Rafaelito Román was a beloved Dominican merengue and tropical music artist born in Santo Domingo in 1953. Over the course of his career he built a reputation as a warm and engaging performer whose music connected deeply with working-class Dominican audiences. His style was rooted in the festive, accordion-driven traditions of merengue típico as well as the smoother tropical sounds that dominated Dominican popular music from the 1970s onward.

Román performed steadily throughout his life, appearing at neighborhood celebrations, clubs, and festivals where his energetic stage presence and crowd-pleasing repertoire made him a favorite. He remained active in the Dominican music scene for many years, recording albums and singles that earned him a loyal following. He passed away in 2024, and his death was mourned by fans and fellow musicians who remembered him as a generous spirit and a genuine representative of the Dominican musical tradition.