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list of famous Puerto Ricans in alphabetical order by last names, where applicable.
Composers, Singers and Musicians Juan F. Acosta , composer Johnny Albino , singer Natalie and Nicole Albino , "Nina Sky " hip hop Rafael Alers , orchestra director Marc Anthony , singer Chucho Avellanet , singer Raymond Ayala , "Yankee Daddy", rapper Lloyd Banks , (Puerto Rican on his mother's side) rapper in 50 Cent 's G-unit Ray Barretto , singer, jazz and salsa musician John Benitez , "Jellybean Benitez", music producer and remixer Lucecita Benítez , singer Obbie Bermudez,singer Big Pun , rapper Roy Brown, folklore singer, composer Antonio Caban Vale "El Topo", folklore singer, composer Juan Morel Campos , composer of Danzas Bobby Capo , singer, composer Nydia Caro , singer Pablo Casals , (Puerto Rican on his mother's side), musician Kevin Ceballo , salsa singer Iris Chacón , singer and vedette Chayanne , singer Jose Miguel Class , "El Gallito de Manati", singer Elvis Crespo ,singer Bobby Cruz ,singer Willie Colón, singer Braulio Dueño Colón , composer of "Canciones Escolares" Cesar Concepcion, singer Millie Corretjer ,singer Rafael Cortijo ,singer Joe Cuba,singer, bandleader Tony D' Astro Pedro Ortiz Davila , "Davilita", bolero singer Willy DeVille, singer, musician Johnatan Dwayne , singer, composer Justino Díaz, opera singer Dr. Rafael Jose Diaz , "Rafael Jose", singer and television host Carmen Delia Dipini , singer Ruben DJ , rapper Howie Dorough , singer, member of the Backstreet Boys Rafi Escudero, singer Noel Estrada , composer of "En Mi Viejo San Juan " Cano Estremera ,singer Fat Joe , rapper Rene Farrait , former member of "Menudo " Cheo Feliciano,singer José Feliciano , singer, composed "Feliz Navidad " Ruth Fernandez, singer Narciso Figueroa, composer Pedro Flores, composer Luis Fonsi, singer Harry Fraticelli, pianist Odilio Gonzalez , singer Rafael Hernandez , Composer of "Preciosa " and "Lamento Borincano " Sophy Hernandez, singer Giovanni Hildalgo, percussionist Rafael Ithier , founder of "El Gran Combo " orchestra La India , singer, known as the "Princess of Salsa" Tito Lara, singer Héctor Lavoe, singer Raphy Leavitt , composer, director and founder of "La Selecta " Jennifer López , singer and actress Noelia Lorenzo, singer Johnny Lozada , former member of "Menudo " Papo Lucca, singer Lunna, singer Victor Manuelle, singer Ricky Martin , singer Angie Martinez , Radio personality/rapper Ladislao Martinez, "El Maestro Ladis" Charlie Masso , former member of "Menudo" Ricky Melendez , former member of "Menudo" Luis Miguel , Puerto Rican-born Mexican citizen Ismael Miranda, singer Luis R.Miranda Angel Mislan , composer of Danzas Jose Luis Monero Yolandita Monge , singer Andy Montañez, singer Glenn Monroig,singer Gilberto Monroig, singer Florencio Morales Ramos , "Ramito", folklore singer Ednita Nazario , singer Frankie Negrón Tito Nieves , singer Tommy Olivencia Manny Oquendo Tony Orlando (Puerto Rican on father's side), singer Luis "Perico" Ortiz, musician Shalim Ortiz , singer Eddie Palmieri , bandleader (won 7 Grammy Awards ) Charlie Palmieri , pianist, bandleader Antonio Paolí, opera singer, first person in history to record an entire opera Jose Enrique Pedreria, composer David Peel, singer, songwriter Angel "Cuco" Peña, musician Carlos Ponce , singer Tito Puente , musician Ivy Queen , rapper, known as "The Queen of Reggaeton" Dominigo Quiñones Ismael Quintana, singer Jose Ignacio Quinton, pianist Humberto Ramirez Richie Ray , singer, composer, known as "The King of Salsa" Sylvia Rexach , singer, composer Danny Rivera , singer Jerry Rivera, singer Johnny Rivera Graciela Rivera, opera singer Ismael Rivera, singer Lourdes Robles, singer Roberto Roena , singer Felipe Rodriguez , "La Voz", bolero singer Julito Rodriguez , singer Tito Rodriguez, singer Kelis Rogers , (mother is Puerto Rican/Chinese), singer and television host Tito Rojas, "El Gallo" Deddie Romero Robby Rosa , former member of "Menudo " Willie Rosario Felipe Rose , the Indian from The Village People , singer Julita Ross , singer of Danzas Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry , former members of "Menudo " Jesus Sanchez, "Chuito el de Bayamon", folklore singer Gilberto Santa Rosa, singer Eddie Santiago , singer Herman Santiago, singer, composed song "Why Do Fools Fall In Love " Marvin Santiago , singer Victor Santiago, "N.O.R.E." rapper Dr. Zoraida Santiago , singer and composer Daniel Santos , composer, singer of boleros Nino Segarra Xavier Serbia , former member of "Menudo " Myrta Silva , singer, composer Arturo Somohano ,composer, Symphony orchestra conductor Michael Stuart , singer Olga Tañon , singer, composer, (4 Grammys ) Manuel Gregorio Tavarez , composer known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Danzas" Luiggi Texidor Roberto Tirado , Spanish Harlem vocalist Yolanda Vadiz , gospel singer Bobby Valentin Alan Vega , rock singer, of Suicide Tony Vega Lisa Velez, "Lisa Lisa", singer Vico C , rapper Sylvia Del Villard Wilkins Zambrana, "Wilkins", singer and composer Tego Calderon, rapper
Cartoonists
Journalists Jose Julian Acosta , journalist María Celeste Arraras , anchor for "Al Rojo Vivo" Barbara Bermudo , journalist, co-host of Univisions "Primer Impacto" Rafael Bracero , newscaster for "Noticentro 4 " Enrique Cruz, news anchor for "Noticentro 4 " Tomas De Jesus Mangual , journalist for "El Vocero" Carmen Dominicci , journalist, co-host of Univisions "Primer Impacto" Manuel Fernandez Juncos, journalist Jackie Guerrido , journalist and meteorologist for Univisions "Despierta America" Anibal Gonzalez Irizarry , former newscaster for "Telenoticias en accion" Laura Hernandez , journalist Carmen Jovet ,Journalist, first Puerto Rican woman named news anchor in Puerto Rico Michele LaFountain , anchor for the Spanish version of ESPN Sports Center Lynda Lopez , anchor for "WCBS" Ch2. Luis Francisco Ojeda , journalist, political critic for "WAPA T.V." Geraldo Rivera , journalist Edna Schmidt , anchor for "Telefutura" Guillermo José Torres, newscaster for "Noticentro 4 " Elizabeth Vargas , "Liz" anchor "ABC News 20/20" Luz Nereida Velez , newscaster for "Noticentro 4 "
Actors, Actresses and Comedians Kirk Acevedo , actor, (T.V. series "Oz ") Jose Miguel Agrelot , "Don Cholito ", comedian Miguel Angel Alvarez "El Men", comedian Victor Argo , actor (Coyote Ugly ) Raymond Arrieta , comedian Rick Aviles , actor/comedian (Ghost ) Charlotte Ayanna , actress Alba Raquel Barros , comedian/actress Lucy Boscana,soap opera actress Giselle Blondet , actress/TV host Norma Candal , comedian Irene Cara , singer/actress (Fame ) Mylo Carbia , screenwriter, small part in (Underworld ) the movie Jorge Castro, soap opera actor Braulio Castillo , soap opera actor Braulio Castillo, hijo, soap opera actor Melwin Cedeño, comedian Lynette Chico ,actress Puerto Rico T.V. Ivonne Coll , actress (The Godfather II ) Miriam Colon , actress (Scarface ) Paquito Cordero, TV producer/comedian Mara Croatto , soap opera actress Henry Darrow, actor, "Manolito " (TV series The High Chaparral ) Sully Diaz , soap opera actress Sammy Davis, Jr. (Puerto Rican on his mother's side) Lydia Echevarria , soap opera actress Hector Elizondo, actor (Pretty Woman , The Princess Diaries ) Erik Estrada , actor (TV series CHiPs , Sealab 2021 ) José Ferrer, actor (Cyrano de Bergerac ), first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award Miguel Ferrer , actor (Robocop , The Manchurian Candidate ) Luis Guzman , actor Lillian Hurst , comedian/actress (Dharma and Greg ) Raúl Juliá, actor (Kiss of the Spider Woman , The Addams Family ) John Leguizamo , actor (Moulin Rouge! , To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar ) (Puerto Rican on Father's side) Adamari Lopez , actress of soap operas Jennifer López , actress (Selena , The Cell ) Sunshine Logroño , comedian Claribel Medina , actress soap operas John Melendez , "Stuttering John" ("Howard Stern Show " and "The Tonight Show ") Ari Meyers , actress (TV series Kate & Allie ) Karla Michelle , actress Puerto Rican T.V. Eddie Miro , T.V. Host Esai Morales , actor (La Bamba ) Jacobo Morales , actor (Bananas ) Rita Moreno , actress, winner of Oscar , a Tony Award , an Emmy and a Grammy Frankie Muniz , actor (TV series Malcolm in the Middle ) (Puerto Rican on father's side) Rafo Muñiz, comedian Tommy Muñiz, T.V. producer/comedian Rosie Perez , actress (White Men Can't Jump , Fearless ) Joaquin Phoenix , actor (Signs , Gladiator ) (born in Puerto Rico) Freddie Prinze , comedian/actor (TV series Chico and the Man ) Freddie Prinze, Jr., actor (Scooby-Doo ) Chita Rivera , "Broadway Legend", winner of 2 Tony Awards Luis Antonio Rivera , "Yoyo Boing" comedian Ramón (Diplo) Rivero, comedian Adalberto Rodríguez , "Machuchal " comedian Gladys Rodríguez , comedian/soap opera actress Michelle Rodríquez , actress (The Fast and the Furious ) Roselyn Sanchez , actress (Rush Hour 2 ,Chasing Papi ) Jose Vega Santana , "Remi " the Clown, (also see: Cartoonists above) Jon Seda , actor (Selena ) Jimmy Smits , actor (TV series L.A. Law ; movie Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ) Talisa Soto , actress/model, (License to Kill ) Miguel Ángel Suárez , actor (Stir Crazy , Under Suspicion ) Gloria Swanson , actress (Sunset Boulevard ) (born in San Juan, Puerto Rico) Benicio del Toro , actor (Traffic ), Academy award winner Liz Torres , actress (T.V. series Gilmore Girls ) Lauren and Loraine Velez , actress's, (T.V. series "New York Undercover", "Oz ") Christina Vidal ,actress, (TV series Taina Lisa Vidal , actress (Night in the City ), (TV series ER ) Luis Vigoreaux , TV host Luisito Vigoreaux , TV host Otilio Warrington , "Bizcocho " comedian Sandra Zaiter , TV host of children shows
Sports Roberto Alomar , baseball player Sandy Alomar, Jr., baseball player Carmelo Anthony , basketball player (Puerto Rican on his mother's side) Carlos Arroyo , basketball player Carlos Baerga , baseball player Wilfred Benitez , boxer, member of Boxing Hall of Fame Dr. David "Kike" Bernier, fencing, member of Puerto Rican National Fencing Team Hiram Bithorn, baseball player, first Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball Kristina Brandi , tennis player Ivan Calderon, baseball player Ivan Calderon, boxer Hector 'Macho' Camacho, boxer Orlando "Peruchin' Cepeda , baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame Kermit Cintron , boxer Roberto Clemente , baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame Dr. Rebekah Colberg , "The Mother of Puerto Rican Women's Sports" Carlitos Colon , wrestler Carly Colon , wrestler Angel Cordero Jr. , jockey, member of Jockey Hall of Fame Maritza Correia , the first black Puerto Rican woman in U.S. Olympic Swmming Team Joe Cortez , boxing referee José Miguel Cotto, boxer Miguel Cotto , boxer Jose "Cheo" Cruz , baseball player Christian Dalmau , BSN basketball player Raymond Dalmau , basketball player Esteban De Jesus , boxer Carlos "Sugar" De Leon , first boxer in history to win Cruiserweight title twice. Carlos Delgado , baseball player Melissa Del Valle , boxer Alfredo Escalera , boxer Sixto Escobar , boxer, member of Boxing Hall of Fame Gigi Fernández , tennis player Enrique Figueroa , sailing Bold Forbes , Thoroughbred Champion Ruben Gomez , first Puerto Rican to pitch and win a World Series game. Wilfredo Gomez , boxer, member of Boxing Hall of Fame Jorge "Peco" Gonzalez , marathon runner Juan "Igor" Gonzalez , baseball player Ivonne Harrison , track and field athlete Reggie Jackson , baseball player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame (Puerto Rican on father's side) Belinda Laracuente , boxer Butch Lee , basketball player, first Puerto Rican to play for the NBA Angelita Lind , track and field athlete Laura Daniela Lloreda , member of Mexican National Volleyball Team Javy Lopez , baseball player Mike Lowell , baseball player Felix Magath , first Puerto Rican (mother is German)to play in World Cup soccer for Germany Edgar Martinez , baseball player Alberto Mercado , olympian boxer, the only American citizen in the 1980 Olympics Jerome Mincy , basketball player John John Molina , boxer Pedro Montañez , boxer Mario "Quijote" Morales , BSN basketball player Pedro Morales , wrestler, member of WWE Hall of Fame Jonny Moseley ,skier, first Puerto Rican to belong to the U.S. Ski Team Emilio "Millo" Navarro, first Puerto Rican to play in the "Negro Leagues " Luis Olmo , first Puerto Rican to hit a home run in a World Series Carlos Ortiz , boxer, member of Boxing Hall of Fame Jose Ortiz , basketball player Luis Ortiz, boxer, first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic medal in boxing Raul Papaleo , Puerto Rican National Volleyball Team Ernesto Pastor , bullfighter Victor Pellot , a.k.a. "Vic Power", baseball player, second black Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball Jorge Posada , baseball player Peter John Ramos , basketball player Ramon Ramos , basketball player German Rieckehoff , former president Puerto Rican Olympic Committee Ron Rivera , football player, first Puerto Rican in the National Football League Ivan "Pudge" Rodríguez , baseball player Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez, golfer, member of Golf Hall of Fame Ruben Rodríguez , basketball player Jose "King" Roman , boxer, first Puerto Rican to fight for the world heavyweight title. Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario , boxer John Ruíz , first Hispanic heavyweight boxing champion Alex Sanchez, boxer Benito Santiago , baseball player Daniel Santiago , basketball player O.J. Santiago , football player Samuel Serrano , boxer Julio Toro , basketball coach Georgie Torres , has BSN scoring record José "Chegui" Torres , boxer, member of Boxing Hall of Fame Félix "Tito" Trinidad, boxer Jesse Vassallo ,swimmer, member of International Swimming Hall of Fame Javier Vazquez , baseball player Wilfredo Vazquez , boxer Savio Vega , WWE wrestler Juan Evangelista Venegas , the first Puerto Rican to win an Olympic medal Ada Velez , the first Puerto Rican feamale boxer, to win a championship Mark Watring , equestrian Bernie Williams, baseball player
Astrologers
Beauty Queens
Mr. Universe
Religion Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez , first Puerto Rican to become a cardinal Father Francisco Ayerra de Santa Maria , Puerto Rico's first poet Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi , first Puerto Rican to become a bishop Rev. Yiye Avila , pentecostal leader Rev. Nicky Cruz , former gangster turned minister Sister Maria Dominguez, beatified in 2004 by Pope John Paul II Sor Isolina Ferre , Catholic nun awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom Juanita García Peraza, "Mita", founder of "Mita" religion Jorge Raschke , outspoken evangelist Carlos Manuel Rodríguez a.k.a. "St.Charlie", beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001 Teofilo Vargas Sein , "Aron", leader of "Mita" religion Father Diego de Torres Vargas , first to write about the history of Puerto Rico.
Authors,Poets and Playwrighters Abelardo Diaz Alfaro , writer Miguel Algarin , poet,writer and co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe Dr.Manuel A. Alonso , poet and author Jose Gautier Benitez , poet Tomas Blanco , writer and historian Julia de Burgos , poet Mayra Calvani , writer Nemesio Canales , essayist and poet Dr.Cayetano Coll y Toste , historian and writer Jesus Colon , writer, father of "Nuyorican " movement Juan Antonio Corretjer , poet Dr.Jose Antonio Davila , poet Virgilio Davila , poet Mayra Santos Febres , poet Rosario Ferré, writer Dr.Manuel Zeno Gandía , wrote "La Charca", the first Puerto Rican novel Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier , poet Enrique A. Laguerre , writer, nominated for Nobel Prize in literature René Marqués , playwright Dr. Concha Melendez , poet, writer Manuel Mendez Ballester , writer Miguel Piñero, playwright, writer, co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe Jose Rivera,playwright, first Puerto Rican nominated for an "Oscar" in "Best Adpoted Screenplay" category Luis Rafael Sanchez ,playwright Esmeralda Santiago , author Alejandro Tapia y Rivera , writer and poet, "The Father of Puerto Rican Literature" Piri Thomas , writer, poet Lola Rodriguez de Tio , poet, wrote lyrics to the revolutionary "Borinqueña" Edwin Torres, "Nuyorican Movement " poet Judge Edwin Torres, writer (Carlito's Way ), New York Supreme Court Justice Luis Llorens Torres , poet
Artists
Military Vice Admiral, Dr.Richard Carmona , U.S. Surgeon General under President George W. Bush Brigadier General Antonio Rodriguez Balinas , U.S. Army Col. Carlos Betances Ramirez , U.S. Army, first Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War Sgt. Modesto Cartagena , U.S. Army, most decorated Hispanic in history Lieutenant General Pedro Del Valle , U.S. Marine Corps, first Hispanic three-star Marine general Capt. Miguel Enriquez , Spanish naval captain, pirate Brigadier General Luis R. Esteves , U.S. Army PFC Fernando L. Garcia , USMC, first Puerto Rican awarded the Medal Of Honor Major General Orlando Llenza , U.S. Air Force PFC Carlos Lozada , U.S. Army, awarded Medal of Honor Admiral Ramon Power y Giralt , Spanish Navy Capt.Antonio de los Reyes Correa , Spanish Army Major Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci, U.S. Air Force Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl , U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Horacio Rivero , U.S. Navy, first Hispanic four-star admiral Captain Euripides Rubio , U.S. Army, awarded Medal of Honor Sp4c Hector Santiago-Colon, U.S. Army, awarded Medal of Honor Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabe , fought alongside Simón Bolívar
Tainos Agueybana , Taíno chief, "supreme cacique" Agueybana II ,brother of Agueybana, see: "Agueybana" Arasibo , cacique, area of Arecibo Caguax , cacique, area of Caguas Hayuya, cacique, area of Jayuya Jumacao , cacique, area of Humacao
Politicians Herman Badillo, first Puerto Rican to serve in U.S. Congress Joaquin Balaguer , president of Dominican Republic (Puerto Rican on his mother's side) Dr. José Celso Barbosa , "The Father of Puerto Rico's Statehood Movement" Antonio R. Barcelo , founder of the "Puerto Rican Liberal Party" Angel O. Berrios , mayor of Caguas Dr.Ruben Berrios , president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party Dr.Ramon Emeterio Betances , main leader of the Grito de Lares revolution Mariana Bracetti , leader of the Lares Revolutionary Council Juan Marí Bras, founder of the Puerto Rican Socialist Party Mathias Bruckman , leader of the Grito de Lares Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos , founder of the Nationalist Party Blanca Canales , nationalist who led the Jayuya revolt Roman Baldorioty de Castro , "The Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy" Oscar Collazo , one of two nationalist who attempted to assasinate Presidenr Harry S. Truman Dr. Gilberto Concepcion de Gracia , founder of P.R. Independence Party Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Santiago, former mayor of Ponce Jose de Diego , known as "The Father of Puerto Rico's Independence Movement" Dr. Antonio Fernós-Isern,first Puerto Rican cardiologist and Resident Commissiner. Maurice Ferre , former mayor of Miami, Florida Fernando Ferrer , Bronx (New York City) borough president Dr. Olga Viscal Garriga , nationalist Eugenio Maria de Hostos , (see also Educators below) Tito Kayak , activist Lolita Lebron , nationalist Olga A. Mendez , first Puerto Rican New York State Senator Ines Mendoza , first lady of Puerto Rico Francisco Ramirez Medina , President of the Republic of Ruerto Rico (September 28 , 1868 ), during "El Grito de Lares " revolt Teodoro Moscoso Jr. , architect of Operation Bootstrap Luis Muñoz Rivera, first Puerto Rican to be Resident Commissioner in Washington,D.C. Dr. Antonia Novello , U.S. Surgeon General under President George Bush, Sr. Eddie Perez , Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut Francisco Mariano Quiñones, the first president of Puerto Rico's Cabinet Ramon Luis Rivera , former mayor of Bayamón. Manuel Rojas , leader of the "Grito de Lares " Felisa Rincón de Gautier , first woman to be elected mayor of an American Capital city. Segundo Ruiz Belvis , leader of the Grito de Lares revolt Manuela Santiago Collazo , mayor of Vieques Maria de Lourdes Santiago ,first female "PIP" member to be elected into the Puerto Rican Senate Jose Serrano ,first Puerto Rican congressman
Results from FactBites:
Article about "Puerto Rico" in the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (1716 words)
Puerto Rico is a self-governing unincorporated organized territory of the United States, in the eastern Caribbean, consisting of the island of Puerto Rico and some smaller islands.
Puerto Rico is part of the Greater Antilles, located to the east of the Dominican Republic and to the west of the Lesser Antilles.
The major differences between Puerto Rico and the states are greater financial autonomy (it levies its own taxes and is exempt from the Internal Revenue Code), its lack of voting representation in either house of the Congress and the ineligibility of Puerto Rican residents to vote in presidential elections.
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