Radio legend Vega dies at 84
Ruled Spanish-language airwaves on area stations for more than 50 years
Polito Vega, the man who ruled Spanish-language music radio in New York City for decades on La Mega 97.9, has died. He was 84.
Vega’s death was announced Thursday by his station, which did not mention an official cause.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Polito Vega,” read a Thursday morning Instagram post from La Mega 97.9. “We cannot express how much we will miss him, but we are grateful for the time we had to share with him and the legacy he leaves in the world of radio.”
Known as “El Rey de la Radio,” Vega was the defining figure of New York City Spanish radio for five decades, including more than 20 years at top-rated La Mega. His “Salsa Con Polito” on Saturdays and “Clásicos Sundays” were weekend go-tos for positive vibes and even better music.
“Rest in peace, king,” Colombian artist Alex Sensation wrote on the Instagram post Thursday. “Thank you for everything you did for us, we will never forget you.”
Born Aug. 3, 1938 in Puerto Rico, Vega arrived in New York City in 1959. He worked on his English by reading the news and working low-rent radio gigs. Vega’s first show was called “Fiesta Time” on now-defunct WEVD in 1960.
“When I started out, you read the commercials live on the radio,” he said. “There were only two turntables; you had to do everything from your own voice.”
Vega was one of the first radio DJs to play salsa on the air, helping to introduce artists like Machito and Tito Rodriguez to larger audiences.
But Vega’s breakthrough came from hosting “El Club de la Juventud” from 1967-1970 on WNJU. The show, modeled on “American Bandstand,” paired Vega with up-and-coming Latin artists.
“I had to deal with all those teens, those hoods — they’d sometimes get into fights on the air,” he told the Daily News in 2009. “All the stars of the time went through there: Cheo Feliciano, La Lupe, Willie Colón.”
“El Club de la Juventud” molded Vega’s relationships with performers and his skills on the air. He used his talents and connections to build an empire at WSKQ’s La Mega.
“I’ve always been full of tricks, and worked as my own agent,” Vega said in 2009. “I was in everything, like white rice.”
Vega was also renowned for his uncanny ability to identify talented young artists. Raúl Alarcón Jr., who owns WSKQ’s parent company, said he had a “golden ear that can’t be fooled.”
Vega’s influence is perhaps best understood through the performers who attended his 50th anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden in 2009: Juanes, Alejandro Sanz, Laura Pausini, Luis Fonsi, Enrique Iglesias, Don Omar and Gloria Trevi, to name just a few.
“He is that rarest of rarities: a man who wields enormous power and yet has no enemies,” Alarcón said in 2012. “He contributes integrity, knowledge, friendship, experience, judgment, expertise, notoriety, honesty, authenticity, visibility, camaraderie, veracity, enormous recognition and fun.”
Vega said he did it all for love of the game.
“Radio work is really beautiful,” he explained in 2009. “You can really talk with the people.”