A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico and the son of a dance orchestra leader, Elvira began his musical career playing jazz trumpet with his father's group and later formed his own orchestra.

The turning point in his singing career was his introduction to Pablo Casals and a successful audition that led to Elvira's touring and recording with Casals' Oratorio for world peace.

In 1966, he participated in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in New York and was selected by the Dean of the Indiana University School of Music to join their voice faculty. He remained there for eight years and performed leading baritone roles in the opera school's productions.

After a year spent performing in Europe, he returned briefly to Indiana before moving to New York and debuting with New York City's Metropolitan Opera in 1978, becoming one of the leading baritones.

While in New York, he performed with such opera greats as Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo.

During his career, Elvira sang in France, Germany, South America, Australia, Puerto Rico, Israel and throughout the United States. He was known for his interpretation of the brash, joke-cracking role of Figaro in ``The Barber of Seville.''