German Vega, a Puerto Rican musician who recorded
with Elvis Presley and was an original member of the
trio Los Hispanos, has died, his family said. He was
75.
Patricia Vega said her father died in his Tampa
apartment Monday. She said one of the highlights of
his career was recording "Fun in Acapulco" with
Presley in the early 1960s and playing gigs with his
friends as far away as Japan.
"He was one of the best second voices of Puerto
Rico, a great musician and a great person. He never
spoke to offend; he was one of God's souls," said
Guito Vadis, who worked with Vega in a quartet known
as the Four Amigos.
He said the group also performed with Elvis on
1962's Girls! Girls! Girls!
Vega, who was also known as "Salinas" in honour of
his native town in southern Puerto Rico, also
belonged to the trio Los Borincanos and Los Chicos
de San Juan, said Orvil Miller, a musician and
singer who wrote an article about the collaboration
with Presley.
