Rafael Alers

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Rafael Alers (October 16, 1903 – March 20, 1978) born in the town of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, was a musician, composer, bandleader and the first Puerto Rican to compose the music score for a Hollywood feature film.

Rafael (born Rafael Alers Gerena), received his primary and secondary education in his hometown. The love that he developed for the Puerto Rican Danzas came about at a young age because of the influence which he received from his musically inclined family. He received his first musical instructions from the maestro Juan F. Acosta. With Acosta he learned to play the Euphonium, a wind instrument which is essential in the execution of the danza. He also learned to play the trombone and tuba.

Upon finishing his musical instruction, Rafael went to play for various national and international bands and Symphony Orchestras. Eventually, he formed his own band and recorded the Puerto Rican danzas written by Juan Morel Campos, Manuel Gregorio Tavarez and Angel Mislan.

In 1933, Rafael was the conductor of Carmelo Diaz Soler's Orchestra, which had a daily segment in a radio program. Rafael took charge of the orchestra upon the death of Diaz Soler and in 1935, he felt the inspiration to compose a danza. He composed, what was to become his greatest danza and named it "Violeta" and the following day he played it on the radio.

The public's acceptance and demand for the danza was so great that the radio station started a "Write the Lyrics to the Danza" contest. They were looking for the right lyrics to go with the musical melody of the danza. The lyrics written by Antonio Cruz Nieves, from the town of Cataño, was selected as the winner. Rafael married Catalina Roldan and had two sons and a daughter, whom he named Violeta and to whom he officially dedicated the danza.

Rafael was named conductor of the ROTC band of the University of Puerto Rico which in 1946, included a young man by the name of Julito Rodriguez, who would some day in the future become a renowned musician himself. Rafael became the first Puerto Rican to compose the music score for a Hollywood movie, when he was hired for such a task for the 1956 movie "Crowded Paradise", directed by Fred Pressburger. Many of his recordings were released in 1960, in a set of 3 volumes, titled "Rafael Alers: Danzas".

Rafeal Alers died on March 20, 1978 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

His compositions have been recorded by many artist, including the singer Julita Ross. In 2003, a collection of Rafaels' recordings was released under the title: "Rafael Alers y su Orchestra, Danzas Vol.1".