Victoria Hernández
Victoria Hernández | |
|---|---|
1930 photograph from Miguel Angel Amadeo | |
| Born | March 23, 1897 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Spanish Empire |
| Died | April 11, 1998 (aged 101) Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, United States |
| Nationality | Spain, United States (Puerto Rico) |
| Other names | "La Madrina" (the godmother) |
| Occupation | music entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1927–1969 |
| Known for | opening the first Latin music store in New York City |
| Relatives | Rafael Hernández Marín |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | New York City |
| Genres | Latin music |
| Instrument | piano |
| Years active | 1919–1969 |
| Labels | Hispano |
Victoria Hernández (March 23, 1897 – April 11, 1998) was an Afro-Puerto Rican music entrepreneur. Though a talented musician, she devoted her career to the business aspects of the music industry. In 1927, she opened the first Latin music store in New York City, one of only sixteen businesses owned by Puerto Rican migrant women. She served as an agent to locate music talent for record labels and bandleaders and at one point owned her own record label. After following her brother to Mexico City, Hernández returned to the Bronx and founded Casa de Música, later renamed to Casa Hernández. The music store she founded in 1941, now known as Casa Amadeo, antigua Casa Hernandez has the longest record of continuous operation of any music store in New York City.