Carlos José "Jochy" Hernández Diaz (September 12, 1963 in San Cristobal Province, Dominican Republic-April 30, 1994 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) was a Dominican Merengue singer who obtained success during the 1980s, becoming well-known in Latin America.[1]
Early life
editHernández was the son of Bartolo Hernández.[2]
Hernández lost his father at the age of 11 when, on October 5, 1974, Bartolo was shot on his chest and murdered.[3] His father's murder was never solved.[4]
As a teenager, Hernández launched his singing career, becoming a Merengue singer with a few bands, before landing a spot on a popular Merengue orchestra that was led by Alex Bueno and by Anibal Bravo, two well-known Dominican musicians of the era.[5]
Career
editIn 1985, Hernández became a solo singer, signed by Discos CBS, the musical subsidiary of American broadcasting company CBS. His first release was named "Ahora Yo" ("Now Its My Turn").[6]
Vehicular accident
editOn August 16 of 1987, Hernández and his orchestra had played a concert at Cibao when a mini-bus carrying part of the group collided with a truck after the concert had finished. Hernández and his brother Ruddy were in another vehicle; they got off and found three dead musicians; another one, singer Delvi, survived the crash but was hit by an on-coming vehicle and died later. The tragedy took place at a city named Bonao.[7]
In 1988, Hernández released the album that would give him his nickname, "El Amiguito" ("The Little Friend"). The album included a song named "Hermanos Mios" ("My Brothers"), which was dedicated to the musicians who died during the 1987 vehicular tragedy. Ever since, he was known as "El Amiguito del Merengue" ("Merengue's Little Friend").[8]
Health problems and death
editIn 1989, Hernández started suffering headaches. Tests revealed he had a terminal brain tumor. He was initially given only two months to live, but he persevered, surviving five extra years.[9]
According to his brother, San Cristobal senator Tito Hernández, Tito Hernández made Dominican President Joaquin Balaguer aware of his brother's condition. Balaguer wanted to assist and recommended doctor Ney Arias Lora. Hernández was then sent to a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts by Dr. Arias Lora, and he had surgery there.
The cancer, however, returned.[3]
Personal life
editHernández married television news reporter and actress María del Carmen Hernández; the couple had three children.[9] One of his children, José Carlos, a rock musician,[3] was murdered in Santo Domingo during 2012. He also has a daughter, Cindy Marie Hernández.[10]
See also
edit
- List of people from the Dominican Republic
- Aneudy Diaz - another Merengue musician who died of a brain tumor
References
edit- ^ "Jochy Hernández, "El Amiguito" del merengue, recordado 28 años después de su muerte". Listín Diario (in Spanish). 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
- ^ Liriano, Cristina (July 6, 2015). "Jochy Hernández, la historia más triste de "Merengueros"". El Día.
- ^ a b c Polanco, Fausto (April 30, 2021). "Jochy Hernández vivió entre el éxito y la desdicha". El Día.
- ^ Orbe, Fausto Polanco Del (April 30, 2020). "La historia nunca contada de Jochy Hernández a 26 años de su muerte".
- ^ "Jochy Hernández Biografía Discografia". April 30, 2022.
- ^ "Jochy Hernández". Discogs.
- ^ Latino, Impacto (August 27, 2015). ""Merengueros" relata la trágica vida de Jochy".
- ^ "Jochy Hernández, "El Amiguito" of merengue, remembered 28 years after his death". September 13, 2022.
- ^ a b Villar, Merit Designs 2022, Web developer: Andrés J. (September 13, 2022). "Jochy Hernández, "El Amiguito" del merengue, recordado 28 años después de su muerte". Diario Noticias.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Diario, Listin (January 12, 2024). "Listín Diario, el periódico de los dominicanos. Noticias Santo Domingo". listindiario.com.