The participation of the Dominican Republic in the OTI Festival began at the first OTI Festival in 1972. The Dominican participating broadcasters were , , and , which were members of the (OTI). They participated in twenty-six of the twenty-eight editions, only missing the 1976 and 1981 festivals. Its best placing was second, achieved in 1977 and 1983.
History The Dominican Republic never managed to get a victory in the OTI Festival, but had a successful participation during the most of its history and ended several times in the top 10 places of the classification.
Fernando Casado was the first Dominican representative in the contest and placed seventh with his song "". In 1973, it recorded one of its greatest successes in the contest with Niní Cáffaro and his song "", which placed third with 9 points. In 1977, Fernando Casado was selected again to represent the Dominican Republic in the contest with the song "" which placed second and became a hit in the island.
After some other successful participations, Telesistema Dominicano selected the singer Taty Salas with her ballad "" which achieved second place again. Salas was selected again in 1988, and although she didn't repeat the success of her previous entry, she placed third with the song "".
In 1989, Telesistema Dominicano, determined to record a Dominican victory once for all, contacted the prominent singer Juan Luis Guerra, who composed the power ballad "" which was sung by Maridalia Hernández. Although the song placed third and didn't win, this entry was widely acclaimed both by the jury and by the audience to the point that today, it's considered to be one of the best entries in the history of the OTI Festival.
The following Dominican entries were not as successful as before but the country managed to place respectably in the last years of the contest.
Participation overview + Table key 2 Second place 3 Third place SF Semi-finalist F Finalist ◇ Contest cancelled Year Song Artist Songwriter(s) Conductor Place Points 1972 "" Fernando Casado Meche Díez Augusto Algueró 7 4 1973 "" Niní Cáffaro Rafael Solano Jorge Taveras 3 9 1974 "" Charytín Goyco Charytín Goyco Jorge Taveras 5 7 1975 "" Luchi Vicioso Jorge Taveras 14 2 1976 colspan="6" 1977 "" Fernando Casado Cheo Zorrilla Rafael Ibarbia 2 8 1978 "" Hilda Saldaña Leonor Porcella de Brea Bienvenido Bustamante 8 12 1979 "" Omar Franco Adriano Rodríguez Danny León 14 10 1980 "" Fausto Rey Jorge Taveras 6 25 1981 colspan="6" 1982 "" Rhina Ramírez Leonor Porcella de Brea Manuel Tejada 7 20 1983 "" Taty Salas Cheo Zorrilla Manuel Tejada 2 1984 "" Sonia Alfonso Alex Mancilla Bertico Sosa colspan=2 1985 "" Gina D'Alessandro Cheo Zorrilla Bertico Sosa colspan=2 1986 "" Cheo Zorrilla Cheo Zorrilla colspan=2 1987 "" Julio Sabala José Juan Almela colspan=2 1988 "" Taty Salas Juan Luis Guerra Manuel Tejada 3 16 1989 "" Maridalia Hernández Juan Luis Guerra Manuel Tejeda 3 1990 "" Vickiana William Sánchez colspan=2 1991 "" Jackeline Estévez Anthony Ríos 1992 "" Cheo Zorrilla colspan=2 1993 "" Grupo Triada Manuel Tejada colspan=2 1994 "" Miriam Cruz Manuel Jiménez 4 10 1995 "" Manuel Jiménez Manuel Tejada colspan=2 1996 "" Frank Ceara Manuel Tejada Manuel Tejada colspan=2 1997 "" Audrey Campos Manuel Jiménez Manuel Tejada 1998 "" Claudine Bono Manuel Jiménez Manuel Tejada 1999 Contest cancelled ◇ 2000 "" Rando Camasta Rando Camasta Nando Hernández
References