#Eddie gran bio how to#

In 1970 the band created EGC, an independent record label under which they released a number of albums, beginning with that year's recording, El Momo de Oro.Įl Gran Combo gradually rose to become the first name in salsa within Puerto Rico, winning the island's prestigious Agueybana de Oro prize for the Best Band of 1969. Although distribution of the album was postponed because of the tragedy, the recording eventually reached gold-record status. The group had released the album Acangana in 1963, just two days before the assassination of U.S. Working closely with Vazquez, Ithier created lively arrangements for piano, bass, trumpets, saxophone, congas, timbales, and bongos. With Montañez joining singer Pellin Rodriguez on vocals, the band turned out hit after hit-catchy dance tunes with such names as 'El Menu,' 'Telefono,' and 'Goyito Sabater.' The songwriting talent behind these and other hits was Perin Vazquez, whose lyrics told tales of everyday passions and universal longings.

It was three or four years before El Gran Combo reached that success, which arrived not long after the group recruited a promising young singer named Junior Montañez (later known as Andy Montañez). The album was not a hit and the band was not an overnight sensation, but El Gran Combo were willing to work for their success. In 1962 the group recorded its first album, Meneame los Mangos ( Shake My Mangos). Its members-including Rafael Alvarez Guedes (who chose the band's name), Eddie Pérez, Héctor Santos, Roberto Rohena, Rogelio Vélez, Martín Quiñones, and Miguel Cruz-prized teamwork and organization as much as they did musical talent. The new band was not lacking in discipline. I did not want to be with a band that was not ready to work.' 'You were not supposed to leave Puerto Rico's favorite group like that,' Ithier told Montreal's Gazette, 'but the discipline was not very good anymore. Invited to start a new group with Joseito Mateo, a singer from the Dominican Republic, Ithier and six fellow musicians dropped out of Cortigo's band to start their new enterprise. While an influx of talented young singers and musicians kept the 12- or 13-member band sounding fresh, the steady presence of a few founding members-including the pianist-songwriter Rafael Ithier-gave El Gran Combo their signature style and their venerable reputation as a premier salsa band.Įl Gran Combo originated as an offshoot of the popular Puerto Rican band El Combo de Rafael Cortigo. Throughout the next several decades, the band's style altered and evolved to fit Latin dance-music trends, from boogaloo and merengue to tango and bomba. While many bands formed and dissolved during the 1960s and 1970s, El Gran Combo had unusual staying power. The legendary Puerto Rican band El Gran Combo played their first gig in San Juan in 1962 and soon became the island's most popular salsa group. Addresses: Record company-Combo Records, 904 23rd St., 1st Floor, Union City, NJ 07087, website.

Members include Charlie Aponte, vocals Rafael Ithier, musical director, piano Mitchell Laboy, bongo Taty Maldonado, trumpet Freddi Miranda, saxophone Moises Nogueras, trombone Eddie Perez, alto saxophone Jerry Rivas (replaced Andy Montañez, 1977), vocals Freddie Rivera, bass Victor Rodriguez, trombone Papo Rosario, vocals Domingo Santos, timbales Miguel Torres, congas.

#Eddie gran bio how to#

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