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.