Peter Hernandez

Pedro "Peter" Hernández Vázquez (born May 13, 1929 – May 1, 2012) was a Puerto Rican musician. He is the grandfather of Grammy Award winning musician Bruno Mars.

Hernandez was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico to Fabiana Vázquez García and Almecio Hernández Aquino, a carpenter. His father traveled frequently between Puerto Rico and New York and was absent at his birth. In 1929, when Hernandez was 11 months old, his mother immigrated alone to New York and remarried in 1934.

In 1946, at the age of 17, Hernandez immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, accompanied by his aunt, Fortunata Hernández Aquino, and his first cousin, Ursula González Hernández.

Hernandez performed at El Tropical Night Club in New York City as band-leader of Peter Hernandez and his Orchestra. His career in music inspired his son, Peter S. Hernandez, and two of his grandchildren, Bruno Mars and Eric Peter Hernandez.

Sources

1. http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?h=30157268&db=nypl&indiv=1
2. Pennsylvania, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1800-1962; Name: Pedro Hernandez; Gender: Male; Nationality: American; Arrival Age: 17; Birth Date: 13 May 1929; Birth Place: P R Rio Piedras; Arrival Date: 7 Dec 1946; Port of Arrival: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Airline: Winged Cargo; Flight Number: 75.
3. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1; Name: Pedrito Hernandez; Address: 243 1st Av 136, Rosedale, NY, 11422 (1977); [24301%C2%A0136th%C2%A0Ave,%C2%A0Jamaica, NY, 11422-1613 (1974)] ; [243 1st Av 136, Rosedale, NY, 11414 (1977)].
4. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1; Name: Peter Hernandez; Birth Date: 13 May 1929; [15 May 1929] ; Phone Number: 723-4409; Address: 24301 136th Ave, Jamaica, NY, 11422-1613 (1974); [243 W 136th St # 1, New York, NY, 10030-2605 (1992)].
5. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1; Name: P Hernandez; Birth Date: 13 May 1929; [15 May 1929] ; Address: 24301 136th Ave, Jamaica, NY, 11422-1613 (1993).
6. New York City Department of Finance, Office of the City Register; Name: Hernandez, Pedrito; Adress: 243-01 136th Avenue, Rosedale, NY; Doc. Type: Deed; US; Doc. Date: 1/26/2007; Doc. Amount: $432,000.00; Document ID: 2007020601456001.
7. Mr. Peter Hernandez, age 82, died at his home in Corpus Christi, TX, on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Born May 13, 1929, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He lived in Brooklyn, New York, before settling in Corpus Christi, TX. He was a talented musician that performed as Peter Hernandez and his Orchestra. He performed at El Tropical Night Club in New York City. His love of music inspired his son and two of his grandchildren. Survivors include His longtime companion, Luz (Lucy) Selenia, and his son Peter, daughter Anita, and son William. Grandchildren, Melissa Conception, Eric Peter, Peter Gene a.k.a. Bruno Mars, Tiara Lovenote, Presley Alohalani, William Peter and Eric William.
8. Coastal Bend Daily Legal Business News; Volume: 25; Number: 6025; Date: 18 Jun 2012.