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 WKAQ on Saturday. The cause and date of death was not disclosed.

“Puerto Rico has lost a giant, a man whose life was dedicated to elevating our identity through the art and rhythm that distinguishes us to the world,” Marlese Sifre, mayor of Ponce, said in a statement. “Rafael Ithier Natal was not only the founder and musical director of one of our cultural pillars, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, but he was also an example of discipline, excellence, and deep love for our land.”

Ithier was born in the Río Piedras community in San Juan on Aug. 29, 1926. His interest in music began early

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