Founded in 1962 by Ithier, who was for many years the pianist and musical director of the orchestra, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico was born out of the breakup of Rafael Cortijo y su Combo, with some ...

Leading the acclaimed salsa group El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, he brought the music of his native island to a worldwide ...

Rafael Ithier, leader of the salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, has died, The Associated Press reports. He was 99. The news was confirmed by an attorney for the Ithier family, Víctor Rivera, to ...

How do you celebrate 40 years of musical output? In the case of seminal salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico—a performing group through and through—with a concert. By Billboard Staff How do you ...

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 Salsa's most famous recording and ...

The Latin music world has lost a musical master with the passing of Rafael Ithier, the legendary founder, pianist, and musical director of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. Known universally as “El ...

Rafael Ithier, the dynamic and congenial Puerto Rican pianist and bandleader who founded renown salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and was its leader for decades, died Sunday (Dec. 7) in Puerto ...

You don’t have to tell a salsa music fan about El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. The big combo (English translation) has been successful for almost six decades. On Friday, March 6, the salsa orchestra ...

The 10-track set starts at No. 7. By Pamela Bustios Sr. Charts & Data Analyst (Latin & Billboard Español) El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico adds a 20th top 10 to its Billboard Tropical Albums chart ranking ...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Donning a sweater and slippers and hanging out near the space heater isn’t going to make the cold weather go away. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico might have what it takes, however ...