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Biography
To the average music fan it can be slightly surreal to learn about bands like El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. We feel so attached to the accepted totems of rock and roll, rap, pop and other genres of mainstream music that we feel that there can’t be any other enormously successful and influential bands, otherwise we would have heard of them. This is, quite obviously when you think about it, not the case.
The music world is far bigger than the one someone reads about in the NME or in a Beatles biography, and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico are living proof of this. The band stands as the Salsa world’s true icons, able to sell out enormous arena concerts anywhere in Latin America and have over half a century’s worth of experience to their name.
The band began in 1962, founded by the now legendary pianist Rafael Ithier. Rafael Álvarez Guedes was the head of the Cuban record label Gema and asked Ithier to form a backing band to record an album by Dominican merengue singer Joseíto Mateo.
Ithier responded by calling as many members of an old orchestra he’d been a part of previously to the studio. The group instantly gelled, and Álvarez Guedes was so impressed he originally wanted to name the orchestra after Ithier but the pianist refused, instead naming them El Gran Combo.
By May 1962 they were playing live on the radio and on television, and the year after saw the release of their debut album as a group “El Gran Combo... de Siempre”. The album was an instant hit, being certified Gold and making a name for themselves in New York, Panama and the groups native Puerto Rico.
The rest of the sixties were just as good to the band; however, this lead to overexposure and in 1970, their contract with Gema wasn’t renewed. Despite receiving an offer from Motown, the band decided to form their own label just in time for their second renaissance.
The two decades saw them headline Madison Square Garden, support the Fania All Stars at the Yankees Stadium in front of 50,000 fans and headline their own stadium show at Puerto Rico’s own Hiram Bithorn Stadium.
This was done while releasing hit album after hit album and since then, their career hasn’t had any real trouble since those days in the late 60s. Even in 2006, when Ithiel retired from piano playing due to illness, he found it in himself to stay on as the bands conductor.
The band may have had a revolving door policy to membership from day one but they’ve kept the Salsa flame alive through sheer passion and talent. Their show is still utterly unmissable to this very day and should be seen by anyone with respect for the greats of any genre.
Live reviews
When you are watching somebody do something that they clearly love and have passion for you cannot help but become happy and content on their behalf. This is very much the sentiment achieved when you go and see El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. The Salsa orchestra has been together for over fifty years and are considered Peru's most internationally successful musical ensemble of all time and are potentially the world's most celebrated salsa outfit.
Founding member and musical director Rafael Ithier remains the only original musician present tonight yet there is a shared passion with the musicians and an understanding of the history affiliated with this impressive outfit. The warm salsa tones permeate the room this evening and the whole crowd are treated to the Latino tones of the music which you cannot help but move along to. There are a large selection of musicians performing tonight and this help with the textural quality of the music and overall it adds reason to celebrate and be impressed as they all come together in absolute harmony for the entire performance.
sean-ward
Gran Combo de Puerto Rico has to be one of the liveliest, hippest and oldest merengue salsa bands that I have ever seen or heard.
I was able to catch them at their 50th anniversary in 2012 and let me tell you those men got down and did not stop until the show was over. They had the crowd hype for the entire time that they were on stage.
What I love most about El Gran Combo is that they have true love for salsa music and not only do they sing but they are up on the stage dancing as well. They loved putting on that show and it was a great display to their accomplishments.
There was a live band on stage (of course) as well as several salsa and merengue dancers who also help keep the show live.
The ending number was spectacular and you couldn't tell if it was their first song or the last. I am happy that I got to witness this in person and for anyone that wants to listen to some genuine salsa and merengue remember your roots and listen to El Gran Combo who have been in the business for over 50 years.
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