Puerto Rico's Big Bands

Latin Beat Magazine, Dec, 1998 by Frank M. Figueroa

The origin of Puerto Rico's big bands is to be found in the old military, municipal and school bands of the XIX Century. During Spanish rule, military bands were the only large musical organizations active in the country. The record shows that by 1812, groups such as the Asturias Regiment Band were performing at public functions in San Juan. During those years, the retreta or outdoor band concert, became popular. On Thursdays and Saturdays, the military ensembles would play free concerts at city parks and public squares. When the United States took over the island in 1898, the occupying troops also brought their military bands with them. The retreta custom is still observed today.

Military band members were among the best instrumentalists of their time. These men were attracted to the Army by its offer of a steady job, instruments, advance training and plenty of time for practice. The musicians who came to Puerto Rico made an enormous contribution to the development of instrumental music on the island. Many of the Spanish master musicians retired in Puerto Rico after the Spanish troops left. They became music teachers and members of the local bands. The same happened with some of the American musicians.

At that time, the only way a young man or woman could learn to play a band instrument in Puerto Rico was to join the school band. Unfortunately, few schools had bands and instruments were expensive and difficult to obtain. For adults, the only opportunities to become a musician were to join the Army, the police or the fire departments. The instruction was usually offered by the bandmaster, who often played several instruments. The method of instruction was similar in all cases. Before the aspiring musician was allowed to touch an instrument, he or she must complete at least one year of solfeggio, (a system of instruction based on singing the notes using the sol-fa syllables while keeping the meter.) Upon completing this stage, the musician would get an instrument, provided his or her parents could pay for it, or wait until the band had an instrument available. Many times the novice did not get the instrument of his choice.

According to music historians, the first band organized in Puerto Rico was the Ponce Firemen's Band. It was formed in 1883 by the famous composer and bandleader Juan Morel Campos. In 1900, Francisco Verar Mercado organized the first Band of the Police Force of Puerto Rico. One year later, Luis R. Miranda was conducting the Puerto Rico Infantry Regiment Band. Soon after, Manuel Tizol organized the Aguadilla Firemen's Band and Jesús Muñoz formed the Juana Díaz Band. Many other bands sprung up all over the island. For example, by 1911, twenty one school bands had been formed.

There was also much band activity in the capital city of San Juan. The United States Army had several military bands stationed in the camps and forts around the metropolitan area. They played public concerts and marched in parades. The Police Force of Puerto Rico Band broke up in 1908 and many of its members joined the San Juan Firemen's Band under the direction of Manuel Tizol. At this time, the first orchestras that played dance music began to appear. The same musicians who played in the military bands also performed with the dance orchestras. In most cases, the bandmasters doubled as orchestra leaders. Such was the case with Manuel Tizol, Paco Tizol, Jesús Figueroa, Juan Peña Reyes and Simón Madera.

The 1920s and '30s brought the emergence of the jazz-type bands with their trumpets, saxophones and trombones. One of the first was the jolly Kings Orchestra organized in 1923 in the city of Mayagüez. Its first leader was trumpet player Julio "Yuyo" Martínez. Next came the Happy Hills Orchestra, who claim the distinction of being the band with the longest record of continuous operation in Puerto Rico. It was formed in 1929 and is still active in the city of San Germán. The Happy Hills Orchestra is also the first dance band in Puerto Rico to have been led by a woman, Josefa "Pepita" Nazario. The town of Quebradillas has always been a center of musical activity. In the 1929s, the Cuervos de la Noche Orchestra was a local favorite. Its leader was Angel García and among its members was Rafael Muñoz, who went on to lead one of Puerto Rico's most celebrated orchestras.

The following Puerto Rican big bands are also worthy of mention. They are listed according to the decade in which they were organized.

1930s

Mario Dumont Orchestra

Don Nacho Orchestra

Gay Collegians Band

Paco Manatú Orchestra

Mickey Mouse Orchestra

Don Rivero Orchestra

Snow White Orchestra

Casino de Ponce Orchestra

Adrian Benjamin Orchestra

Mingo & His Whoopee Kids Orchestra

1940s

Armando Castro and Jack's Band

Frank Madera Orchestra

William Manzano Orchestra

Rafael Elvira Orchestra

Tropicana Orchestra

Orquesta Panamericana

Miguelito Miranda Orchestra

When the criteria of musical quality, total production and popularity is applied, four of Puerto Rico's big bands stand apart from the others. They are the Carmelo Díaz Soler, Rafael Muñoz, Pepito Torres Silva and César Concepción orchestras. Let us consider their history and contributions to Puerto Rican dance band music.