it…”
Event for Sammy Marrero’s Legal Fund
It’s a sad day when musicians that are trying to make an honest and decent living by simply trying to keep their late bandleader’s legacy alive through his songs, have to battle their right to do so in the courts.
I would encourage Raphy Leavitt’s widow to cease and desist (since she likes legal jargon) from these legal actions and to let these humble musicians honor her late husband with the music he made and performed.
Raphy Leavitt, Puerto Rico, and the entire Salsa world will appreciate that!
Here’s how you can help level the playing field in this battle.
Sammy Marrero is offering an event where he will perform (I think) as well as some of his fellow friends like Andy Montanez, Luisito Carrion, Pedro Brull, and others. The event is to raise funds for his legal defense.
The event will be held on November 3rd in the ILA Building in Kennedy Ave., San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Tickets are available through PRticket.com or by calling 787-303-0334.
At this time, there’s no other information on how to help Sammy Marrero and the band if you’re not in Puerto Rico. If anything else comes through, I will let you know.
I remember being little and my mother cleaning the house and listening to la Selecta specially payaso jibaro soy soldado all this beautiful song
Yes. For Raphy’s widow to do this to Sammy Marrero and not allowing his songs to be played is such a bad situation. Those are classics that should remain accessible to Salsa fans.