Oscar Hernández (born March 22, 1954) is an American pianist, arranger and producer of Puerto Rican descent.

Life and career

Early years

Hernández's family moved to the United States from

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...

in the 1940s, in search of a better way of life. They settled down in the

South Bronx The South Bronx is an area of the New York City Borough (New York City), borough of the Bronx. The area comprises neighborhoods in the southern part of the Bronx, such as Concourse, Bronx, Concourse, Mott Haven, Bronx, Mott Haven, Melrose, B ...

, a

ghetto A ghetto, often called ''the'' ghetto, is a part of a city in which members of a minority group live, especially as a result of political, social, legal, environmental or economic pressure. Ghettos are often known for being more impoverished t ...

, which is a section that is heavily populated by

latinos Hispanic and Latino Americans ( es, Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos; pt, Estadunidenses hispânicos e latinos) are Americans of Spaniards, Spanish and/or Latin Americans, Latin American ancestry. More broadly, these demographics include a ...

in New York where Hernández was born. Hernández who was the youngest of eleven siblings, received his primary and secondary education in the city's public school system.Guernica Magazine Interview

Early musical influences

As a child he was exposed to the music of

Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz c ...

Tito Rodríguez Pablo Rodríguez Lozada (January 4, 1923 – February 28, 1973), better known as Tito Rodríguez, was a Puerto Rican singer and bandleader. He started his career singing under the tutelage of his brother, Johnny Rodríguez. In the 1940s, both m ...

and

Willie Colón William Anthony Colón Román (born April 28, 1950) is an American salsa musician and social activist. He began his career as a trombonist and also sings, writes, produces and acts. He is also involved in the politics of New York City. Colón ...

among others. He would also sneak into nightclubs to watch and listen to the music of

Ray Barretto Raymundo "Ray" Barretto Pagán (April 29, 1929 – February 17, 2006) was an American percussionist and bandleader of Puerto Rican descent. Throughout his career as a percussionist, he played a wide variety of Latin music styles, as well as Lati ...

Eddie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri (born December 15, 1936) is an American Grammy Award-winning pianist, bandleader, musician, and composer of Puerto Rican ancestry. He is the founder of the bands La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. Early life Pal ...

and

Richie Ray Ricardo "Richie" Ray (born February 15, 1945) is a Nuyorican (a New York-born Puerto Rican) virtuoso pianist, singer, music arranger, composer and religious minister known for his success beginning in 1965 as part of the duo Richie Ray & Bobby ...

. Hernández was determined to leave the ghetto after witnessing the death of one of his brothers. In 1966, he took trumpet playing classes at a local Boys Club. Two years later someone gave his brother a piano, which he kept in the basement of the apartment building where the family lived. Some of the local musicians, who would get together and jam in the basement, showed Hernández the basics of piano playing; the rest was self-taught.Video interview with Oscar Hernández on Salsa Central
/ref>

Recording debut

Hernández began playing with some local bands, among them was Joey Pastrana and La Conquistadora, with whom he made his recording debut with ''"Don Pastrana"''. In 1972, he was hired by

Ismael Miranda Ismael Miranda, also known as ''El Niño Bonito de la Salsa'' ("The Pretty Boy of Salsa") (born February 20, 1950) is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter. Early years Miranda (birth name: Ismael Miranda Carrero ) was born in Aguada, Puerto Rico ...

and after playing with Miranda he went to work for Ray Barretto. With Barretto, he gained experience in musical arrangements and was introduced to the

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

music of

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

and

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

. Hernández played an instrumental role in the recording of ''"Rican Struction"'', which is considered as a Latin classic. After six years with Barretto, he met

Rubén Blades Rubén Blades Bellido de Luna (born July 16, 1948), known professionally as Rubén Blades (, but in Panama and within the family), is a Panamanian musician, singer, composer, actor, activist, and politician, performing musically most often in th ...

and joined his group Seis Del Solar. Hernández enrolled in the

City University of New York The City University of New York ( CUNY; , ) is the Public university, public university system of Education in New York City, New York City. It is the largest urban university system in the United States, comprising 25 campuses: eleven Upper divis ...

. His professors were lenient because they understood that he was often on tour, Eventually he earned his bachelor's degree in Music. Hernández has performed with

Celia Cruz Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso (21 October 1925 – 16 July 2003), known as Celia Cruz, was a naturalized Cuban-American singer and one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century. Cruz rose to fame in Cuba during t ...

Julio Iglesias Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (; born 23 September 1943) is a Spanish singer, songwriter and former professional footballer. Iglesias is recognized as the most commercially successful Spanish singer in the world and one of the top record ...

Juan Luis Guerra Juan Luis Guerra Seijas (born June 7, 1957) is a Dominican musician, singer, composer, and record producer. He has sold 30 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists. Throughout his career, he has wo ...

Oscar D'León Oscar Emilio León Somoza (born July 11, 1943), known as Oscar D'León, and affectionately called ''The Pharaoh of Salsa'', ''The Lion of Salsa'', and the ''World's Sonero'', is a Venezuelan musician best known for his work with salsa music. He ...

and for the groups Libre and Folkorico Experimental. He also produced records for Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, Daniel Ponce, Rafael DeJesus, Eddie Torres and Phil Hernandez.

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Hernández was the founder, music director and pianist for the

Spanish Harlem Orchestra Spanish Harlem Orchestra is a Latin dance music orchestra based in the United States, founded by Aaron Levinson and Oscar Hernandez. Their debut album was released in October 2002. The orchestra often tours worldwide. Discography ''Un Gran ...

. This came about when he met Aaron Levinson, a music producer who had a contract with

Warner Brothers Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American Film studio, film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios, Burbank, Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, Califo ...

. The idea of forming a group came about and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra was born. The group received a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

nomination in 2002 for "Best Salsa Album, a Billboard Award in 2003 for "Salsa Album of the year and in 2005 a Grammy Award for "Best Salsa Album".

Broadway musical ''The Capeman''

Musician

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor whose career has spanned six decades. He is one of the most acclaimed songwriters in popular music, both as a solo artist and as half of folk roc ...

asked Hernández to arrange and produce the music for the

Broadway musical Broadway theatre,Although ''theater'' is generally the spelling for this common noun in the United States (see American and British English spelling differences), 130 of the 144 extant and extinct Broadway venues use (used) the spelling ''Th ...

The Capeman ''The Capeman'' is a musical play with music by Paul Simon and book and lyrics by Simon and Derek Walcott based on the life of convicted murderer Salvador Agrón. The play opened at the Marquis Theatre in 1998 to poor reviews and ran for 68 p ...

'', which is based on the real-life story of

Salvador Agron Salvador AgronThe correct spelling of his surname in Spanish is Agrón. But the biography by Jacoby, his personal friend, uses the americanized spelling Agron exclusively throughout. The book contains numerous examples of personal correspondence ...

. His work also required that he be the Musical Director and Conductor. Hernández was the musical director and arranger for the theatre shows ''Quien mató a

Héctor Lavoe Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez (30 September 1946 – 29 June 1993), better known as Héctor Lavoe, was a Puerto Rican salsa singer. Lavoe is considered to be possibly the best and most important singer and interpreter in the history of salsa ...

'' (Who murdered Héctor Lavoe) and ''La Lupe''. Hernández played piano on the theme score for the

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...

television series ''

Sex and the City ''Sex and the City'' is an American romantic comedy, romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's Sex and the City (newspaper column), newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the ...

''. He has also written the musical score for some of the commercial jingles for various companies, among them: Dunkin' Donuts, Waldbaums,

General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...

and

Covergirl CoverGirl is an American cosmetics brand founded in Maryland, United States, by the Noxzema Chemical Company. It was acquired by Procter & Gamble in 1989 and later acquired by Coty, Inc. in 2016. The Noxell Company advertised this cosmetics li ...

Later years

Hernández, who is married with children, continues to be active with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. He arranged the music for the documentaries ''If the Mango Tree Could Speak'' by Pat Gaudvis, ''Angélica tiene un bebé'' by Paula Heredia and ''Cuban Roots/Bronx Stories'' by Pam Sporn. In 2009, Hernández directed the recording of ''Songs of the Capeman'' with the participation of

Obie Bermúdez Obie Bermúdez (born January 10, 1981) is a Puerto Rican Latin pop, salsa singer and composer. Early years Bermúdez was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico into a family who loved music. His father and grandfather were both musicians. He received ...

Danny Rivera Danny Rivera (born 27 February 1945) is a singer and songwriter born in San Juan whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is well known in Puerto Rico for his political activism. In 2008, Rivera acquired Dominican Republic citizenship. After 12 y ...

, Ray de la Paz, Claudette Sierra and Frankie Negrón. Obie Bermúdez y su nuevo CD
/ref> In 2012, Shepherd University ( Cornel School of Contemporary Music) awarded Hernández with an “Honorary Doctorate in Music Arts” for his lifelong work and commitment in the field of Afro-Latin music.

Discography

Hernández has participated in the following recordings: * Africando "Balboa" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Africando "Gombo Salsa" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Roberto Torres &

Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros (4 April 1928 – 6 January 2016) was a Cuban trumpeter. He played with artists such as Arsenio Rodríguez, Generoso Jiménez, Chico O'Farrill, Orchestra Harlow, Eddie Palmieri, Cachao and Sonora Matancera. Due to ...

- Oscar Hernández, Piano *

"Fuerza Gigante" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Ray Barretto "Rhythm of Life" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Ray Barretto "Rican/Struction" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Ray Barretto "Tomorrow" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Ray Barretto "Tremendo Trío" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

"Agua de Luna" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Rubén Blades " Buscando América" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Rubén Blades " Caminando" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Rubén Blades " Escenas" - Óscar Hernández, Piano * Rubén Blades " Rubén Blades y Son del Solar...Live!" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Rubén Blades "

Amor y Control ''Amor y Control'' () is the eleventh studio album by Panamian singer Rubén Blades and the sixth album with his Band Son Del Solar released on September 22, 1992 through CBS Records International. Featuring a variety of Caribbean and Latin Ameri ...

" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Rubén Blades "Nothing But The Truth" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Rubén Blades/

" Tras La Tormenta" - Oscar Hernández, Producer * Richie Cabo "Paisaje Musical" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Carabali "Vol. 1" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger * Carabali "Vol. II" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger * Conjunto Libre - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Conjunto Libre "Con Salsa Con Ritmo" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Conjunto Libre "Libre Increible" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Rafael DeJesus "Twice As Good" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger * Linda Eder "It's No Secret Anymore" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Flex "Flex Y La Rumba" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * 4 Guys Named Jose - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger * Grupo Folklorico Experimental "Vol. I & II" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

- Oscar Hernández, Piano * Juan Luis Guerra "

Areíto ''Areíto'' or ''areyto'' was a Taíno language word adopted by the Spanish colonizers to describe a type of religious song and dance performed by the Taíno people of the Caribbean. The areíto was a ceremonial act that was believed to narrate an ...

" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Illegales "Dame De Eso Remix" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Earl Klugh "Midnight In San Juan" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Steve Kroon "In My Path" - Oscar Hernández, Arranger/Piano * Latin Broadway - Oscar Hernández, Music Director/Arranger * Latin Jazz Highlights "Messidor Records Vol. 5" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Ricardo Lemvo y Maquina Loca "Mambo Yoyo" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Ivan Lins "Love Affair" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Kirsty MacColl "Electric Landlady" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

"Así Se Compone Un Son" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Ismael Miranda "No Voy Al Festival" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Luis "Perico" Ortiz "Breaking The Rules" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Luis "Perico" Ortiz "In Tradition" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

Johnny Pacheco Juan Pablo Knipping Pacheco (25 March 1935 – 15 February 2021), known as Johnny Pacheco, was a Dominican musician, arranger, composer, bandleader, and record producer who in the 1970s became one of the leading exponents of salsa as well in t ...

"Sima" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

Daniel Ponce Daniel Ponce (July 21, 1953 – March 14, 2013) was a Cuban-American jazz percussionist. He was born in Havana, Cuba, and Ponce played locally in Havana from age 11, and played percussion in a group called Watusi. He was exiled from Cuba in 19 ...

"Chango Te Llama" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger *

Domingo Quiñones Domingo Quiñones is a singer of salsa music. He is also a composer, producer and actor. Domingo Quinones was born on August 9, 1963, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. When he was four years old he moved to Puerto Rico with his parents and lived in C ...

"Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe Cast Recording" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez Pedro Juan Rodríguez Ferrer (31 January 1933 – 1 December 2000), better known as Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, was a Salsa music, salsa singer born in Sexto (Ponce), Barrio Cantera, Ponce, Puerto Rico.Ponce, Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Ric ...

"Esté Negro SÍ Es Sabroso" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez "Pueblo Latino" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

"Eclipse" - Oscar Hernández, Arranger/Piano *

Mongo Santamaría Ramón "Mongo" Santamaría Rodríguez (April 7, 1917 – February 1, 2003) was a Cuban percussionist and bandleader who spent most of his career in the United States. Primarily a conga drummer, Santamaría was a leading figure in the pachanga an ...

"Mongo Returns" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Seis Del Solar "Alternate Roots" - Oscar Hernández, Co-Leader/Producer * Seis Del Solar "Decision" - Oscar Hernández, Co-Leader/Producer *

"Songs of the Capeman" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger * Paul Simon "The Capeman Original Cast Recording" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger * James "J.T." Taylor "A Brand New Me" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * The Bronx Horns "Catch The Feeling" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * The Bronx Horns "Silver In The Bronx" - Oscar Hernández, Piano *

Eddie Torres Eddie Torres (born July 3, 1950), also known as "The Mambo King", is a salsa dance instructor and choreographer. Torres' technique developed from various sources including Afro-Cuban son, mambo, and North American jazz dance. His dancing is charac ...

"Dance City" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger *

Dave Valentin David Peter Valentin (April 29, 1952 – March 8, 2017) was an American Latin jazz flautist of Puerto Rican descent. Life and career Valentin was born to Puerto Rican parents in The Bronx in New York City. He attended The High School of Mu ...

- Oscar Hernández, Piano * Dave Valentin "Mind Time" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Dave Valentin "The Hawk" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Dave Valentin "The Pied Piper" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Dave Valentin "Tropic Heat" - Oscar Hernández, Piano * Orlando "Watussi" "Como Nunca" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger

References

External links

Guernica Magazine Interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hernandez, Oscar 1954 births Living people American musicians of Puerto Rican descent American salsa musicians American male composers 20th-century American composers 20th-century American pianists American male pianists 21st-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians Origin Records artists