Miguel Dones

Angel Dones-Rud, a baker, and Antonia Perez, a seamstress, welcomed their firstborn son, Miguel Angel Dones, on February 18, 1935 in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Over the next twelve years, Angel and Antonia (“Toña”) welcomed five more children into their Puerto Rican home: Auriel, Orpha, Suni, Gersom, and Abigail. Due to economic conditions which prevented him from securing steady employment, Angel moved his family to New York in 1947. They travelled by ship to New Jersey; it was no easy task since Abigail was only a baby. They then settled in the Bronx, New York City. After relocating to New York, Angel and Antonia welcomed three additional children: Ismari, Simri, and Deborah.

As a child in Puerto Rico, Miguel enjoyed fishing and swimming in the rivers and beaches. In fact, he often skipped school to go fishing. However and quite importantly, he loved to listen to his uncles, Florentino and Chane, play their music. This early love of music later influenced the entire course of his life.

After some time living in New York, Angel purchased a used acoustic guitar for Miguel. At the age of fourteen, he taught himself to play by listening to the radio and remembering how his uncles played back in Puerto Rico. Miguel was especially fond of country music, particularly Hank Williams, Ricky Skaggs, and Buck Owens.

Miguel attended Samuel-Gompers Vocational and Technical High School where he and Auriel were the only Hispanic students. Outside of music, he enjoyed baseball, handball, and tinkering with electronics and mechanics. Miguel graduated in June, 1954, with a degree in Radio Vocational Studies. After high school, he was a part of the Thompson (Phillips) Electronics team that discovered the microwave oven. Additionally, while at Thompson Electronics, he was part of the team contracted by the government to create underwater jet propulsion. Miguel was an expert in refurbishing electrical appliances. He utilized his electrical and mechanical knowledge throughout his life in a variety of ingenious ways.

Miguel’s life-long passion, however, was for music; particularly sharing his love for God through music and worship. Around 1954, Miguel began playing the lap steel guitar, which was not a common instrument for Hispanics. He became well-known within the Spanish Christian community for his Gospel music featuring the lap steel guitar. Additionally, the pioneering bands of which he led introduced drums and electric guitars as well into the church… a move that was radical at the time. During his 60 year career as a worship musician, he played the guitar, lap steel guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, piano, and percussion. Miguel played country Gospel music, “trio” style music and he enjoyed rock and roll.

Miguel had his own recording studio where quite a few artists were able to record. He played for many Christian artists, including Deborah Velasquez, Merari Castro, Carmen Virginia Sanabria, Victor Lattimer, David Ortiz, Mickey De Jesus, and Carmen Valez-Dueño. The Dones family also created their own well-known worship group, Los Dones, of which three of the five brothers were members: Auriel, Simri, and of course himself. In the early days of his band career, his sister Suni was a member and sang as well.

In 1961, Miguel met Helen Bonilla at the church, “Iglesia Roca De Horeb” in Brooklyn, NY. After a year of courtship, they married on June 16, 1962 at the church. The residing pastor, Felix Ramos, performed the ceremony. The new couple had three sons: Michael Dones, born May 1963; Robert Dones, born July 1968; and Richard Dones, born June 1969. All three sons inherited their father’s love of music and often joined him as he ministered in worship. Miguel and Helen moved to Florida in 1989 where Miguel continued to serve God through music. Their sons followed them to Florida within the next decade. The family eventually grew to include eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In 2007, Miguel was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. By 2012, the disease robbed Miguel of his ability to worship God through music; he no longer had the ability to play his beloved instruments. From that time on, the disease progressed until it eventually claimed his life on February 1, 2020, just two and a half weeks shy of his 85th birthday and less than five months from his 58th wedding anniversary. Regardless of all the pain and suffering, Miguel maintained his love of music. Even during his final months, he attempted to hum or play guitar when he heard music playing.

His family rejoices in the knowledge that Miguel is now fully healed and playing in God’s celestial band. The legacy of Miguel Dones will continue on, despite his physical death, and he will always be known for his love and passion for music.