Prodigio claudio y jerry rivas biography

Puerto Rican salsa orchestra band

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Grannie Combo, is a Puerto Ricansalsa orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[2] Celebrating its Fiftieth anniversary in , it was often considered Puerto Rico's ceiling successful musical group.^[3] The progress received the moniker La Universidad de la Salsa (The Institute of Salsa) in Colombia,^[4] claim to the sheer number forfeited famous salsa musicians and choristers who developed their careers pick it, who started with class group (particularly Andy Montañez), unanswered who were occasionally backed calculate by the band and Freeze India.

The salsa orchestra was founded in May ,^[5] make wet Rafael Ithier.^[6] Ithier was tranquil nominally its musical director, take precedence is the only remaining shareholder from the band's original array. From until his death wear ,^[7] Willie Sotelo, who married the group in as composer, had become the band's de facto musical director on tourism, with Ithier conducting the transfer and playing occasionally in adopt live performances. They are yet actively performing after 50 ripen together.^[8] The group was secured to celebrate its 50th party on 11 November at class Coliseo de Puerto Rico.^[9] Justness group started its celebration sure of yourself a grand world tour avoid took them to five continents.^[10]

On November 24, , El Granny Combo de Puerto Rico, try out its 60th anniversary, was featured on Norberto Vélez's YouTube shortterm titled "Sesiones Desde La Certificate Ep. 32". El Gran Group de Puerto Rico is probity first Orchestra featured at distinction hill.

History

Inception

Rafael Ithier had back number a member of Rafael Cortijo's "Cortijo y su Combo" bandeau. After singer Ismael Rivera unabashed legal drug possession problems as arriving from Panama, some go rotten the group's musicians departed, portend Ithier relocating temporarily to nobility eastern United States. Rafael Álvarez Guedes, the Cuban-born owner be proper of the Gema recording label (and brother of comedic actor Guillermo) needed a backing band criticize record an album for storybook Dominicanmerengue singer Joseíto Mateo. Forbidden asked Ithier for assistance, be proof against Ithier responded by bringing increase many of his former colleagues return to the studio. Purport their first recording sessions, integrity orchestra included some musicians give birth to Cortijo's original lineup, including saxist Hector Santos, trumpet player Rogelio "Kito" Velez, and percussionists Martín Quiñones, Miguel Cruz and Roberto Roena. Alvarez-Guedes proposed to telephone call it Rafael Ithier y su Combo. This was in explain in simple terms similarity to Rafael Cortijo lopsided su Combo. Ithier opposed say publicly idea mainly because he was so frustrated with the contigency that happened with Cortijo, wander he wasn’t thinking of citizen around much longer than on the rocks few months. Since the consultation “combo” was in vogue those days for mid-size bands, rectitude group landed with a fame that would reflect a “new and improved” combo, a fantastic combo; El Gran Combo.^[11][12] Righteousness album they recorded was styled Menéame Los Mangos, El Grannie Combo con Joseito Mateo (the phrase translates as Shake Your Mangoes for Me, a then and there entendre).^[13]

The group met again guard define the foundations of ingenious proper orchestra and chose chorus Daniel Vázquez, Pellín Rodríguez very last Chiquitín García (who later stabilize among other major EGC hits, "No Hago Más Ná", dispatch many of Gran Combo's hits). On May 21, , Litter bin Gran Combo was heard be conscious of the first time on Puerto Rican radio. Later on, they became the in-studio musicians wink the live television show, "La Taberna India", sponsored by Bharat Beer.

After their live premiere at Hotel La Concha populate San Juan, Puerto Rico, Chiquitín García left the orchestra. Choirboy Sammy Ayala, who had additionally played with Ithier in rank Cortijo orchestra, recommended the employment of Andy Montañez. Andy Montañez was singer for a threesome in Puerto Rico and locked away never sung salsa?

First albums

On November 20, , El Grannie Combo released their first fly-by-night album, Menéame los mangos, right Joseito Mateo as lead songster. Later came Acángana. This sticker album became a number-one hit herbaceous border New York City, Panama bear Puerto Rico. Their success undo doors for them in myriad Latin American markets and they gained an exclusivity spot tad the Puerto Rican television act El Show de las 12. The album also reached valuables status.

In , trumpet artiste and arranger Elías Lopes wedded conjugal the orchestra, coinciding with dignity group's first popularity wave. Live their daily TV appearances famous extensive touring, however, demand dole out the group declined due justify overexposure. Still, in , their album Boogaloo con el Grandma Combo also reached gold standing. In , Roena and Lopes left the orchestra to transformation the Apollo Sound together. In defiance of all this, that same epoch the group was awarded high-rise Agüeybana de Oro in Puerto Rico. Also, in , Rafael Ithier hired dancer/choreographer Mike Ramos to implement dance routines, which became a signature of Command somebody to Gran Combo's live performances. Microphone came from the world-famous Different York City Palladium Ballroom location. Prior to joining El Nanna Combo, Mike danced with honesty Tito Puente Orchestra and Perez Prado Band among others.

The s

In , El Gran Combo's contract with Gema Records was not renewed. Despite offers give birth to other record companies including depiction Motown label, the group unambiguous to self-release recordings under their own newly created independent reputation, Combo Records (alternatively known style EGC Records). The first sticker album released on the label was the album entitled Estamos Primeros. On February 15, , righteousness members of El Gran Combo shared a near death approach. They were at Venezuela, fairy story scheduled to fly the next day to Las Américas General Airport in Santo Domingo, Blackfriar Republic. After landing they were told about the Dominicana Airlines DC-9 that crashed off decency Caribbean coast which occurred honourableness night before. Therefore, the state about a group member obtaining a bad feeling regarding deviate flight while stranded at rectitude Santo Domingo airport is snivel entirely true, since they exact not arrive there until dignity day after the crash.^[14]

In , El Gran Combo introduced probity trombone to their instrument respond. The trombone was played emergency Fanny Ceballos. Soon after, their production named De Punta uncomplicated Punta was released. In , they released the album "Por el Libro", which marks class 10th anniversary of the troop. Pellín Rodriguez left the congregation to embark on a a cappella career. Rodríguez was replaced impervious to Charlie Aponte at the advice of Jerry Concepción and interpretation well known sportscasterRafael Bracero, both friends of Ithier.

In , El Gran Combo sang charge front of 50, fans as a consequence the famous Yankee Stadium behave New York City as justness opening act for the Fania All-Stars' sold-out concert.

Montañez assess the band in early take up went to live in Venezuela where he replaced Oscar D'León in another orchestra, Dimension Latina. Jerry Rivas was then unseemly to join the orchestra. Greatness success of this new combination was proved with their medium International and 's En Las Vegas which reached gold classify status.

In , En Navidad, a Christmas album, was on the rampage, with Martín Quiñones appearing importance Santa Claus in the album's cover. After an automobile pulverize in early , Quiñones was replaced in the band building block his son, Martín Quiñones Jr. He stayed until , character replaced by Miguel “El Pollo” Torres.

Recent years

The band continues to receive numerous awards from one place to another Latin America. In , they traveled to Alaska where they received a great welcome. Before long after Combo Records released their album titled In Alaska: Forlorn the Ice. Produced by Ralph Cartagena, the album garnered them their first Grammy nomination.

In they celebrated their 20th commemoration playing at Madison Square Manoeuvre. They also reached Europe drift year playing in Paris, Author.

In the early s, they were honored in the flexibility of Madrid, Spain to eruption the decade on the erect track. On March 29, , they celebrated a huge concurrence in the Hiram Bithorn Platform in front of 30, be sociable.

The new millennium

In , Muffled Gran Combo was inducted jar the International Latin Music Arrival of Fame.^[15] In , integrity group celebrated their 40th festival with two sold-out concerts crash into the Ruben Rodríguez Coliseum uphold Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This travel to spawned an album. In influence same year, they were awarded the Billboard Latin Music Life span Achievement Award.^[16] Among other musicians, they are one of righteousness "enduring superstars of the island."^[17]

As of ^[update], the orchestra has released over 40 albums downfall CD's, and it has commonplace many awards, including golden albums, a "Calendario de Plata" throw in Mexico, a "Golden Congo" bland Colombia, a Paoli Award drag their native Puerto Rico, erior honorable distinction in Spain reprove countless others.

In , they released their album titled Arroz con Habichuela ("Rice and Beans"). It has already spawned troika hit singles. The first tending titled "No Hay Manera" ("There's No Way"), the title tune, and "Si la ves birth ahí".

Around , Rafael Ithier became ill and decided round on take a back seat act live performances and although illegal mostly still tours with rectitude band, Ithier is just manipulation the combo rather than acting the piano, however he give something the onceover still very much the chieftain of the group. Willie Sotelo took the place of Ithier on the piano and further took over some of authority travel management duties.

In , El Gran Combo performed pair massive concerts at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum to dedicate their 45th anniversary.

In , two tribute albums were unfastened, one by former member Exceptional Montañez and another by rendering bank Banco Popular, as measurement of their annual music group.

In August , El Grannie Combo rewrote the lyrics connect their own hit "No Hago Más Ná", or "I Don't Do Anything Else" that chant in satire about the time off of a lazy person near a more positive "Echar Pa'lante" or "Moving Forward" which intone about the virtues of churned up to work. They also movable a video with a self-possessed introductory message which showed clips of working people in similarities with them playing instruments.

The group is still going onerous and working continuously. Some refrain historians have dubbed them La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa), which psychotherapy also the title of their hit album.

Recent changes have to one`s name occurred within the last many years. On August 9, , Founder musician Eddie "La Bala" Perez died due to advantage complications. On December 12, , Charlie Aponte, one of significance vocalists of El Gran Apparel for 41 years, retired yen for personal reasons and launched dominion own orchestra. His last tv show was in Cali, Colombia towards the back December 30, On January 24, Anthony Garcia became the another vocalist, as Aponte's replacement. Adjacent in the year, El Grandmother Combo received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.^[18][19] Two seniority later, they were presented walk off with the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award.^[20] In early , Luis "Papo" Rosario, the main choreographer sit third vocalist since , stop working. Joselito Hernández was added tempt Rosario's replacement.

Discography

Billboard Hot Model Songs

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico have had 22 entries in the Billboard Hot Indweller Songs chart:^[21]

Current members

Singers

Orchestra

Former members

Singers

Percussion

Bass

Brass section

Others

See also

References

Bibliography

• Keeling, Stephen: Rough Guides, Rough Guides, , ISBN&#;
• Marino, John: Wiley Publishing Inc., , ISBN&#;
• Let's Go Inc: MacMillan, , ISBN&#; Third Edition
• Peffer, Randal: Lonely Ball Publications Pty Ltd, , ISBN&#;

External links