Rafael Hernández Marín (October 24, 1892 – December 11, 1965) was a Puerto Rican songwriter and the author of hundreds of popular songs in the Latin American repertoire.

He learned to play many musical instruments, including the clarinet, tuba, violin, piano, and guitar.

Hernández moved to San Juan where he played for the municipal orchestra under the director Manuel Tizol.

In 1917, Hernández was working as a musician in North Carolina, when the United States entered World War I.

[7] On September 2, 1927, Hernández's sister, Victoria, opened Casa Hernandez, a music store which also acted as a booking agency and base of operations for her brother.

[7] Hernandez also composed Christmas music, Danzas, Zarzuelas, Guarachas, Lullabies, Boleros, Waltzes, and more.

[4] Hernández died in San Juan on December 11, 1965, shortly after Banco Popular de Puerto Rico produced a TV special in his honor in which he addressed the people for the last time.

Rafael Hernández's remains are buried in the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery of Old San Juan.

The Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, the repository of his works, operates a small museum in his honor at its Metropolitan Campus in San Juan, which is directed by his son, Alejandro (Chalí) Hernández.

At the behest former senator Lucy Arce, the Senate of Puerto Rico, under the first term of Thomas Rivera Schatz built the Rafael Hernández Plaza with a bigger-than-lifesize statue of the composer, and a statue of a Puerto Rican jíbaro riding a horse honoring his Lamento Borincano.

The park is located at the easternmost tip of San Juan's Paseo de la Covadonga.

Puerto Rican singer Marc Anthony recorded Hernández's "Preciosa" and sang the song in a 2005 concert in New York City's Madison Square Garden.