The dean of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico’s piano, Rafael Ithier Natal—the man who showed us with the flavor of his notes that ‘Without salsa there is no paradise’ and that nothing is tastier than ‘Rice with Beans’—has fallen silent. The founding member and soul of the ultimate salsa university passed away on December 6 at age 99 after being hospitalized in San Juan for pneumonia.
- His service in the U.S. Army and the Korean War instilled a discipline he applied throughout his life.
- According to a biography of Ithier by the Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, Ithier considered retiring from music to study banking or even pursue a law degree but changed his mind after receiving a visit.
- One of the departures that pained him the most, as he acknowledged in life, was that of ‘El Niño de Trastalleres,’ Andy Montañez, who left El Gran Combo to join Venezuela’s Dimensión Latina.
- They were also the first salsa orchestra to perform a concert in Dubai.
The death of the greatest mulatto, who served as musical director, pianist, arranger, and composer, was confirmed by Víctor Rivera, the family’s attorney. His passing has drawn tributes from dozens of salsa musicians worldwide, now orphaned by his unmatched talent.
The salsa genius created timeless hits with El Gran Combo, including: ‘Brujería,’ ‘Ojos chinos,’ ‘Timbalero,’ ‘No hay cama pa’ tanta gente,’ ‘Me liberé,’ ‘Un verano en Nueva York,’ ‘La fiesta de Pilito,’ ‘Ámame,’ ‘Trampolín,’ ‘Y no hago más na,’ ‘Arroz con habichuela,’ ‘Sin salsa no hay paraíso,’ ‘Achilipú,’ and ‘Así son,’ among others.
His departure marks the end of an era for the orchestra he founded in 1962, which, under his leadership, became the only Puerto Rican group to perform on all five continents. The void he leaves in Puerto Rican and Latin American music is irreplaceable. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico’s discography exceeds 70 productions, including *En Cuarentena*, released in 2021.
The musician is survived by his wife, Carmen Soto, and his children: Carlos, Pedro, Mérida, Maritza, and Ivonne.
Rafael, son of Mayagüez natives Nicolás “Macaco” Ithier and Mérida Natal, was born on August 29, 1926, in San Juan but raised in Monacillos, Río Piedras. His initial dream was to be a baseball player, but music called to him from a young age. His father had a bohemian group, and his uncle Salvador was a guitarist and second voice in the Trío Borinquen.
At just 8 years old, after his father’s death, he abandoned his athletic dreams to find work and support his family. He joined the Conjunto Lucerito as a guitarist, as recounted by Puerto Rican journalist Hiram Guadalupe in his book *Historia de la Salsa*.
Ithier was self-taught, learning to play several instruments but dedicating himself to the piano. He began his musical career in 1941 when he joined the Conjunto Hawaiano, led by Fermín Machuca. He earned four dollars a night—“a lot of money back then,” he often told the media.
His service in the U.S. Army and the Korean War instilled a discipline he applied throughout his life.
According to his biographers, he moved to New York, where he formed the combo The Borinqueneers Mambo Kings. A year later, he returned to Puerto Rico and joined Cortijo y Su Combo, led by Rafael Cortijo and featuring singer Ismael Rivera, ‘El Sonero Mayor’; Martín Quiñones, Miguel Cruz, and Sammy Ayala. “I played piano. What we played was guaracha and plena. Salsa? Not even a thought,” Ithier once said. He remained with the group until 1962, when Ismael Rivera was arrested on drug charges, and Ithier left the band.
According to a biography of Ithier by the Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, Ithier considered retiring from music to study banking or even pursue a law degree but changed his mind after receiving a visit.
Backed by the Cuban brothers Rafael and Guillermo Álvarez Guedes—owners of Discos Gema—Rogelio “Kito” Vélez, Héctor Santos, Martín Quiñones, and Miguel Ángel Cruz invited him to join their project: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
They were joined by Eddie Pérez, Héctor Santos, Roberto Roena, Milton Correa, Daniel Vázquez, Micky Duchesne, Chiqui Rivera, Pellín Rodríguez, and Andy Montañez. “Maybe we won’t be the best orchestra in the world, but El Gran Combo has set a good example. Many bands break up after a few years due to lack of discipline,” Ithier once said of his group.
Their first album, also titled *Los Mulatos del Sabor* or *The University of Salsa: Menéame los Mangos*, was released.
Ithier’s orchestra was one of the first to perform live on television.
Years later, Ithier faced disappointment when Roberto Roena and Elías Lopés, who had joined the orchestra, left to form a rival group: Apollo Sound. He encountered similar situations, such as in 1973 when Pellín Rodríguez left, and Ithier hired Charlie Aponte. Or after Andy Montañez’s departure in 1977, which brought in Jerry Rivas. And in 2014, when Charlie Aponte left, he was replaced by Anthony García. It’s no wonder the orchestra is called the University of Salsa.
One of the departures that pained him the most, as he acknowledged in life, was that of ‘El Niño de Trastalleres,’ Andy Montañez, who left El Gran Combo to join Venezuela’s Dimensión Latina.
In 2006, at age 80, Ithier decided to reduce his workload. Though he remained at the helm of the orchestra and its administration, he passed his role as pianist to musician and arranger Willie Sotelo. Later, he would delegate directing and administrative duties to him as well.
The group later released five more albums: *Acángana* (1963) and *El caballo pelotero* (1964).
Additionally, the orchestra, a two-time Latin Grammy winner, made its mark on television, where they hosted twelve weekly programs for seven years.
The group’s activity declined significantly in the 1970s with the rise of other Puerto Rican bands like Apollo Sound and Tommy Olivencia’s orchestra.
But El Gran Combo, with the help of singer Andy Montañez—who mortgaged his home—survived the setback and solidified its place as Puerto Rico’s premier orchestra. They established their own record label, EGC Corp., released eleven albums under it, and signed with Combo Records, building an extensive catalog spanning over 40 years.
El Gran Combo has received numerous tributes on Puerto Rico’s National Salsa Day, including in 1985 and 2014, when they broke the attendance record with 40,000 people.
They were also the first salsa orchestra to perform a concert in Dubai.
In 2024, upon receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Puerto Rico’s Faculty of General Studies at the Río Piedras campus, Maestro Rafael Ithier Natal said: “I have lived 97 long years, and the most vivid memory I have is of dedicating my life to music and art. Nothing has been more important or satisfying to me.”
Image: ElPaisCali
