El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, or even El Gran Combo, abbreviated as EGC, is a traditional Salsaorquester from Puerto Rico, which characterizes the style for the salsa for decades and a number of famous artists such as Andy Montañez, Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe, La India and many others has produced or lasting influence. For this reason it was nicknamed " La Universidad de Salsa" They are among the most successful salsa groups in Puerto Rico and also with the most popular salsa musicians of Latin America.

Career

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico was founded by her first musical director Rafael Ithier in San Juan in 1962. Ithier was previously a member of the band of Rafael Cortijo " Cortijo y su Combo". Then he was invited by Rafael Guedes, the owner of the record label Gema to contribute to an album of the famous Merenguesängers Joseíto Mateo. In other notable artists such as Hector Santos and Roberto Roena they formed for this purpose the Gran Combo. The product of this collaboration was the first album " Menéame Los Mangos - El Gran Combo con Joseito Mateo ". The hit "No Hago Más Ná " 1962 was very successful on the radio stations in Puerto Rico. There was a guest appearance on the TV show " La Taberna India", which was sponsored by the brewery India Beer. Furthermore, a live performance at the Hotel La Concha. In 1963, EGC out their album " Acángana " with the lead singers Rodríguez and Montañez and had number one hits in New York, Panama and Puerto Rico. After further appearances on the show " El Show de las 12", which achieved Gold status, they were known in the entire Latin American music market. Also, their album from 1967, " Boogaloo con el Gran Combo" also went gold. 1970 the band wanted to board the plane from Santo Domingo / Dominican Republic to San Juan, which crashed. Some band members had previously pronounced due to premonitions for taking a different machine. In 1970 she continued her recording contract with Gema Records, even though they had already received offers from Motown. In 1971, she translated for the first time a musical instrument the trombone in her musical arrangement. In 1973, she played as the opening act of the Fania All-Stars at the sold out 50,000 seats Yankee Stadium in New York.

In 1977, Andy Montañez the band to replace Oscar D' León in Venezuela in the group dimension Latina. His place was taken by Jerry Rivas. The albums "International" (1977) and "En Las Vegas " were also great successes, the latter also received the Gold status. In 1982, she appeared on the occasion of its 20th anniversary at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 1984 the band had a tour in Alaska after they brought their album " Breaking the Ice " on the market. They also played in Frankfurt, Paris, Madrid and Hiram Bithorn Baseball Stadium in 1992 in front of 30,000 spectators in their native Puerto Rico. EGC 2002 celebrated its 40th anniversary at the Ruben Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The resulting therefrom album was considered the best of the year. Your time being last album " Arroz con Habichuela " contains the hits " No Hay Manera " and " Si La Vez Por Ahí ". In 2007, she celebrated her 45th anniversary in the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan. 2010 brought Andy Montañez and Banco Popular two albums in her honor out. Her many well-known hits include other songs like " Te Quiero Ver", " y Clavo Martillo ", " Fiesta Con El Gran Combo ", " De Que Presumes? "," A Ti Te Pasa Algo, "" Me Liberé "," La Loma del Tamarindo "and" Azuquita Pa'l Café ".

Prizes and awards

• Grammy Nomination (1984 )
• Calendario de Plata in Mexico
• Golden Combo in Colombia
• Paoli Award in Puerto Rico
• Grammy for Best Tropical Album ( 2003)

Lead singer

• Charlie Aponte (1973 - present)
• Jerry Rivas (1977 - present)
• Luis " Papo " Rosario (1980 - present)
• Pellín Rodríguez (1962 - 1973)
• Andy Montañez (1962 - 1977)
• Marcos Montañez (1973 )
• " Chiqui " Rivera (1962 )

Occupation of Orquesters

• Rafael Ithier: musical director and piano (1962 - present)
• Willie Sotelo: Piano (2006 - present)
• Eddie " La Bala " Pérez: saxophone (1962 - 2013 (†) )
• Freddie Miranda: saxophone (1980 - present)
• Luis " Taty " Maldonado: Trumpet (1970 - present )
• Victor " Cano " E. Rodriguez: Trumpet (1980 - present)
• Moisés Nogueras: trombone (1991 - present)
• Freddy Rivera: Bass guitar (1989 - present)
• Domingo " Cuqui " Santos: Timbales (1988 - present)
• Miguel " Pollo " Torres: congas (1979 - present)
• Richie Bastar: Bongos (2001 - present)
• Milton Correa: Timbales (1962-1970)
• Miguel Marrero: Timbales (1970-1979)
• Edgardo Morales: Timbales (1979-1988)
• Roberto Roena: Bongos (1962-1969)
• Martín Quiñones: Congas (1962-1977)
• Martín Quiñones, Jr.: Congas (1962-1979)
• Luis Diaz: Congas (1979 )
• Miguel Cruz: Bass guitar (1962-1975)
• Fernando Perez: bass guitar (1975-1989)
• Jaime Valentin: Bass guitar (1995-1997)
• Mike Torres: Trumpet (1969 )
• Epifanio " Fanny " Ceballos: Trombonist (1971-1991)
• Toñito Vázquez: trombone (1991 )
• Jorge Torres: Sound Engineer
• David Marrero: Support

At times Contributors

• Hector Santos (1962-1969)
• Rogelio " Kito " Vélez (1962-1964)
• Daniel Vázquez (1962 )
• Mickey Duchesne (1962-1969)
• Elias Lopez (1964-1969)
• Edwin Cortés (1969 )
• "Baby" Serrano: Bongos (1969-1984)
• José " Keko " Duchesne: saxophone (1969-1980)
• Tommy Sánchez ( 1969)
• Gerardo " Grillo " Cruz: Trumpet (1969-1979)
• Miguel Laboy: Bongos (1984-2001)
• Mike Ramos: Background singer (1969-1980)
• Edwin González ( 1979)
• Nelson Feliciano: Trumpet (1979-1980)
• Paquito Guzmán: Background singer (1971-1976)
• Elliot Romero: Background singer (1973-1977)
• Yayo " El Indio ": Background singer (1977-1979)
• Tito Henriquez: Background Singer (1978 )
• Eddie W. Feyjoo: Trumpet (1980 )

Discography

• Menéame los Mangos (1962 )
• El Gran Combo ... de Siempre (1963 )
• Acángana (1963)
• Ojos Chinos, Jala Jala (1964 )
• El Caballo Pelotero (1965 )
• Traigo un Tumba'o, MENEITO Me ( 1965)
• El Swing del Gran Combo ( 1966)
• El Gran Combo En Navidad (1967 )
• Maldito Callo (1967 )
• Esos Ojitos Negros (1967 )
• Fiesta Con El Gran Combo ( 1967)
• Boleros Con El Gran Combo Románticos (1967 )
• Tú Querías Boogaloo, Toma Boogaloo (1967 )
• Pata Pata, Jala Jala Y Boogaloo (1967 )
• Boogaloos Con El Gran Combo ( 1967)
• Tango (1967 )
• Merengues (1968 )
• Guarachas (1968 )
• Bombas, Bombas, Bombas (1968 )
• Los Nenes Sicodélicos (1968 )
• Latin Power ( 1968)
• Smile, It's El Gran Combo ( 1968)
• Este Si Que El Gran Combo It (1969 )
• Estamos Primeros (1970 )
• De Punta A Punta ( 1971)
• Por El Libro (1972 )
• En Acción (1973 )
• Número 5 (1973 )
• Disfrútelo Hasta El Cabo (1974 )
• Número 7 (1975 )
• Los Sorullos (1975 )
• Mejor Que Nunca (1976 )
• Internacional (1977 )
• En Las Vegas ( 1978)
• Aquí No Se Sienta Nadie (1979 )
• Unity (1980 )
• Happy Days (1981 )
• Nuestro Aniversario (1982 )
• 20th Anniversary (1982 )
• La Universidad De La Salsa ( 1983)
• In Alaska: Breaking The Ice (1984 )
• Innovations ( 1985)
• Nuestra Musica (1985 )
• Y Su Pueblo (1986 )
• 25th Anniversary ( 1987)
• Romántico Y Sabroso (1988 )
• Amame (1988 )
• Latin Up! (1989)
• Erupción (1991 )
• Gracias (1992 )
• First Class International ( 1993)
• La Ruta Del Sabor (1994 )
• Para Todos Los Gustos (1995 )
• Por Todo Lo Alto ( 1996)
• 35 Years Around The World (1997)
• Pasaporte Musical ( 1998)
• Nuevo Milenio, El Mismo Sabor (2001)
• 40 Aniversario (2002)
• Estamos Aqui ... ¡ Y De Verdad! (2004)
• Arroz con Habichuela (2006)
• Sin Salsa No Hay Paraiso (2009)