It was Alvarez Guedes himself who baptized them with the name of El Gran Combo. For their first gig, the orchestra was signed by the legendary Cuban comedian, writer and businessman Alvarez Guedes, who hired them to support Dominican singer Joseito Mateo on one of his albums for his record company Gema Records.
Rafael Ithier had been a member of Rafael Cortijo's 'Cortijo y su Combo' orchestra, travelling to the eastern United States before forming El Gran Combo. They still perform today after 40 years together. The group is currently promoting their latest album titled Arroz con Habichuela (Rice and Beans). Ithier is still, as of 2008, the orchestra's pianist and musical director. Since many of the genre's legendary singers have been members of the orchestra, the band has been given the moniker La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa)Įl Gran Combo was founded in May 1962, by Rafael Ithier. It is Puerto Rico's most successful musical group, and one of Salsa's most famous groups across Latin America. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican Salsa music orchestra.
