Oscar Hernández (musician)

Oscar Hernandez (born March 22, 1954) is a Puerto Rican musician, musical arranger and producer.

Contents

Early years

Hernandez's family moved to the United States from Puerto Rico in the 1940s, in search of a better way of life. They settled down in the South Bronx, a ghetto, which is a section that is heavily populated by latinos in New York where Hernandez was born. Hernandez who was the youngest of eleven siblings, received his primary and secondary education in the city's public school system.[1]

Early musical influences

As a child he was exposed to the music of Tito Puente, Tito Rodríguez and Willie Colón among others. He would also sneak into nightclubs to watch and listen to the music of Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri and Richie Ray. Hernandez 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 Hernandez the basics of piano playing, the rest was self-taught.[2]

Recording debut

Hernandez 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 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 music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Hernandez 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 and joined his group Seis Del Solar.[1]

Hernandez enrolled in the City University of New York. His professors were lenient because they understood that he was often on tour, Eventually he earned his Bachelors Degree in Music. Hernandez has performed with Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Julio Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra, Willie Colón, Oscar DeLeon 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.[2]

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra

Hernandez was the founder, music director and pianist for the "Spanish Harlem Orchestra". This came about when he met Erin Levinson, a music producer who had a contract with Warner Brothers. The idea of forming a group came about and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra was born. The group received a Grammy Award 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".[1]

Recordings

External audio
You may listen to Oscar Hernández performing at a Salsa Concert here.

Hernandez has participated in the following recordings:

Oscar Hernández, Piano

Broadway musical "The Capeman"

Musician Paul Simon asked Hernandez to arrange and produce the music for the Broadway musical "The Capeman", which is based on the real life story of Salvador Agron. His work also required that he be the Musical Director and Conductor. Hernandez was the Musical Director and arranger for the theatre shows "Quien Mato a Héctor Lavoe" (Who murdered Héctor Lavoe) and "La Lupe".

Hernandez played piano on the theme score for the HBO television series Sex and the City. He has also written the musical score for some of the commercial jingles for various companies, among them: Dunkin Donuts, Waldbaums, General Motors and Covergirl.[2]

Later years

Hernandez, 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; "Angelica tiene un Bebe" by Paula Heredia and "Cuban Roots/Bronx Stories" by Pam Sporn. In 2009, Hernandez directed the recording of Songs of the Capeman with the participation of Obie Bermúdez, Danny Rivera, Ray de la Paz, Claudette Sierra and Frankie Negrón.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Guernica Magazine Interview
  2. ^ a b c Video interview with Oscar Hernandez on Salsa Central
  3. ^ Obie Bermúdez y su nuevo CD

External links