Surrounded by the love of his children, friends and a group of artists he discovered, radio and television producer Alfred D. Herger celebrated his 80th birthday last Friday at the Amadeus Bristo restaurant in Hato Rey.
The surprise birthday, organized by his daughter Grace Marie Herger and Tony Hernández, owner of the aforementioned restaurant, began in the early afternoon and lasted into the night, with a musical evening featuring various singers that Alfred has artistically directed throughout their career their hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
The most awaited moment of the celebration occurred with the honoree’s entry into the establishment, crammed with friends who were impatiently waiting for him. “Wow, what’s that. Big surprise, I didn’t expect that,” Herger said happily.
“Thank you all for this outpouring of affection, it’s a tsunami, I didn’t imagine this surprise because my daughter invites me to dinner at this restaurant and I find this pot of crickets, dear friends, those from all over come… I suffer from heart and high blood pressure but it didn’t affect me, I’m scared to death,” he said jokingly.
The activity was spurred on by Fidelity’s veteran announcer, Amos Morales, who had words of praise for Alfred, as well as producer Luisito Vigoreaux, whose ingenuity and spark brought a humorous touch to the celebration.
“He was the one who helped me get into radio, I’m very grateful to him. He taught me how to do things right, like parents do with their children. Thank you Alfred for what you have done for me and for so many people,” Morales said.
13 photos surprise the veteran producer in his eight decades of life.Luisito Vigoreaux remembered nice anecdotes. “Everyone who is here thanks you and loves you, but none of them sucked the uproar that was created on Channel 11 when you brought Paul Anka … I was a little kid and I was there. See if I’m your fan for celebrating your 80th birthday with you here today.”
“You treated the little ones the same as the big ones, I learned that from you. You’ve been a great teacher of the new talent and new generations coming into television,” he said.
The first artists to evoke the past and dedicate their greatest hits to Alfred were Las Caribelles.
“That song, ‘La Feliz’, was the first song Alfred gave us to record. We didn’t like it, but we recorded it and it became a hit. Alfred was a genius; he knew how to identify the song he was going to play,” recalls Norma Krasinski.
Similarly, remembered musical group Annex 3, made up of Lou Briel, Arlene González and Julio Ortiz.
“Alfred gave us songs that we loved recording and they became big hits like this song ‘Oh how much I love you’ that we just sang, our first hit. He had so much business acumen with songs,” said Lou Briel.
Awilda “La mimosa”, accompanied by piano teacher Martín Nieves, dedicated the songs “La gata bajo la rain” and “Acompáñame” to her.
“Alfred, teacher of teachers, you have produced several programs. I worked with you on Change, change with Alfred, we were an exceptional group, how could I forget that and not thank you! Many blessings to you and your family, we love you,” emphasized Awilda Pedroza.
Pianist and singer Manolo Mongil presented several songs to the veteran producer.
Herger, who was accompanied by his two children Grace Marie and Sonny, his granddaughter Paola Cofresí, his sister-in-law Jacqueline Cartagena, his daughter Fabiola -Alfred’s goddaughter- and María Pinzón, the former partner of his late son Alfredo, thanked all those present Artists who accompanied him, in particular Chucho Avellanet, who, as he said, “was always with me and supported me”.
Projected on the spot was a video of Alfred’s friends, produced by Willie Vélez, with ebullient congratulations from Iris Chacón, Bobby Cruz, Richie Rey and Wilkins. Héctor Marcano, Joe Bonilla and Javier Martinez, managers of the Spanish group La Pandilla.
Among the singers whose reunion on the same stage caused a lot of emotions and memories of bygone times, along with Las Caribelles, Chucho Avellanet, Awilda “La Mimosa” and her husband Javish Victoria, Danny Rivera, Alberto Carrión, Oscar Solo. including some of the original members of the band Top Banana, actors Quino Jarque and Johnattan Dwayne, Enrique Nuñez of Musique Express, journalist Nelson Del Castillo, producers Josantonio Mellado and Rudy Colón.