Home / Arts and Entertainment / Salsa Legend Rafael Ithier Dies at 99
Salsa Legend Rafael Ithier Dies at 99
8 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Rafael Ithier, founder of El Gran Combo, died Sunday at 99.
- He led the iconic salsa band for decades, influencing global music.
- Bad Bunny sampled his band's hit, highlighting enduring legacy.
Rafael Ithier, the revered pianist and bandleader who founded the legendary El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, has died at age 99. His passing on Sunday marks the end of an era for salsa and Latin music worldwide. Ithier, born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, established El Gran Combo in 1962, turning it into a global phenomenon.
Under Ithier's leadership, El Gran Combo became synonymous with Puerto Rican identity, earning the nickname 'La Universidad de La Salsa' for launching numerous singing careers. The band's precise, energetic arrangements became a blueprint for many salsa orchestras. Ithier's own discipline, honed during his service in the Korean War, informed his meticulous approach to music-making.
His profound impact was recently highlighted by Bad Bunny, who sampled El Gran Combo's 1975 hit 'Un Verano en Nueva York' on his album. Tributes from fellow musicians like Marc Anthony and Gilberto Santa Rosa affirmed Ithier's status as a pillar of Latin music, a true legend who proudly carried Puerto Rico's flag across the globe.
