New York salsa museum officials salute El Gran Combo founder Ithier

The International Salsa Museum in New York houses various pieces of memorabilia associated with El Gran Combo, including the jacket founder Rafael Ithier Natal wore during one of the group’s famed anniversary performances.

By THE STAR STAFF

The president of the International Salsa Museum in New York and the entity’s board of directors are mourning the passing of Rafael Ithier Natal, founder of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and mentor to hundreds of artists and musicians worldwide, who died Saturday at age 99.

“The news of the passing of the maestro and founder of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Don Rafael Ithier Natal, has impacted many countries, as the performances of the group known as ‘the University of Salsa’ have delighted millions of lovers of Caribbean music, salsa fans who have enjoyed the unique rhythm of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico in every corner of the planet,” said Johnny Cruz, also known as “Señor Timbal.,” in a press release earlier this week. “More than a musician, Maestro Ithier Natal taught us that salsa is the representative music of Puerto Rico that unites the peoples of the world. I must confess that Don Rafael has been like a father to me, one of my mentors, and the first person to endorse the idea of ​​the International Salsa Museum, which I have the privilege of directing today. We received much affection, respect, and cooperation from him; whenever he visited New York, Don Rafael gave us the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and projects related to music and salsa. He helped us promote what is now a museum to give visual permanence to the rhythm of salsa.”

The museum director said he had contact with Ithier Natal beginning in the 1970s, and since then they maintained close communication to the point that when he shared the idea for the creation of the “International Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery” in New York, he received Ithier Natal’s immediate support, and today the museum in New York houses three previously unreleased pieces by the salsa master.

“We have the jacket that Don Rafael wore on the 20th anniversary of El Gran Combo. Likewise, the International Salsa Museum has the suit that ‘El Maestro’ wore on the 40th anniversary of El Gran Combo at Madison Square Garden in New York,” Cruz noted. “As a unique privilege, our Museum also possesses one of the original capes worn by the members of El Gran Combo in 1987 during a magnificent performance at Madison Square Garden here in New York. It should be noted that the Museum also has the uniform that Jerry Rivas wore on the 60th anniversary of El Gran Combo. We are the custodians of the original ‘Tres’ string instrument that Jerry Rivas has chosen to leave on display in our facilities.”

It was announced that Puerto Rico will soon have an extension of the International Salsa Museum, where a special section has been designed and dedicated entirely to the memorabilia of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family, children, and wife of Don Rafael Ihier Natal, and we send a fraternal embrace on behalf of all salsa lovers,” Cruz said. “Our plea to the fans of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico is that we keep alive the contributions and creations of the Master of Salsa. May the eternal guardian of the music that made millions of people dance around the world rest in peace.”