Biography

Husband of Lani Oteyza. It was in the production of the movie Tipin (1957) that the romance of Al and Lani started. Al choreographed the dream sequence of the movie that starred Lani. On March 7, 1960, The romance led to a marriage at the office of Mayor Estrella in Makati. Dely Atay-atayan and Jose Flores Sibal stood as the wedding sponsors. Eventually, they decided to have a church wedding on July 17, 1960 at the San Marcelino church. The wedding sponsors included Charito Solis, Fernando Poe Jr. and Lou Salvador.

Before he got to direct his first picture, he was already behind the camera assisting the director compose shots for musical sequences. In all musicals he choreographed, he was already given a free hand by the director what to do with the production numbers because he would meticulously plan his shots even before the actual shooting. He was the one who look at the camera and decide what would work for those sequences.

Discovered by Pancho Magalona who saw his jazz dance group perform once and they were asked to do a musical number in a Magalona-starrer. When another Pancho Magalona-and-Tita Duran movie was being cooked up, he became Al Quinn.

A dancer and choreographer, he learned to tap dance with his brother early in their teen days when they would imitate Gene Kelly. They also idolized Fred Astaire.

He also loved to sketch. He got his visual arts genes from his grandfather who was a painter.