Morel Campos, Juan

Morel Campos, Juan

(1857–96) composer, conductor; born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was the most important figure in Puerto Rican music of the 19th century. He composed countless danzas, the dance (along with the bomba and plena) most closely associated with Puerto Rico. He conducted concerts, operas, and operettas throughout Puerto Rico and South America, and died conducting one of his own zarzuelas at his beloved La Perla theater in Ponce.