Fernando J. Montilla

Puerto Rican producer, entrepreneur (died in 2014 at 99 years old), his label Montilla founded in late 1952 was among the first Latin established in the U.S and discovered and recorded many Latin artists such as cuban Perez Prado. Also Spanish international stars as operatic tenor Alfredo Kraus, classical guitar player Andrés Segovia and flamenco guitar masters like Carlos Montoya and Sabicas.

Fernando J. Montilla was born May 30, 1915 in San Juan Puerto Rico. Died in Miami june 2014.
In the 1920's he traveled to New York where NBC hired him as a radio engineer. After the war he returned to NBC, then relocated to La Habana (Cuba) to work with WCMQ radio as a sound engineer and to set up their radio station. There he began to record young Cuban artists like Bola De Nieve and the legendary [a129658]. Returning to New York he started Montilla Records, Inc. In the 1950's, Montilla traveled to Spain to record world famous Flamenco guitarists Carlos Montoya, Sabicas, classical guitar player Andrés Segovia and discovered one of the world's greatest tenors, Alfredo Kraus, signing him to a recording contract. Montilla continued to build his catalog of musical recordings producing over 150 records of music recorded in Spain.
In 1965, Montilla moved back to Puerto Rico to open the largest Recording Studio and Tape & Record Manufacturing Complex in Latin America with 14 presses machines with capacity to make 6000 Lps every eight hours. He acquired exclusive licensing & manufacturing rights for Latin America from A&M Records, Motown Records, ABC Records and Blue Thumb. He recorded legendary Puerto Rican artist Rafael Hernández last record before moved to Miami.

In the 1980s Montilla moved his operation to Miami recording music well into his 80s.
At 86 years old he sold his catalog to the Mexican company Orfeon Videovox, S.A..