On November 20, 1963, El Gran Combo released their first group album, Acángana, with Rodríguez and Montañez as leading voices. Felipe Rodríguez, another legendary Salsa singer, also followed the group's career closely, sometimes even making suggestions to Ithier. Sammy Ayala, who had also played with Ithier in the Cortijo orchestra, recommended the hiring of Andy Montañez. Later on, they became the on-studio musicians of the live television show, "La Taberna India", sponsored by India Beer.Īfter their live debut at Hotel La Concha in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Chiqui García left the orchestra. On May 21, 1962, El Gran Combo was heard for the first time on Puerto Rican radio. The group met again to define the foundations of the orchestra and they chose singers Daniel Vázquez, Pellín Rodríguez and Chiqui García. That first album was titled Menéame Los Mangos, El Gran Combo con Joseito Mateo (Shake My Handles, or Shake My Mangoes, depending on the double meaning of the word Mango). The members that met for this first incarnation were Ithier, Eddie Perez, Hector Santos, Rogelio "Kito" Velez, Martín Quiñones, Miguel Cruz and Roberto Roena. It was Alvarez Guedes himself who baptized them with the name of El Gran Combo. For their first gig, the orchestra was signed by the legendary Cuban comedian, writer and businessman Alvarez Guedes, who hired them to support Dominican singer Joseito Mateo on one of his albums for his record company Gema Records.
Rafael Ithier had been a member of Rafael Cortijo's "Cortijo y su Combo" orchestra, travelling to the eastern United States before forming El Gran Combo. They still perform today after 40 years together. The group is currently promoting their latest album titled Arroz con Habichuela (Rice and Beans). Ithier is still, as of 2008, the orchestra's pianist and musical director.
Since many of the genre's legendary singers have been members of the orchestra, the band has been given the moniker La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa)Įl Gran Combo was founded in May 1962, by Rafael Ithier. It is Puerto Rico's most successful musical group, and one of Salsa's most famous groups across Latin America. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican Salsa music orchestra.
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