Hector Lavoe; Grammy-Nominated Salsa Singer

NEW YORK — Hector Lavoe, a popular salsa singer who was once nominated for a Grammy Award, has died of a heart attack, his record company said. He was 46.

Lavoe, who died Tuesday, often shared the stage with top tropical musicians, notably fellow Puerto Rican Tito Puente, Celia Cruz of Cuba and Ruben Blades of Panama.

In 1988, he was nominated for a Grammy in the tropical music category for his record “Lavoe Strikes Back.”

His other recordings include the albums “La Voz” (“The Voice”), “Fania All Stars at Yankee Stadium” and “Asalto Navideno” (“Christmas Surprise Party”) with Willie Colon.

Victor Gallo, general manager of Sonido, Lavoe’s music company, said Lavoe had “a unique style which carried joy to all those who knew his music throughout Latin America.”

Lavoe died at St. Clare’s Hospital. Gallo said Lavoe’s health had deteriorated gradually since he survived a fall from the ninth floor of a hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1988.

Lavoe came to New York from Puerto Rico at 17.