El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico: the greatest salsa show on earth! Celebrating 40 years as a group with a new 2-CD live recording on BMG, El Gran Combo continues on its mission of performing world-class dance music

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2002 by Jesse Varela

TWENTY YEARS AND BEYOND

In 1982, their 20th anniversary LP, De Ayer, Hoy, Manaña y Siempre (Combo), gave a thumbnail sketch of EGC's many hits up to that point: 1962-63, La Muerte; 1971-72, Don Goyo; 1972-73, Julia; 1979-80, Brujeria; 1981-82, El Menu. Into the 1980s the songs of Perin Vásquez, Tommy Sanchez, Chiquitin Garcia and others, helped fuel the now international acclaim and status of the orchestra. Important throughout the career of this band has been the keen ear of Ithier for calculating a hit song.

"I am not a composer. I dedicate myself to arranging. I've written a few numbers that have made some noise but I'm not a composer. We're very grateful to all the people who have approached us with songs that have become hits. First and foremost, the people had to like the songs. From there the arrangements are done but the song itself has to be strong. We've been lucky that we've found that caliber of composers that know how to write for EGC and have arrived with great tracks."

To celebrate its 40th anniversary El Gran Combo has released a 2-CD concert recording captured live at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in Bayamon, P.R. on April 27, 2002. 40 Aniversario (BMG) features special guests Gilberto Santa Rosa, Andy Montañez, Andres Jiménez "El Jíbaro" and Rafy Rodríguez. All it takes is hearing the roar of applause to realize that in the hearts of Puerto Rican people, El Gran Combo is in a league of its own.

"El Gran Combo is made up of musicians and we live from this band. When we get on stage we don't think about money; (we) transform into artists who try to convey a message of cordiality and joy to the people through our songs. That was our founding proposition. When we get on stage we're reminded that those are the people that have backed us up and that we need to give the most we can to them. They're very important because to play to an empty house is not a good feeling. The fans stimulate us to give an optimum performance."

The secret, he says, to the band's longevity, is "sharing everything." With more than 50 albums recorded, and a long string of salsa hits, they've established a sound and style that is now part of Puerto Rico's cultural heritage. At almost 80 years of age, Ithier still enjoys making people happy with his music but admits that his family has had to deal with his absence. "Being absent is the biggest sacrifice we make. Whenever I'm outside Puerto Rico I get sentimental.

"I've contemplated retiring but I still have a desire to keep doing what I do. We're a big family and in my house, members have gotten married which led to children, etc. But I don't like standing still. Even though I tire more, and it's a bit more of a struggle, I prefer working than just hanging around the house. As long as that desire burns in me I'll continue playing."

The 2002 edition of El Gran Combo is: singers Jerry Rivas, Charlie Aponte, Luis Rosario; along with Eddie "La Bala" Pérez (sax), Freddie Miranda (sax), Taty Maldonado (trumpet), Cano Rodríguez (trumpet), Moisés Nogueras (trombone), Freddy Rivera (bass), Cuqui Santos (timbal), Miguel "Pollo" Torres (conga) and Richie Bastar (bongó), the son of the legendary Puerto Rican percussionist Francisco Bastar-Kako.