Rafael Ithier
Encyclopedia
Rafael Ithier is a Salsa music
ian and the founder of the highly successful orchestra El Gran Combo
. Ithier was born in Río Piedras
, now a part of greater San Juan
.
, he showed a passion for music at a very young age. His father, Nicolas Ithier, played music together with Rafael Hernández Marin
, another of Puerto Rico
's music legends.
genre, and he was a member of the Tito Henriquez group, Taone. His sister Esperanza later inspired him to learn how to play the piano.
Ithier and his namesake, Rafael Cortijo
, knew each other and formed a friendship at an early age; rumors of animosity would later surface but they both denied it, saying they considered themselves to be "like brothers." Ithier joined Cortijo's orchestra, "Cortijo y su Combo", during the 1950s. Before that, he was in a New York group named the "Borinqueneers Mambo Boys."
In 1977 Ithier worked as a music arranger on the debut album for the Puerto Rican ensemble band "Puerto Rico All Stars
".
In 1970, Ithier and the members of "El Gran Combo" shared a near-death experience. They were stranded at Las Américas International Airport
in Santo Domingo when they failed to board the Dominicana Airlines DC-9 that crashed in the Caribbean
. One of the members of the group had a bad feeling about boarding the flight, which saved all their lives.
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
ian and the founder of the highly successful orchestra El Gran Combo
El Gran Combo
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican Salsa music orchestra. It is Puerto Rico's most successful musical group, and one of the most popular salsa orchestras across Latin America...
. Ithier was born in Río Piedras
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
, now a part of greater San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
.
Early years
Ithier was born in the Puerta de Tierra sector of San Juan. Raised in Río Piedras, Puerto RicoRío Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
, he showed a passion for music at a very young age. His father, Nicolas Ithier, played music together with Rafael Hernández Marin
Rafael Hernández Marín
Rafael Hernández , was one of the most important composers of Puerto Rican popular music during the 20th century.-Early years:...
, another of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's music legends.
Musical career
Ithier became an expert guitarist in the boleroBolero
Bolero is a form of slow-tempo Latin music and its associated dance and song. There are Spanish and Cuban forms which are both significant and which have separate origins.The term is also used for some art music...
genre, and he was a member of the Tito Henriquez group, Taone. His sister Esperanza later inspired him to learn how to play the piano.
Ithier and his namesake, Rafael Cortijo
Rafael Cortijo
Rafael Cortijo , was a Puerto Rican musician, orchestra leader, and composer.As a child, Cortijo became interested in Caribbean music and enjoyed the works of some of the era's most successful Plena music musicians...
, knew each other and formed a friendship at an early age; rumors of animosity would later surface but they both denied it, saying they considered themselves to be "like brothers." Ithier joined Cortijo's orchestra, "Cortijo y su Combo", during the 1950s. Before that, he was in a New York group named the "Borinqueneers Mambo Boys."
In 1977 Ithier worked as a music arranger on the debut album for the Puerto Rican ensemble band "Puerto Rico All Stars
Puerto Rico All Stars
The Puerto Rico All Stars was a salsa & latin jazz ensemble band that was founded in 1977 by Frankie Gregory. Based in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico All Stars were an alternative and rival to the New York based Fania All-Stars created by Johnny Pacheco.PRAS...
".
El Gran Combo
In 1962, Ithier formed "El Gran Combo", becoming the orchestra's leader. He has held that position for over forty years, and he continues to tour with the group, as of 2010.In 1970, Ithier and the members of "El Gran Combo" shared a near-death experience. They were stranded at Las Américas International Airport
Las Américas International Airport
-Cargo airlines:-Accidents and incidents:*On February 15, 1970, a Dominicana de Aviación DC-9 flying to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, crashed, killing all 102 persons on board ....
in Santo Domingo when they failed to board the Dominicana Airlines DC-9 that crashed in the Caribbean
Dominicana DC-9 air disaster
The Dominicana de Aviación Santo Domingo DC-9 air disaster occurred on February 15, 1970 when a Dominicana de Aviación McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 twin-engine jet airliner crashed on takeoff from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico.The aircraft used for the Dominicana...
. One of the members of the group had a bad feeling about boarding the flight, which saved all their lives.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- French immigration to Puerto RicoFrench immigration to Puerto RicoThe French immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of the economic and political situations which occurred in various places such as Louisiana , Saint-Domingue and in Europe....