The founder of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Rafael Ithier, has died, but the legacy of the salsa orchestra as one of the most recognized in Latin America will live on through dozens of hits — from 1975’s “Un Verano en Nueva York,” which has found new life through Bad Bunny, to “Me Liberé” and “Se Nos Perdió el Amor.”

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 members of the disbanded group brought together by Gema Records for a recording. Since then, they have made generations dance to classics such as “Ámame,” “Brujería,” “Falsaría,” “Hojas Blancas,” “Gotas de Lluvia,” “La Muerte,” “Se Me Fue,” “La Fiesta de Pilito,” “El Menú,” “No Ha

See Full Page