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Rafael Ithier
Puerto Rican musician (1926–2025) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rafael Ithier Natal[2] (29 August 1926 – 6 December 2025) was a Puerto Rican salsa musician and the founder of the highly successful orchestra El Gran Combo.[3] Ithier was born in Río Piedras, now a part of the municipality of San Juan.[4]
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Early life
Raised in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, he showed a passion for music at a very young age. His father was Nicolas Ithier and his mother Mérida Natal. His uncle, Salvador Ithier, played music together with Rafael Hernández, another of Puerto Rico's music legends. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War.[5] While stationed in Korea he formed a music group entitled the Los Borinquena Mambo Boys.[6]
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Musical career
Ithier Natal became an expert guitarist in the bolero genre, and he was a member of the Tito Henriquez group, Taone. His sister Esperanza later inspired him to learn how to play the piano.[7]
Ithier Natal and his namesake, Rafael Cortijo, knew each other and formed a friendship at an early age; rumors of animosity would later surface but they both denied it, saying they considered themselves to be "like brothers." Ithier Natal joined Cortijo's orchestra, "Cortijo y su Combo", during the 1950s. Before that, he was in a New York group named the "Borinqueneers Mambo Boys."[citation needed]
In 1977 Ithier Natal worked as a music arranger on the debut album for the Puerto Rican ensemble band "Puerto Rico All Stars".[citation needed]
El Gran Combo
In 1962, Ithier Natal formed "El Gran Combo", becoming the orchestra's leader. As of 2012, he was still the orchestra leader and continued to tour with the group.[8] On his 90th birthday he was interviewed and stated that El Gran Combo was successful because of their great discipline.[5]
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Personal life and death
Ithier was married and had five children. His father died when Rafael was eight years old.[9]
Ithier died at his home in Bayamón, of natural causes, on 6 December 2025, at the age of 99.[10]
References
See also
External links
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