Rafael Ithier, also known as Rafael Ithier Nadal, was born on August 29, 1926. He’s a Puerto Rican salsa musician. Rafael founded the successful orchestra, El Gran Combo. He was born in Rio Piedras; now it’s a San Juan municipality. In 2016, Rafael Ithier age was 90 and gave an interview about his contributions and workings in Puerto Rican music.
Rafael Ithier: His early years
Rafael Ithier was raised in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He had a great love and passion for music since his childhood days. Rafael Ithier’s father was Nicolas Ithier, and he played music with music legends like Rafael Hernandez, etc. Also, he served some time in the US military.
How did Rafael Ithier become a part of Puerto Rican music?
Rafael Ithier became an expert guitarist and was also an active member of the Tito Henriquez group called Taone. Later, his sister motivated him to learn to play the piano.
Rafael Ithier and Rafael Cortijo, who was his namesake, became friends at an early stage. Also, animosity rumours were there, but both of them denied all of them by saying, ‘They are like brothers’.
Later in the 1950s, Rafael Ithier joined Cortijo y su Combo, an orchestra group. Before this, he was a member of the Borinqueneers Mambo Boys, which was a group from New York.
In 1977, he worked as a music arranger on an album. This was for the band ‘Puerto Rico All Stars’.
Rafael Ithier and El Gran Combo
Rafael Ithier had been a part of the Cortijo y su Combo orchestra and used to record their songs at El Cortijo recording studio Spain. But after some issues with that group, Rafael created El Gran Combo.
In 1962, Rafael Ithier created an orchestra group called El Gran Combo and was its leader. As of 2012, he was still its leader and actively participated in the group tour. In an interview on his 90th birthday, he stated that his group’s success is because of its discipline.
However, the complete name of the group is El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. It is a Puerto Rican salsa orchestra. In 2012, the group completed 50 years, and celebrated the anniversary on a grand note. The group is often considered the most famous and successful orchestra group in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The group even got La Universidad de la Salsa in Colombia because of their famous salsa musicians as well as singers who started their careers with the group.
It was Rafael Ithier who started this salsa orchestra and is still its musical director. Plus, he is the last original member of this group. As of 2010, Willie Sotelo became the group’s de facto musical director on its tours. Plus, Rafael conducts the group and occasionally performs with them.
Even after 50 years, the group is actively performing. In 2012, they celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.
Rafael Ithier and El Gran Combo’s first albums
In 1963, the El Gran Combo group released their first album, Meneame los Mangos, with Joseito Mateo as the lead singer. Later, they released the Acangana album, which became a great hit in New York City, Puerto Rico, as well as Panama.
This opened a lot of doors for the group. Also, the group got an exclusive spot on the TV show called El Show de las 12. In 1964, Elias Lopes joined El Gran Combo as one of its El Gran Combo members.
Despite daily TC appearances, touring, etc., the demand for the orchestra group declines. But in 1967, the album Boogaloo con el Gran Combo got gold status.
In 1969, Roena as well as Lopes left the group and formed another. Despite uneven situations, they received the Agueybana de Oro award. Later, Rafael Ithier hired Mike Ramos for the group’s dance routine, but he later joined for live performances.
Members of El Gran Combo
The current El Gran Combo singers are:
- Jerry Rivas
- Anthony Garcia
- Joselito Hernandez
The members of the orchestra are:
- Rafael Ithier: He was the leader and director of the group and played piano until 2006.
- Willie Sotelo plays the piano.
- Freddie Miranda is the lead alto saxophone.
- Jorge Torres is the sound engineer.
- Davod Marrero is the support person.
- Freddy Rivera is the double bass, etc.
Final Wrap
Despite multiple ups and downs, the El Gran Combo is still working and going strong with each passing day. In fact, El Gran Combo also honored with the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. However, Luis Papo Rosario retired as the third vocalist in the group in 2019 and Joselito Hernandez took his place. As per the latest reports, the Puerto Rico orchestra group is still performing and touring two countries with their upcoming concerts. The founder Rafael Ithier is now 97 years old and now inspiring young dancers and musicians in the group.
