Porfi Jiménez
composer
- February 16, 1928
- June 8, 2010
- 82 years
About Porfi Jiménez
Porfi Jiménez, 82, Dominican-born Venezuelan musician, arranger, composer and bandleader.
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Full Biography
|Porfirio Antonio Jiménez Núñez (February 16, 1928 – June 8, 2010) was a Dominican composer, arranger, and bandleader. A native of Hato Mayor Province, he played professionally under the name Porfi Jiménez.
Background
Jiménez' father died when he was three years old, and his mother gave him a trumpet when he turned eight. He began playing the instrument at school in 1940, turning himself into a professional musician two years later.
Jiménez was 26 years old when he arrived in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. He started to play with orchestras led by Rafael Minaya, Pedro José Belisario and Chucho Sanoja, as well as for the Billo's Caracas Boys. In the early 1960s, he became noted for his arrangements for bolero singers Felipe Pirela and Blanca Rosa Gil. He started his own Latin music dance band in 1963. With lead vocalists Kiko Mendive and Chico Salas, Jimenez' orchestra made its recording debut on the "Velvet" label. He made several albums for them in the late 1960s and mid 1970s, and helped popularize the salsa rage.
Career
Jiménez and his ensemble recorded their version of "Pata Pata" which made it info the Record World Miami Hit Single Parade in April 1968.
Jiménez enjoyed a huge success in the mid 1980s while recording for "Sonografica" label, with albums combining salsa, cumbia, and his native Dominican merengue. Some of his most popular songs include La negra Celina, Se hunde el barco, Dolores and Culu Cucú, which reached number one on the Colombian, Dominican and Venezuelan Hit Parade charts. Beside this, he conducted a 17-piece Jazz orchestra to promote the big band tradition by featuring his own repertoire and selected works of Thad Jones, Chico O'Farrill, among others.
Later years
In January 2007 Jiménez was honored in New York City by the United Nations Orchestra, created by Dizzy Gillespie, for his long and storied career in Latin music.
Death
Jiménez died in Caracas at the age of 82 on June 8, 2010.
Discography
Esto es ritmo 1964 • Porfi y Su Conjunto Ritmico
Únicamente tú 1964 • Felipe Pirela & Porfi Jiménez y Su Orquesta
A bailar con Porfi 1966
Ron con coco 1966
Pata-pata con ¡Porfi! 1967
Y el negro ahi! 1967
Orquesta Porfi Jiménez: Canta Felipe Pirela 1967 • Felipe Pirela & Porfi Jiménez y Su Orquesta
Casatshok Latin Soul 1968
Por fin Porfi 1968
Rate La machaca 1972
Así soy yo 1973
El rico sabor de Porfi Jiménez y Su Orquesta 1974
Cortando cabezas 1977
20 Años 1985
Porfi '85 1985
Bula bula 1988
Ululukukulala 1989
Parrandeando con la trigueña hermosa! 1990 • Porfi Jimenez y Su Orquesta Parrandeando
Como siempre 1992
Porfi Jiménez – Saludos a Puerto Rico 1997
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porfi_Jim%C3%A9nez
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Porfi Jiménez's archived record and the sources above.
1.What is the full name of the musician known as Porfi Jiménez?
- A.Porfirio Armando Jiménez García
- B.Porfirio Antonio Jiménez Núñezcorrect
- C.Porfirio Antonio Jiménez Sosa
- D.Porfirio Alberto Jiménez Ruiz
The biography explicitly identifies the composer as Porfirio Antonio Jiménez Núñez.
Source: Biographical introduction
2.On what date was Porfi Jiménez born?
- A.January 20, 1930
- B.March 12, 1926
- C.February 28, 1928
- D.February 16, 1928correct
Porfi Jiménez was born on February 16, 1928.
Source: Biographical introduction
3.In which province was Porfi Jiménez born?
- A.Hato Mayor Provincecorrect
- B.Santo Domingo Province
- C.La Altagracia Province
- D.San Cristóbal Province
Porfi Jiménez was a native of Hato Mayor Province.
Source: Biographical introduction
4.How old was Porfi Jiménez when his father died?
- A.Three years oldcorrect
- B.Five years old
- C.Eight years old
- D.Ten years old
The text states that the father of Porfi Jiménez died when he was three years old.
Source: Background section
5.At what age did Porfi Jiménez receive a trumpet from his mother?
- A.Eight years oldcorrect
- B.Twelve years old
- C.Six years old
- D.Ten years old
Porfi Jiménez received a trumpet from his mother when he turned eight.
Source: Background section
6.How old was Porfi Jiménez when he arrived in Caracas?
- A.22 years old
- B.26 years oldcorrect
- C.32 years old
- D.30 years old
Porfi Jiménez was 26 years old when he arrived in Caracas.
Source: Background section
7.Which singers were notable for their arrangements by Porfi Jiménez in the early 1960s?
- A.Rafael Minaya and Pedro José Belisario
- B.Felipe Pirela and Blanca Rosa Gilcorrect
- C.Thad Jones and Chico O'Farrill
- D.Kiko Mendive and Chico Salas
In the early 1960s, Porfi Jiménez became noted for his arrangements for singers Felipe Pirela and Blanca Rosa Gil.
Source: Background section
8.In what year did Porfi Jiménez start his own Latin music dance band?
- A.1968
- B.1972
- C.1963correct
- D.1960
Porfi Jiménez started his own Latin music dance band in 1963.
Source: Background section
9.Which of Porfi Jiménez's song versions made it into the Record World Miami Hit Single Parade in 1968?
- A.La negra Celina
- B.Pata Patacorrect
- C.Se hunde el barco
- D.Culu Cucú
Porfi Jiménez and his ensemble recorded their version of Pata Pata which made the Record World Miami Hit Single Parade in April 1968.
Source: Career section
10.Which label did Porfi Jiménez record for during his success in the mid-1980s?
- A.Velvet
- B.RCA Records
- C.Columbia
- D.Sonograficacorrect
Porfi Jiménez enjoyed success in the mid-1980s while recording for the Sonografica label.
Source: Career section
11.How many pieces were in the jazz orchestra conducted by Porfi Jiménez?
- A.20
- B.12
- C.17correct
- D.25
Porfi Jiménez conducted a 17-piece jazz orchestra to promote the big band tradition.
Source: Career section
12.Who created the United Nations Orchestra that honored Porfi Jiménez in 2007?
- A.Thad Jones
- B.Kiko Mendive
- C.Chico O'Farrill
- D.Dizzy Gillespiecorrect
The United Nations Orchestra was created by Dizzy Gillespie.
Source: Later years section
13.Where did Porfi Jiménez receive an honor from the United Nations Orchestra in 2007?
- A.Miami
- B.Santo Domingo
- C.New York Citycorrect
- D.Caracas
In January 2007, Porfi Jiménez was honored in New York City by the United Nations Orchestra.
Source: Later years section
14.What was the age of Porfi Jiménez at the time of his death?
- A.80
- B.85
- C.82correct
- D.78
Porfi Jiménez died in Caracas at the age of 82.
Source: Death section
15.In which city did Porfi Jiménez die?
- A.Hato Mayor
- B.Bogotá
- C.Caracascorrect
- D.New York City
Porfi Jiménez died in Caracas on June 8, 2010.
Source: Death section
16.Which of the following albums was released by Porfi Jiménez in 1964?
- A.A bailar con Porfi
- B.La machaca
- C.Esto es ritmocorrect
- D.Ron con coco
Esto es ritmo was released in 1964 according to the discography.
Source: Discography
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