Editing Rafael José

{{Short description|Puerto Rican singer and actor}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rafael José
| image = 
| imagesize = 200px
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|4|22}}
| birth_place = [[Manatí, Puerto Rico|Manatí]], [[Puerto Rico]]
| height = 
| birth_name = Rafael José Díaz
| other_names = 
| website =
| occupation = Actor, singer, host
}}

'''Rafael José Diaz''' (born April 22, 1955) is a Puerto Rican actor, singer and television host.

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
Rafael was born in [[Manatí]], [[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, Puerto Rico|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).<ref>{{cite web |title=Rafael José |url=https://prpop.org/biografias/rafael-jose/ |website=Fundacion Nacional para la Culturua Puertorriqueña |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

=== OTI Festival ===
In 1978, he was selected by [[Telemundo]] to represent [[Puerto Rico in the OTI Festival|Puerto Rico]] in the [[OTI Festival 1978|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://laoti.blogspot.com.es/search/label/1978.-%20SANTIAGO|title=1978.- SANTIAGO|website=La OTI|access-date=2018-01-27}}</ref>

In 1980, he won the [[OTI Festival 1980|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 [[OTI Festival 1979|the previous year]]) and Laureano Brizuela. Another radio hit was "Yo Quiero Hacerte Olvidar", the theme song for the [[telenovela]] "Martha Llorens".<ref>{{cite web |title=RAFAEL JOSE, ESTUDIÓ MEDICINA PERO SOÑABA CON SER ARTISTA |url=https://pressprwire.com/rafael-jose-estudio-medicina-pero-sonaba-con-ser-artista/ |website=PressPRWire |date=23 October 2019 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref>

=== New projects ===
He soon began acting on television in various [[telenovela]]s and in 1983 became co-host of the Saturday night program ''A Millón'', along with [[Héctor Marcano]] and [[Sonia Noemí]] on [[WAPA-TV]]. He proved to be a talented TV host and lasted there for various seasons. During this time, he and his then wife, actress [[Magali Carrasquillo]], had a son, Juan Pablo.

In 1986, he joined [[Roberto Vigoreaux]] in hosting another WAPA-TV game show, ''Sabado En Grande'', when ''A Millón'' was moved to Sunday nights. During this time, he also performed with [[Antonio Sánchez (Puerto Rican host)|Antonio Sánchez]] in the hit sitcoms ''[[El Cuartel de la Risa]]'' and ''Adultos Solteros''. In the late 90s, he was hired as a television host by [[Univision]] in Miami, Florida.

José then became a recognizable face with [[Latinos|Latino]] audiences in the United States with the movie showcase program ''Tu Pelicula''. Later on he joined the morning show ''[[¡Despierta América!]]'', along with [[Fernando Arau]], [[Ana María Canseco]], Neyda Sandoval and fellow Puerto Rican [[Giselle Blondet]]. In 1998, Jose covered the [[1998 Fifa World Cup]] as a commentator for Univision.

In 2005, he started hosting Univision-Puerto Rico's successful night show [[Anda Pa'l Cara]].  At present, he is a co-host of the night program "Que Noche" on WIPR-TV in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]].

In 2013 he starred in the Puerto Rican premiere of Jerry Herman's La Cage Aux Folles as Albin/Zaza, opening in August 2013 at the Luis A Ferré Performing Arts Center in San Juan.

In 2018, José joined [[WAPA-TV|WAPA]] as one of the show hosts and television reporters of variety show ''[[Lo sé todo]]'' where he remained until 2019 when he shifted to the station's daytime variety show !Viva La Tarde! alongside Tita Guerrero and Jaime Mayol where he currently (as of 2023) remains as host.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alvarez |first1=Hector |title=Sonya y Rafael José reaccionan sobre el futuro del programa "Lo sé todo" |url=https://www.tvboricuausa.com/2019/05/sonya-rafael-jose-futuro-lo-se-todo-wapa-2019.html |website=TVBoricuaUSA |date=2 May 2019 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="Viva la tarde" refresca su ofrecimiento en su nueva etapa |url=https://www.tvboricuausa.com/2021/01/viva-la-tarde-refresca-su-ofrecimiento-nueva-etapa-wapa-tv.html |website=TVBoricuaUSA |date=22 January 2021 |access-date=15 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Viva la tarde: programa vespertino de WAPA TV se renueva |url=https://www.tvboricuausa.com/2022/03/viva-la-tarde-programa-wapa-tv-se-renueva-2022.html |website=TVBoricuaUSA |date=20 March 2022 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of people from the Dominican Republic]]
*[[List of Puerto Ricans]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{in lang|es}} [http://www.prpop.org/biografias/r_bios/rafael_jose.shtml Fundacion Nacional para la Cultura Popular biography]
* {{IMDb name|1750898}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Puerto Rico in the OTI Festival]]
| years = [[OTI Festival 1978|1978]]
| before= Aguamarina<br />with "Piel dormida"
| after = [[Ednita Nazario]]<br />with "Cadenas de fuego"
}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Puerto Rico in the OTI Festival]]
| years = [[OTI Festival 1980|1980]]
| before= [[Ednita Nazario]]<br /> with "Cadenas de fuego"
| after = [[Glenn Monroig]]<br /> with "Mírame a los ojos"
}}
{{Succession box
| title = Winner of the [[OTI Festival 1980]]
| years = 1980
| before = {{Flagicon|Argentina}} Daniel Riolobos<br />  with "Cuenta conmigo"
| after = {{Flagicon|Spain}} Francisco<br /> with "Latino"
}}
{{s-end}}

{{OTI Festival winners}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jose, Rafael}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century American dentists]]
[[Category:American television talk show hosts]]
[[Category:People from Manatí, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century Puerto Rican male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Puerto Rican singers]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican male soap opera actors]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican male stage actors]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican people of Dominican Republic descent]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican radio personalities]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican television personalities]]
[[Category:Association football commentators]]
[[Category:Musicians from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico]]
[[Category:Actors from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico]]