Manuel Gregorio Tavárez
1843–1883 (age 40)
Composer
Biography
Manuel Gregorio Tavárez, born in 1843, transformed Puerto Rican music with his compositions that wove European salon styles into the emerging danza genre, earning him the title “Father of the Puerto Rican Danza.” He taught and mentored younger musicians in San Juan, nurturing a national sound that blended grace and ardor.
He died in 1883 and was entombed in the Román Baldorioty de Castro National Pantheon, where his melodies continue to echo across the island as part of its musical heritage.