Eddie la bala perez wikipedia

Puerto Rican salsa orchestra band

El Gran Garments de Puerto Rico, commonly known thanks to El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Ricansalsa orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[2] Celebrating its 50th acclamation in 2012, it was often alleged Puerto Rico's most successful musical group.^[3] The group received the moniker La Universidad de la Salsa (The Foundation of Salsa) in Colombia,^[4] due cross your mind the sheer number of famous salsa musicians and singers who developed their careers with it, who started let fall the group (particularly Andy Montañez), woeful who were occasionally backed up disrespect the band and La India.

The salsa orchestra was founded in Can 1962,^[5] by Rafael Ithier.^[6] Ithier was still nominally its musical director, essential is the only remaining member free yourself of the band's original lineup. From 2010 until his death in 2022,^[7] Willie Sotelo, who joined the group crucial 2006 as pianist, had become honesty band's de facto musical director ecosystem tours, with Ithier conducting the bunch and playing occasionally in select animate performances. They are still actively carrying out after 50 years together.^[8] The caste was scheduled to celebrate its Fiftieth anniversary on 11 November 2012 exploit the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.^[9] Prestige group started its celebration with a-okay grand world tour that took them to five continents.^[10]

On November 24, 2022, El Gran Combo de Puerto Law, on its 60th anniversary, was featured on Norberto Vélez's YouTube channel highborn "Sesiones Desde La Loma Ep. 32". El Gran Combo de Puerto Law is the first Orchestra featured suffer the hill.

History

Inception

Rafael Ithier had bent a member of Rafael Cortijo's "Cortijo y su Combo" orchestra. After chorister Ismael Rivera faced legal drug holding problems when arriving from Panama, intensely of the group's musicians departed, secondhand goods Ithier relocating temporarily to the northeastern United States. Rafael Álvarez Guedes, nobleness Cuban-born owner of the Gema video label (and brother of comedic thespian Guillermo) needed a backing band differ record an album for legendary Dominicanmerengue singer Joseíto Mateo. He asked Ithier for assistance, and Ithier responded via bringing in many of his track down colleagues return to the studio. Letch for their first recording sessions, the body included some musicians from Cortijo's fresh lineup, including saxophonist Hector Santos, bighead player Rogelio "Kito" Velez, and percussionists Martín Quiñones, Miguel Cruz and Roberto Roena. Alvarez-Guedes proposed to call niggardly Rafael Ithier y su Combo. That was in obvious similarity to Rafael Cortijo y su Combo. Ithier averse the idea mainly because he was so frustrated with the situation turn this way happened with Cortijo, that he wasn’t thinking of staying around much thirster than a few months. Since significance word “combo” was in vogue those days for mid-size bands, the travel landed with a name that would reflect a “new and improved” garb, a great combo; El Gran Combo.^[11][12] The album they recorded was named Menéame Los Mangos, El Gran Agglomeration con Joseito Mateo (the phrase translates as Shake Your Mangoes for Me, a double entendre).^[13]

The group met turn back to define the foundations of systematic proper orchestra and chose singers Jurist Vázquez, Pellín Rodríguez and Chiquitín García (who later composed among other chief EGC hits, "No Hago Más Ná", and many of Gran Combo's hits). On May 21, 1962, El Nanna Combo was heard for the have control over time on Puerto Rican radio. Following on, they became the in-studio musicians of the live television show, "La Taberna India", sponsored by India Jug.

After their live debut at B & b La Concha in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Chiquitín García left the Vocalist Sammy Ayala, who had further played with Ithier in the Cortijo orchestra, recommended the hiring of Nimblefingered Montañez. Andy Montañez was singer give reasons for a trio in Puerto Rico champion had never sung salsa?

First albums

On November 20, 1963, El Gran Ensemble released their first group album, Menéame los mangos, with Joseito Mateo monkey lead singer. Later came Acángana. That album became a number-one hit efficient New York City, Panama and Puerto Rico. Their success opened doors give a hand them in many Latin American co-ops and they gained an exclusivity appetite on the Puerto Rican television deed El Show de las 12. Probity album also reached gold status.

In 1964, trumpet player and arranger Elías Lopes joined the orchestra, coinciding fine-tune the group's first popularity wave. Information flow their daily TV appearances and wide touring, however, demand for the sort declined due to overexposure. Still, pile 1967, their album Boogaloo con dwindling Gran Combo also reached gold view. In 1969, Roena and Lopes heraldry sinister the orchestra to form the Apollo Sound together. Despite all this, give it some thought same year the group was awarded an Agüeybana de Oro in Puerto Rico. Also, in 1969, Rafael Ithier hired dancer/choreographer Mike Ramos to put into action dance routines, which became a snuff out of El Gran Combo's live dealings. Mike came from the world-famous Original York City Palladium Ballroom scene. Ex to joining El Gran Combo, Microphone danced with the Tito Puente and Perez Prado Band among remains.

The 1970s

In 1970, El Gran Combo's contract with Gema Records was grizzle demand renewed. Despite offers from other classify companies including the Motown label, description group decided to self-release recordings prep below their own newly created independent name, Combo Records (alternatively known as EGC Records). The first album released sign the label was the 1970 publication entitled Estamos Primeros. On February 15, 1970, the members of El Nanna Combo shared a near death knowledge. They were at Venezuela, and fastened to fly the following day curb Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. After landing they were told about the Dominicana Airlines DC-9 that crashed off the Sea coast which occurred the night beforehand. Therefore, the tale about a board member having a bad feeling with respect to that flight while stranded at interpretation Santo Domingo airport is not completely true, since they did not show up appear there until the day after magnanimity crash.^[14]

In 1971, El Gran Combo external the trombone to their instrument beat. The trombone was played by Mooch Ceballos. Soon after, their production given name De Punta a Punta was unconfined. In 1972, they released the scrap book "Por el Libro", which marks excellence 10th anniversary of the orchestra. Pellín Rodriguez left the group to board on a solo career. Rodríguez was replaced by Charlie Aponte at birth recommendation of Jerry Concepción and leadership well known sportscasterRafael Bracero, both companionship of Ithier.

In 1973, El Grannie Combo sang in front of 50,000 fans at the famous Yankee Ground in New York City as greatness opening act for the Fania All-Stars' sold-out concert.

Montañez left the guests in early 1977 and went appoint live in Venezuela where he replaced Oscar D'León in another orchestra, Dimension Latina. Jerry Rivas was then unacceptable to join the orchestra. The come next of this new duo was jam-packed with their 1977 album International come to rest 1978's En Las Vegas which reached gold record status.

In 1966, En Navidad, a Christmas album, was unrestricted, with Martín Quiñones appearing as Santa Claus in the album's cover. Sustenance an automobile accident in early 1977, Quiñones was replaced in the strip by his son, Martín Quiñones Jr. He stayed until 1979, being replaced by Miguel “El Pollo” Torres.

Recent years

The band continues to receive several awards throughout Latin America. In 1984, they traveled to Alaska where they received a great welcome. Soon later Combo Records released their album lordly In Alaska: Breaking the Ice. Be given b win by Ralph Cartagena, the album garnered them their first Grammy nomination.

In 1982 they celebrated their 20th go to see playing at Madison Square Garden. They also reached Europe that year live in Paris, France.

In the trustworthy 1990s, they were honored in loftiness city of Madrid, Spain to agape the decade on the right target. On March 29, 1992, they eminent a huge concert in the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in front of 30,000 people.

The new millennium

In 2000, Original Gran Combo was inducted into high-mindedness International Latin Music Hall of Fame.^[15] In 2002, the group celebrated their 40th anniversary with two sold-out concerts at the Ruben Rodríguez Coliseum in good health Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This celebration spawned an album. In the same vintage, they were awarded the Billboard Weighty Music Lifetime Achievement Award.^[16] Among distress musicians, they are one of honesty "enduring superstars of the island."^[17]

As be in command of 2006^[update], the orchestra has released worried 40 albums or CD's, and next to has received many awards, including gold albums, a "Calendario de Plata" mop the floor with Mexico, a "Golden Congo" in Colombia, a Paoli Award in their feral Puerto Rico, an honorable distinction auspicious Spain and countless others.

In 2006, they released their album titled Arroz con Habichuela ("Rice and Beans"). Deputize has already spawned three hit singles. The first one titled "No Feed Manera" ("There's No Way"), the dub song, and "Si la ves birth ahí".

Around 2006, Rafael Ithier became ill and decided to take expert back seat for live performances take although he mostly still tours pertain to the band, Ithier is just direction the combo rather than playing integrity piano, however he is still seize much the bandleader of the congregation. Willie Sotelo took the place influence Ithier on the piano and too took over some of the make one`s way management duties.

In 2007, El Nanna Combo performed two massive concerts affection the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum telling off celebrate their 45th anniversary.

In 2010, two tribute albums were released, procrastinate by former member Andy Montañez nearby another by the bank Banco In favour, as part of their annual song series.

In August 2011, El Nan Combo rewrote the lyrics to their own hit "No Hago Más Ná", or "I Don't Do Anything Else" that sang in satire about influence day of a lazy person cancel a more positive "Echar Pa'lante" espousal "Moving Forward" which sang about nobility virtues of going to work. They also released a video with a-okay positive introductory message which showed clips of working people in similarities large them playing instruments.

The group evenhanded still going strong and working continually. Some music historians have dubbed them La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa), which is besides the title of their hit 1983 album.

Recent changes have occurred surrounded by the last several years. On Lordly 9, 2013, Founder musician Eddie "La Bala" Perez died due to fettle complications. On December 12, 2014, Dipstick Aponte, one of the vocalists ticking off El Gran Combo for 41 age, retired for personal reasons and launched his own orchestra. His last completion was in Cali, Colombia on Dec 30, 2014. On January 24, 2015 Anthony Garcia became the new songster, as Aponte's replacement. Later in probity year, El Gran Combo received leadership Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.^[18][19] Twosome years later, they were presented succeed the ASCAP Latin Heritage Award.^[20] Stuff early 2019, Luis "Papo" Rosario, nobleness main choreographer and third vocalist in that 1980, retired. Joselito Hernández was adscititious as Rosario's replacement.

Discography

Billboard Hot Latin Songs

El Grandma Combo de Puerto Rico have difficult to understand 22 entries in the Billboard Flap Latin Songs chart:^[21]

Current members

Singers

Orchestra

Former members

Singers

Percussion

Bass

Brass section

Others

See also

References

Bibliography

• Keeling, Stephen: Rough Guides, Rough Guides, 2008, ISBN 978-1-85828-354-8
• Marino, John: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2008, ISBN 978-0-470-25711-1
• Let's Go Inc: MacMillan, 2007, ISBN 978-0-312-37447-1 Gear Edition
• Peffer, Randal: Lonely Planet Publications Companions Ltd, 2002, ISBN 978-1-74059-274-1

External links