Governor to declare a day of mourning for El Gran Combo founder
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced Sunday that as soon as details of the wake for maestro Rafael Ithier Natal, who died Saturday night at the age of 99, are available, a day of mourning will be declared for his passing.
“Latin music is in mourning for the passing of maestro Rafael Ithier, founder of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico,” the governor said in a written statement. “With a career that began at age 15 and lasted more than 80 years, Don Rafael left an immense legacy. He was part of several groups, including Cortijo y Su Combo, before creating El Gran Combo.”
“His music, discipline, and vision, at the helm of ‘Los Mulatos del Sabor’ (or “The University of Salsa”), brought the flavor of Puerto Rico to the world,” González Colón recalled. “I still remember the energy with which we celebrated El Gran Combo’s 50th anniversary in the House of Representatives, an occasion when the chamber vibrated with their live music.
“His legacy transcends borders and lives on in several generations. Thank you for everything, maestro. Your rhythm will endure in the hearts of our people and wherever salsa music is played.”
Once the family determines the date of the wake, the island government will officially announce the day of mourning, the governor said.
“In this moment of profound grief for his wife, children, grandchildren, and the extended family of El Gran Combo de PR, we ask for privacy to process this loss, and we will share details of the funeral services soon, which will be held according to Maestro Ithier’s wishes,” a spokesperson for the family said in a written statement.
Ithier Natal was born on Aug. 29, 1926, in the Puerta de Tierra area of San Juan. He was the son of Nicolás “Macaco” Ithier and Mérida Natal, both from Mayagüez. He grew up in the Monacillos neighborhood of Río Piedras, in a home with limited resources, and lost his father in childhood. His mother, a seamstress, supported the family while he pursued music: first the guitar from the age of 10, then the tres, the double bass, and finally the piano, the instrument that defined him for the rest of his career.
He joined Fermín Machuca’s Conjunto Hawaiano in 1941 and later was part of Conjunto Taoné and Conjunto del Pueblo. In the 1950s, he served in the United States Army during the Korean War, a period that shaped his personal discipline. After his military service, he worked in New York with the group Borinqueneers Mambo Boys and, upon his return to Puerto Rico, joined Cortijo y su Combo, where he remained until 1962. After the breakup of that group, Ithier brought together several of those musicians and created what is now known as El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, which debuted in May 1962 and released its first album, “Menéame los mangos,” that same year.
Ithier Natal led El Gran Combo for more than six decades as pianist, arranger, composer, and leader, with more than 70 record productions and performances on five continents, making the orchestra an essential reference point for Puerto Rican salsa. In March 2024, the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, awarded him an honorary doctorate in general studies in recognition of his career.
Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Rep. Nelie Lebrón Robles expressed condolences on behalf of the party in a written statement Sunday.
“Our homeland will be eternally grateful for the legacy of Don Rafael, who dedicated his life to upholding the highest values of our musical identity, and brought the best of our music to every corner of the world, earning for his group the well-deserved name of The University of Salsa,” Lebrón Robles said.
“Puerto Rico will be eternally grateful for the legacy left by Don Rafael, not only for being an excellent musician, but also for being an exceptional leader, who developed a system of protection for his musicians, ensuring that they had all the benefits that any worker has in any other work environment,” the PIP lawmaker noted. “Thank you for enriching the lives of so many generations of music lovers here and around the world.
“On behalf of the Puerto Rican Independence Party delegation in the House and Senate, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Rafael Ithier, founder and director of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
“May Mr. Rafael Ithier rest in peace.”