Juan Narciso Ríos Rodríguez

Born in Ponce in 1863 into a musician's family. He became a mature musician in Juan Morel Campos' orchestra, where he played the first clarinet. His danzas are characterized by a high lyrical flight. He was successor as orchestra director to his teacher (Morel Campos), who died prematurely in 1896. He then became the most genuine exponent of the city of Ponce's danza school Ríos Ovalle's danzas have a similar formal structure as Morel's. His danza's introductions or "Paseos" are arrhythmic. In his orchestra he used the güiro as the sole percussion instrument. His most known compositions are: Angelina, Teresa, Lluvia de Perlas (Rain of Pearls), Odalisca, and La Graciosita (The Funny One). He died in 1928.