Musical Career
| External audio | |
|---|---|
| You may listen to Luciano Quiñones piano interpretation of Alers "Violeta" here | |
| and to Rafael Alers and his Orchestra play "Recuerdos De Borinquen" here | |
Upon finishing his musical instruction, Alers went to play for various national and international bands and Symphony Orchestras. Eventually, he formed his own band and recorded the Puerto Rican danzas composed by Juan Morel Campos, Manuel Gregorio Tavarez and Angel Mislan.
In 1933, Alers was the conductor of Carmelo Diaz Soler's Orchestra, which had a daily segment in a radio program. Alers 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. Alers married Catalina Roldan and had four sons (the eldest now deceased) and three daughters. "Violeta" which was the title of his danza, was officially dedicated to his youngest daughter.
Read more about this topic: Rafael Alers
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