A graduate of the Dominican Conservatory of Music, Manuel Tejada composed his first songs in the late '70s, combining different Afro-Caribbean rhythms and electronic instruments. He became one of the pioneers in the contemporary bachata-merengue scene, along with Juan Luis Guerra, Wilfrido Vargas, and Johnny Ventura. In 1986, Manuel Tejada teamed up with lyricist José Antonio Rodríguez to compose Viña del Mar-winning song Para Quererte, performed by singer Maridalia Hernández. ~ Drago Bonacich, Rovi