El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
From left to right: singer Jerry Rivas, musical director Rafael Ithier and singers Charlie Aponte and Luis "Papo" Rosario. The first song of El Gran Combo was Tingoli.
From left to right: singer Jerry Rivas, musical director Rafael Ithier and singers Charlie Aponte and Luis "Papo" Rosario. The first song of El Gran Combo was Tingoli.
Background information
Also known as
  • The University of Salsa
  • Los Mulatos del Sabor
  • El Combo
OriginPuerto Rico
GenresSalsa
Years active1962 (1962)–present[1]
Members
  • Jerry Rivas
  • Joselito Hernández
  • Anthony Garcia
  • Rafael Ithier
  • Freddie Miranda
  • Luis "Taty" Maldonado
  • Moisés Nogueras
  • Freddy Rivera
  • Domingo "Cuqui" Santos
  • Miguel "Pollo" Torres
  • Richie Bastar
  • Virgil Rivera
Past members

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican salsa orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[2] Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2012, it was often considered Puerto Rico's most successful musical group.[3] The group received the moniker La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa) in Colombia,[4] due to the sheer number of famous salsa musicians and singers who developed their careers with it, who started with the group (particularly Andy Montañez), or who were occasionally backed up by the band and La India.

The salsa orchestra was founded in May 1962,[5] by Rafael Ithier.[6] Ithier was still nominally its musical director, and is the only remaining member from the band's original lineup. From 2010 until his death in 2022,[7] Willie Sotelo, who joined the group in 2006 as pianist, had become the band's de facto musical director on tours, with Ithier conducting the group and playing occasionally in select live performances. They are still actively performing after 50 years together.[8] The group was scheduled to celebrate its 50th anniversary on 11 November 2012 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.[9] The group started its celebration with a grand world tour that took them to five continents.[10]

On November 24, 2022, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, on its 60th anniversary, was featured on Norberto Vélez's YouTube channel titled "Sesiones Desde La Loma Ep. 32". El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico is the first Orchestra featured at the hill.

  1. ^ El Gran Combo / El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico - 25th Anniversary 1962-1987 CD. CD Universe. 2012. Muze Inc. Retrieved 3 Sept 2012.
  2. ^ About us. Archived 2012-08-23 at the Wayback Machine El Gran Combo. 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  3. ^ Latin Music. Archived 2012-10-01 at the Wayback Machine About.com. The New York Times. Retrieved 3 Sept 2012.
  4. ^ El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Universidad de la Salsa: Credits. Rovi Corp. 2012. Retrieved 3 Sept 2012.
  5. ^ Keeling and Rough Guides: "The Rough Guide to Puerto Rico", page 377. Rough Guides, 2008.
  6. ^ 853 F. 2d 996 - El Gran Combo Puerto Rico v. National Labor Relations Board. 853 F.2d 996. 129 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 2167, 107 A.L.R.Fed. 223, 109 Lab. Cas. P 10,661. EL GRAN COMBO de PUERTO RICO, d/b/a El Gran Combo, Petitioner, v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Respondent. (No. 87-1756.) United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit. Heard March 8, 1988. Decided Aug. 3, 1988. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  7. ^ Cobo, Leila (June 4, 2022). "Willie Sotelo, Member of El Gran Combo, Dies at 61". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Frommer's Puerto Rico: Marino, p. 37
  9. ^ El Gran Combo. El Gran Combo. 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  10. ^ El Gran Combo: World Tour. Archived 2012-08-23 at the Wayback Machine El Gran Combo. 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.