Oscar Hernández

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

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.

Early musical influences

As a child he was exposed to the music of Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez and Willie Colon 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 tragic death of one of his brothers from a drug overdose. 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.

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 Ruben Blades and joined his group Seis Del Solar.

Hernandez enrolled in the City University of New York. His professors where 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 Colon, Oscar DeLeon and for the groups Libre and Folkorico Experimental. He also produced records for Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Daniel Ponce, Rafael Dejesus, Eddie Torres and Phil Hernandez.

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".

Recordings

Hernandez 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 - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ray Barretto "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 Trio" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades "Agua De Luna" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades "Buscando America" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades "Caminando" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades "Escenas" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades "Live" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades "Love & Control" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades "Nothing But The Truth" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Ruben Blades/Willie Colon "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
* Juan Luis Guerra - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Juan Luis Guerra "Areito" - 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
* Ismael Miranda "Asi 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 "Sima" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Daniel Ponce "Chango Te Llama" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger
* Domingo Quinones "Quien Mato a Hector Lavoe Cast Recording" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez "Este Negro SI Es Sabroso" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez "Pueblo Latino" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Tito Rodriguez "Eclipse" - Oscar Hernández, Arranger/Piano
* Mongo Santamaria "Mongo Returns" - Oscar Hernández, Piano
* Seis Del Solar "Alternate Roots" - Oscar Hernández, Co-Leader/Producer
* Seis Del Solar "Decision" - Oscar Hernández, Co-Leader/Producer
* Paul Simon "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 "Dance City" - Oscar Hernández, Producer/Arranger
* Dave Valentin - 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

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 Hector Lavoe" (Who murdered Hector Lavoe) and "La Lupe".

Hernandez played piano on the theme score for the popular HBO television series "Sex and the City". He has also wrote the commercial jingles for Dunkin Donuts, Waldbaums, General Motors, Covergirl and others.

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.

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans"For the tennis player Óscar Hernández, see Óscar Hernández."

External links

* [http://www.guernicamag.com/interviews/79/the_legit_heir_to_the_throne/ Guernica Magazine Interview]
* [http://www.salsacentralglobal.com/interviews/interviews/interview-with-oscar-hernandez.html Video interview with Oscar Hernandez on Salsa Central]