Radio and television producer and clinical psychologist Alfred D. Herger, who celebrates his 80th birthday and 65th artistic career this Friday, November 4, looks back on his personal and artistic achievements and failures.
In an interview with Primera Hora, Herger admits that some of the singers he discovered in the 1960s weren’t grateful to him. He also denounced that some media producers tried to wipe it off the map.
What was the formula that kept you on track for so long?
– I think my constant curiosity and the way I enjoy my work.
What motivated you to produce a youth program on the island similar to Dick Clark’s in the United States?
-It was a simple formula and easy to customize. Also, Mr. Clark himself explained to me how to do it and encouraged me to produce it in Puerto Rico with his blessing.
Was the result as expected?
– Definitely… the “Teenagers Matinee” was a spectacular success!
What memories do you have of the “Teenager Matinee”?
-Working with the amazing Rafael Pérez Perry, the talented and fun dance partners and the special guests: Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Paul Simon, Bryan Hyland… and many more!
Alfred D. Herger promoted the careers of artists such as Julio Ángel, Lucecita and Chucho Avellanet, among others. (file, archive)How did La Nueva Ola come about and what talents did you bring out?
-I learned about the movement that was born in Argentina and flourished in all Spanish speaking countries. Puerto Rico was in the back and I insisted on putting it in the front! My artists were Chucho, Lucecita, Charlie Robles, Diana, Julio Ángel, Tammy, Al Zeppy, Los Sonset, Wilson Ronda, Glorivee, Oscar Solo, Sonny and in the early days Danny Rivera. Oh, and many others.
What became of them?
-Some have made spectacular careers, others have retired.
It is said that not all of the artists ordained today were grateful to you, is that true, and what opinion do you deserve?
-Yes that’s right. And they even tried to “erase” me! Not only artists, but also other businessmen, producers and pseudo-journalists. Look, people are what they are, what can we do? But I know the public knows what it knows.
What did it mean to you to represent the Spanish children’s group La Pandilla?
-That was a nice project. We inspire children and young people in Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo. They were like “mini Beatles” and filled the stadiums. Impressive! (That’s where the idea for Menudo germinated.)
Among other things, they were representatives of the Spanish singer Luisito Rey, father of the megastar Luis Miguel. How was this experience?
-Well, in the beginning it was very good, until Luis Miguel was born. From then on it was a nightmare!
How did you find out that Luis Miguel was born in Puerto Rico and not in Mexico as claimed?
-I didn’t discover it, I caused it! It was my strategy as a “manager” to allow my artist with a son who is an American citizen to stay in the United States and come and go as needed.
What do you think are your greatest successes as a radio and television producer?
-There are quite a few. On television I hit the big time with “Teenagers Martinee”, “Singende Jugend” and “Change with Alfred”. I’ve also had success with Alta Tension, Balcón Boricua, the shows with La Pandilla (and his two films), and La Pyramid. On radio, for Mr. George Mooney, as a programmer and morning disc jockey at Radio Uno, which brought it to a first place, and then as general manager, creating and organizing the La Gran Cadena format with the six stations owned by Mr. Alfredo Ramírez from Arellano. There I was the morning disc jockey with the largest audience and influence on the whole island. Later I was also successful as a psychologist with the psychological counseling programs I did at night: first on WKAQ and later on NotiUno.
what do you regret
-Sometimes I regret not moving to New York when I had as a manager and friend Sid Bernstein, the businessman who brought the Beatles to the United States, who wanted to place me in radio and an advertising agency there. My wife, Barbara, convinced me that it was a very dangerous city to raise our four children.
You’ve had a fruitful career as a clinical psychologist, how many motivational books have you written? What projects do you have in this regard?
-There are six self-help books and one biographical. Incidentally, I became a psychologist at the request of my wife Barbara. As a clinical psychologist, I take great pleasure in accompanying adults and families in therapy. As a teacher, he offers seminars, lectures and workshops in large private companies and government agencies. Internationally, I present myself as a motivational speaker in Hispanic America and the United States. Also with my teacher Dr. Brian Weiss on the road, for whom I organized his Latin America tour.
The producer with his children Alfredo and Grace Marie.How did you manage to come to terms with the early deaths of your children Benny and Alfredo?
– To be honest, I don’t have a clear idea. But my solid Christian background and the principles of psychology definitely helped me… and living one day at a time! Getting used to dealing with depression and the high pressure that those strong impacts caused me…
You are currently presenting and producing the radio show “Siempre Alfred”, when will it be on the air? What’s your format? How many years has the program existed?
– I am very proud of the “Siempre Alfred” program, which runs on the NotiUno 630 network every Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. It’s an intensely musical program of all-time hits and album and artist information, peppered with good humor and audience participation. They are music therapy and musicology combined. I’ve been on the air now for 10 years with the amazing family of Don Jesús Soto.
How would you like to be remembered?
– “By their works you will know them” is one of the messages of Jesus that Matthew collects in his gospel. The Lord said so in the Sermon on the Mount. I understand that my works are my legacy. That people remember me because something I did touched their lives is enough for me.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the public?
-Of course! I started a non-profit organization that Dr. Alfred D. Herger Legacy Foundation, Inc. with the purpose of collecting and restoring works and memorabilia of our nation’s popular music culture from the late 1950’s through the 1980’s. Protect them from decay by transferring them to a digital format so that later they can be made available to the baby boomers, seniors and younger generations through our website: fundacionlegadoADH. We need my followers to collaborate by donating money, time, materials, collections, furniture, bookshelves, work desks, a van and most importantly a place that offers storage, office, library and meeting digitization for audio and video.
Alfred will offer a press conference this Thursday at the Amadeus Bristo Bar restaurant on Chardón Street in Hato Rey where he will announce details of his birthday party.