Former radio and television producer and clinical psychologist Alfred D. Herger celebrated his 84th birthday on Wednesday at the Metropol restaurant in Guaynabo, joined by his children Sonny and Grace Marie Herger, Grace Marie’s husband Julio Badillo, other relatives, friends, and the artists he launched to stardom. Herger said he was enjoying celebrating with his family and his artists, who he called friends and brothers, with many stories to tell.
Singer Sonny Rodríguez, known as the idol of 1970s youth, credited Herger with opening the doors of television for him through the Nueva Ola movement and the remembered TV program "Teeaneger’s Matinée"; Herger was later his manager and became his compadre, baptizing his son. He said Herger should be remembered as a true precursor of the era’s talent, without whom a space in Puerto Rico’s musical history would have been blank.
Comedian Adrián García recalled a friendship of more than 50 years and co-writing the 1976 film "La pandilla en apuros" with Herger. Producer Luisito Vigoreaux praised Herger’s gift for spotting future superstars and presenting talent the public would enjoy. Singers Oscar Solo and Chucho Avellanet, both part of the 1970s Nueva Ola, also thanked him: Solo told the anecdote of how Herger shortened his album title to create his stage name, and Avellanet credited Herger’s advice to record rock and roll instead of competing with bolero stars like Marco Antonio Muñiz, Lucho Gatica, and Roberto Yanés.