Dr. Rafael José Diaz (born April 22, 1955) is a Puerto Rican actor,
singer and television host.Rafael was born in ManatÃ, Puerto Rico,
where his father, a physician born in the Dominican Republic, was the
medical director of the local hospital. His family eventually moved to
Mayagüez in Western Puerto Rico where he grew up. While living in
Mayagüez he sang and acted in various amateur radio and television
broadcasts, as well as in high school talent shows. His reputation as
a powerful singer followed him to San Juan, Puerto Rico, while
attending medical school. His family supported his singing career on
the condition that he finished the dentistry program at the University
of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine. He interrupted his studies
for close to eight years when his singing career took off, but
eventually finished his degree and became a dentist (although he
rarely practices his profession nowadays).In 1978, he was selected by
Telemundo to represent Puerto Rico in the seventh edition of the OTI
Festival, which was held in Santiago, Chile. His song entitled
"Háblame" (Talk to me), which was warmly received by the audience and
by the international jurors gave him the fourth place.In 1980, he won
the ninth edition of the Festival OTI, in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
with his interpretation of the song Contigo Mujer, which scored 36
points in the event and became an instant hit all over the Puerto
Rican radio. The song was composed by singer Ednita Nazario (Who had
represented Puerto Rico in the same festival the previous year) and
Laureano Brizuela. Another radio hit was "Yo Quiero Hacerte Olvidar",
the theme song for the telenovela "Martha Llorens".
singer and television host.Rafael was born in ManatÃ, Puerto Rico,
where his father, a physician born in the Dominican Republic, was the
medical director of the local hospital. His family eventually moved to
Mayagüez in Western Puerto Rico where he grew up. While living in
Mayagüez he sang and acted in various amateur radio and television
broadcasts, as well as in high school talent shows. His reputation as
a powerful singer followed him to San Juan, Puerto Rico, while
attending medical school. His family supported his singing career on
the condition that he finished the dentistry program at the University
of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine. He interrupted his studies
for close to eight years when his singing career took off, but
eventually finished his degree and became a dentist (although he
rarely practices his profession nowadays).In 1978, he was selected by
Telemundo to represent Puerto Rico in the seventh edition of the OTI
Festival, which was held in Santiago, Chile. His song entitled
"Háblame" (Talk to me), which was warmly received by the audience and
by the international jurors gave him the fourth place.In 1980, he won
the ninth edition of the Festival OTI, in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
with his interpretation of the song Contigo Mujer, which scored 36
points in the event and became an instant hit all over the Puerto
Rican radio. The song was composed by singer Ednita Nazario (Who had
represented Puerto Rico in the same festival the previous year) and
Laureano Brizuela. Another radio hit was "Yo Quiero Hacerte Olvidar",
the theme song for the telenovela "Martha Llorens".
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