Rafael Hernández: Sounds of Hope

Kia and her friends wanted to find out more about the Hernández school and the man it was named after: Rafael Hernández.

Rafael Hernández was born in Puerto Rico in 1891. When he was a boy, Rafael learned how to make cigars in an old factory. The old men at the factory showed him how to find the best leaves and how to roll them into cigars. While they worked, they listened to music and sang songs all day long. 

When Rafael was a teenager, he told his family about his big plans. He did not want to roll cigars anymore. He wanted to go to music school. Rafael learned how to play many different instruments. He liked to write songs with pretty melodies and songs with bold beats. His songs made people want to sing and dance. 

When he was older, Rafael had another bold plan. He left his mom and dad and moved to the United States, which was much colder than Puerto Rico! In 1917, he and his brother Jesús joined an army band in New York City. Rafael even got to travel to Europe with the band. People everywhere loved his music. 

Later, Rafael spent most of his time writing songs and playing all kinds of music. He liked singing with Myrta Silva the most. She was one of the most loved singers in Cuba! 

Rafael’s travels helped shape his songs. He loved all kinds of music from all around the world. He was a kind man and wrote many songs about friendship. Rafael died in Puerto Rico when he was 73 years old.

His memory lives on. Today, there are many streets, museums, and schools named after Rafael Hernández. People who go to the airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, can see his name and statue!

The Rafael Hernández School in Boston, Massachusetts, is named for one of Puerto Rico’s most important musicians. Every student in the school can see a big picture of Rafael Hernández in the hall. In the picture, his hands are folded and his kind face smiles back at them. Do you want to know how your school got its name?