RAFAEL HERNÁNDEZ
![RAFAEL HERNÁNDEZ](https://www.vintagemusic.fm/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/rafaelhernandez.jpg)
Releases
Margarita Cueto y Juan Arvizu
Boleros Rancheros, María Elena Sandoval
Joe Quijano, Joe Quijano
Ruth Fernández, Ruth Fernández
Rafael Hernández a Piano, Everardo Ordaz
Jorge Fernández, Serenata
Los Bribones
Cuco Sánchez, Cuco Sánchez
Boleros, Julito Rodríguez
Danzones de Cuba, Abelardito Valdés
La Mano de Dios, Felipe Rodríguez
Gilberto Valdés, Gilberto Valdés
El Bodeguero, Orquesta Aragón
Exitos Hispano-Americanos, Rafael Muñoz
Total, Fernando Álvarez
Acerina, Danzones Clásicos
Toña la Negra, Toña la Negra
Mi Cafetal, Cuarteto Marcano
Trío Tamaulipeco de Los Hermanos Samperio
Reina del Caribe, Milagros Lanty
José Luis Moneró, José Luis Moneró
Desde Puerto Rico, Sexteto Borinquen De Mike Cruz
La marimba, Marimba Chiapas
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, Desi Arnaz
Piano, Your Favorite Latin Rhythms, Damiron
Rolando Laserie, Rolando Laserie
Buen Borincano, Cuarteto Marcano
Rafael Hernández y Su Conjunto
El Trovador Codina
La Vaca Lechera, Carlos Barberia
La Guajira de Salón, Guillermo Portabales
Bolero y Guaracha, Daniel Santos
Mujer Sin Corazón, Trío San Juan
Aquellos Ojos Verdes, Leo Marini
Alma Llanera, Gregorio Barrios
Antonio Machín, New York 1930 - 1934
Tú Lo Sabes, Alfonso Ortíz Tirado
Mi Jaca, Tata Ramos
Sabor A Mí, Rolando Laserie
En Mi Viejo San Juan, Los Tres Reyes
Merengues Clásicos, Dioris Valladares
Xiomara Alfaro, Cubana
Caribe, Alfredo Sadel
El Manisero, Carmen Barros
La Novia, Antonio Prieto
Primera Época, Daniel Santos
Piano and Rhythm, Joe Loco
Tu Primer beso, Julito Rodriguez
Café del Danzón, Antonio María Romeu
Boda Negra, Orestes Macías
1946, Primera Época del Trío Vegabajeño
Regresó Mi Gallo, Candita Vázquez
Noches Mexicanas, Chucho Zarzosa
Luna de Miel en Puerto Rico, Los Ruffino
Diez Años, Julita Ross
Tropic Nights, Elvira Ríos
Los Tres Diamantes vs. Los Tres Reyes
Homenaje a Rafael Hernández, Trío Vegabajeño
Añoranza Jíbara, Cuarteto Victoria De Rafael Hernández
Can Can Cha, Peruchín
Cuba y Puerto Rico, Luisito Plá
Sabicas & Escudero, Masters of the Spanish Guitar
Silencio, José Donate
Marimbas Mexicanas, Marimba Chiapas
Una Copa Más, Hernando Avilés, Los tres Reyes
Alma, Corazón y Vida, Cheíto González
Sabrosona Cuba, Orquesta Aragón
Boleros Cubanos, Orlando Vallejo
Somos Diferentes, Johnny Rodríguez y su Trío
Son Tres, Davilita
Libertad, Mario Hernández
Perlas Cubanas: Cuarteto D'Aida
Café Bolero, Pepe Jaramillo
Son De La Loma, Luis González Pérez
Los Tres Diamantes, Boleros
Los Panchos, Los Panchos
Holiday in Rio, Werner Müller
Ojos Tapatíos, Julito Rodríguez
Historia De Un Amor, Hermanas Hernández
Respeta Mi Pollo, Ernestina Reyes
Cuban Jam Session, Walfredo de los Reyes Jr
Orquesta Casino de la Playa
Piensa en Mí, Los Tres Ases
Nostalgia, Gilberto Monroig
Homenaje a Rafael Hernández "El Jibarito"
Orquesta América Del 55
Barbarito Diez, Barbarito Díez
Alfredo Sadel, Alfredo Sadel
Damiron Y Su Ritmo (Piano Y Merengue), Damiron
La Cumbancha, Conjunto Los Cariñosos
Huapango de la Caña Brava, Trío Tamaulipeco
Cuba Travel Songs. Son De Cuba
Mi Canción. Boleros, Alfredo Sadel
Virgen de Media Noche, Sexteto Borinquen (Mario Hernández)
The First Panchos, Los Panchos
Piccolissima Serenata, Germán Vergara
Abandonada, Los Bribones
Danzas De Puerto Rico
Románticos de Puerto Rico
De Cuba a Puerto Rico
100 Puerto Rico Vintage, La Isla del Encanto Vol. 2
Afro Cuban Jazz, Various Artists
Así Bailaba Puerto Rico
Boleros y Más
Lamento Borincano, Xiomara Alfaro
Mr. Guaguancó, Arty Valdés
Videos
Biography
Rafael Hernández (October 24, 1892 – December 11, 1965), was one of the most important composers of Puerto Rican popular music during the 20th century. Rafael Hernández (birth name: Rafael Hernández Marín) was born in the town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, into a poor family. As a child, he learned the craft of cigar making, from which he made a modest living.
He also grew to love music and asked his parents to permit him to become a full-time music student. When he was 12 years old, Rafael Hernández studied music in San Juan, under the guidance of music professors Jose Ruellan Lequenica and Jesús Figueroa.
He learned to play many musical instruments, among them the clarinet, tuba, violin, piano and guitar. However, according to many Puerto Rican music historians, it was when he learned how to write music that his life and the history of Puerto Rican music would change forever. At the age of 14, he played for the Cocolia Orquestra.
Rafael Hernández moved to San Juan where he played for the municipal orchestra under the director Manuel Tizol.In 1917, Rafael Hernández was working as a musician in North Carolina, when the U.S. entered World War I. The Jazz bandleader James Reese Europe recruited brothers Rafael and Jesús Hernández, and 16 more Puerto Ricans to join the United States Army’s Harlem Hell fighters musical band, the Orchestra Europe.
He enlisted and was assigned to the U.S. 369th Infantry Regiment (formerly known as the 15th Infantry Regiment, New York National Guard, created in New York City June 2, 1913). The regiment, nicknamed “The Harlem Hell Fighters” by the Germans, served in France. Rafael Hernández toured Europe with the Orchestra Europe.
The 369th was awarded French Croix de Guerre for battlefield gallantry by the President of France.After the war, Rafael Hernández moved to New York City. In the 1920s, he started writing songs and organized a trio called “Trio Borincano”. In 1926, fellow Puerto Rican Pedro Flores joined the Trio.
Even though Rafael Hernández and Flores became and always remained good friends, they soon went their separate ways and artistically competed against each other. After the trio broke up, he formed a quartet called “Cuarteto Victoria” which included singer Myrta Silva, also known as La Guarachera and La Gorda de Oro. With both groups, Hernández traveled and played his music all over the United States and Latin America.
On September 2, 1927, Hernández’ sister Victoria opens what is probably the first Puerto Rican-owned music store, which also acts as a booking agency and base of operations for her brother. In 1929, Trío Borinquen recorded Linda Quisqueya (originally titled Linda Borinquen) and that same year he founded the “Cuarteto Victoria” (also known as “El Cuarteto Rico”) named after his sister.
In 1932, Rafael Hernández moved to Mexico, where the Mexicans treated him as one of their own. There, he directed an orchestra and enrolled in Mexico’s National Music Conservatory to further enrich his musical knowledge. Hernández also became an actor and organized many of the musical scores in Mexico’s “golden age” of movies. The Mexicans of the state of Puebla consider his composition “Qué Chula es Puebla” to be their unofficial anthem.
His wife (and eventual widow) was Mexican.In 1937, Rafael Hernández wrote one of his greatest works, “Lamento borincano”. That same year, he also wrote what is considered by many to be his masterpiece, “Preciosa”. In 1947, Hernández returned to Puerto Rico and became the director of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. He was also a musical advisor to the government-owned WIPR Radio.
Hernandez’s talent went beyond composing only patriotic music. He also composed Christmas music, Danzas, Zarzuelas, Guarachas, Lullabies, Boleros, Waltzes and more. Many people in the Dominican Republic consider his composition “Linda Quisqueya” their second national anthem.
Hernández’s works’ include “Ahora seremos felices” (Now We Will Be Happy), “Campanitas de cristal” (Crystal Bells), “Capullito de Alhelí”, “Culpable” (Guilty),”El Cumbanchero” (also known as “Rockfort Rock” or “Comanchero” (sic) to reggae aficionados), “Ese soy yo” (That’s Me), “Perfume de Gardenias” (Gardenia’s Perfume), “Silencio” (Silence), and “Tú no comprendes” (You Don’t Understand), among 3,000 others. His music became an important part of the Puerto Rican Culture.
Rafael Hernández was Honorary President of the Authors and Composers Association. He was also the founder of little league baseball in Puerto Rico. President John F. Kennedy christened him “Mr. Cumbanchero”.
Rafael Hernández died in San Juan on December 11, 1965, shortly after Banco Popular de Puerto Rico produced a TV special in his honor in which he addressed the people for the last time. The special was simulcast on all TV and most island radio stations. The TV special was rebroadcast on May 13, 2007. Rafael Hernández’s remains are buried in the Santa Maria Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery of Old San Juan.