The world of salsa music is in mourning after the death of Rafael Ithier, the legendary founder and longtime director of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. Ithier, whose musical genius shaped the sound of Caribbean music for over half a century, died on the night of December 6, 2025, at the age of 99. His passing, confirmed by family attorney Víctor Rivera to radio station WKAQ and other outlets including Telemundo, marks the end of an era for Puerto Rican culture and for Latin music worldwide.
Born on August 29, 1926, in the Puerta de Tierra neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rafael Ithier’s life was intertwined with music from the very beginning. Orphaned of his father at the tender age of eight, he found solace and purpose in the guitar, which he began playing at age ten for tips at a local corner store, according to the National Foundation for Popular Culture. By fourteen, economic hardship forced him to leave school, but music remained a constant. At just fifteen, he joined his first group, Conjunto Hawaiano, where he learned to play the Cuban tres and the double bass—skills that would later become central to his unique sound.
In the early 1940s and 1950s, Ithier honed his craft in various groups, including the Hawaiian Ensemble led by Fermín Machuca. But it was his time with Cortijo y Su Combo that truly set the stage for his future. When that influential orchestra dissolved in 1962, Ithier—already a self-taught pianist, arranger, and composer—knew it was time to forge his own path. Thus, on May 26, 1962, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico was born, with Ithier at the piano and at the helm. From the group’s opening night at the Rock’n Roll Club in Bayamón, it was clear something special was underway.
Ithier’s career was briefly interrupted by military service. In 1952, he joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War, where he founded The Borinqueneers Mambo Kings, named in honor of the famed all-Hispanic 65th Infantry Regiment of Puerto Rico. After his service, he returned to New York and then to Puerto Rico, where he channeled his discipline, leadership, and musical vision into El Gran Combo.
Under Ithier’s direction, El Gran Combo became a global phenomenon. The orchestra recorded more than 70 albums, performed on five continents, and earned the affectionate nickname “The University of Salsa” due to its role in nurturing countless talented musicians. Hits like “Jala Jala,” “Me Liberé,” “Y No Hago Más Ná,” “Un Verano en Nueva York,” “A Mi Manera,” “Achilipú,” “Se Me Fue,” “El Menú,” “Brujería,” “Ojos Chinos,” “Trampolín,” and “Azuquita pa’l café” became household staples, not just in Puerto Rico, but across Latin America and the United States. According to Colombia One, the group’s versatility—blending boleros, guarachas, merengues, pasodobles, and more—ensured its relevance across generations.
Even in his advanced age, Ithier remained active. In March 2025, El Gran Combo performed before an audience of about 50,000 people in Peru—a testament to the enduring power of their music. Ithier’s influence stretched across genres and generations; in August 2025, global superstar Bad Bunny cited El Gran Combo as one of his biggest influences during an appearance on The Today Show, placing Ithier’s group alongside giants like Héctor Lavoe and Rubén Blades.
News of Ithier’s death sent shockwaves through the music community. Tributes poured in from artists, public officials, and fans alike. Salsa star Victor Manuelle wrote on social media, “Today the salsa universe loses one of its most important pillars in the history of the genre. Your legacy and your music will continue to be valid in all of us who make this genre that we call salsa.” U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez called Ithier “a giant of our music and the soul of El Gran Combo,” adding, “His talent shaped our culture and took our rhythm around the world.”
Local leaders in Puerto Rico also paid their respects. Marlese Sifre, mayor of Ponce, said, “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.” Puerto Rico’s government advocate for veteran affairs, Agustín Montañez Allman, noted, “Ithier is one of those immortals who has brought glory to our country. An exemplary man, self-taught, with a strong and frank personality, who imprinted his down-to-earth style on all his struggles, feats and exploits.” Governor Jenniffer Colón announced that the island would soon hold an official mourning date, stating, “His legacy transcends borders and lives on through generations. Thank you so much, maestro.”
For those who knew him personally, Ithier was more than a bandleader—he was a mentor and a father figure. Charlie Aponte, a former singer with El Gran Combo, reflected on social media, “For me, Rafa was and will continue to be like a father. He taught us and demanded responsibility, discipline and professionalism in our work; if you wanted to belong to the group, you had to meet those standards. He made us all better human beings.”
Discipline was at the heart of Ithier’s philosophy. In a 2016 interview with Primera Hora, he attributed much of the orchestra’s success to the lessons learned during his Army service. “I learned to be a man and to obey an order. That discipline is what I apply to my life, and what I base my life on,” he said. This approach not only kept El Gran Combo at the top of its game but also turned it into a launching pad for future stars—earning its reputation as the University of Salsa.
Ithier’s accolades were numerous. He won two Latin Grammys and, perhaps more importantly, the undying respect of his peers and the adoration of fans worldwide. His ability to adapt to changing times and refresh the orchestra’s repertoire meant El Gran Combo continued to fill stadiums, even as Ithier approached his 100th birthday.
He leaves behind a wife, five children, and a musical legacy that is woven into the very fabric of Puerto Rican and Latin American culture. While details of his funeral have yet to be announced, the orchestra has vowed to keep his legacy alive, calling him “the architect of a sound that marked generations.”
Rafael Ithier’s passing is a painful loss, but the music, the memories, and the spirit he cultivated remain as vibrant as ever—resonating in dance halls, plazas, and hearts around the world.
