José Lacay (born March 19, 1947, in Santo Domingo; died November 14, 2016) was a Dominican ballad and bolero singer associated with songs including «Marión» and «El motivo». He won the performer’s first prize at the fifth Dominican Song Festival in 1972 and worked in television, international festivals and tourist entertainment.

Training and television

His early exposure came through «La Hora del Moro», the Rahintel television programme hosted by Rafael Solano. He moved to New York in 1962 to study, taking singing lessons with pianist Gilberto Muñoz. He later continued his vocal training in Santo Domingo with soprano Ivonne Haza. In 1966 he made a professional television appearance on Myrta Silva’s «Una Hora Contigo» and subsequently toured with her.

Song festivals

After returning to the Dominican Republic in 1968, Lacay entered the festivals organised by «AMUCABA». In 1972 he won first place as a performer with «Llegó el invierno», written by Fernando and Ricardo Escovar. The song also earned the award for best arrangement, by Jorge Taveras. His career extended to festival appearances and performances in the Americas and Europe.

Repertoire and recordings

His remembered interpretations include «Marión», «El motivo», «Ya», «La copia» and «Amor desolado». Music platforms preserve the albums «Con Amor» and «Ese...es», along with his performance of «Después de hablar» on the compilation from the second Dominican Song Festival. Romantic song was central to his public identity, while contemporary accounts of his death also document merengue and salsa in his repertoire.

Stage revues and tourism

Lacay belonged to the solo singers’ roster of the «Ballet Folklórico Nacional», directed by Josefina Miniño. A bilingual singer, he performed in hotel and resort shows and presented his own musical revue, «Santo Domingo es así». These engagements formed another part of his work bringing Dominican music to international audiences.

Legacy

Lacay died on November 14, 2016, aged 69. Acroarte remembered his interpretive skill and his representation of the country at song festivals. His career connected the solo singer’s tradition with television and musical revues, leaving a repertoire remembered within Dominican popular song.