Periodista egresada de la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). Le gusta escribir sobre política e historias humanas que puedan transformar vidas. Actualmente cursa un master...
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San Juan.- Family members, musicians, friends, and dozens of citizens said goodbye this Monday to Rafael Ithier, former musical director of the salsa orchestra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, in a solemn mass at the Cathedral of San Juan, nine days after his death at the age of 99.
Salsa luminaries such as Panamanian Rubén Blades and Puerto Ricans Víctor Manuelle, Tito Nieves, Bobby Valentín, Willie Rosario, Humberto Ramírez and La India, as well as all the members of El Gran Combo, attended the religious celebration offered by the former archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves.
Blades told the press as he left the temple that Ithier “has served as an inspiration for everyone, he was an important person, not only for Puerto Rico, but for the whole world.”
“Death begins with oblivion. If we do not forget his work and his legacy, then he is always alive,” philosophized Blades, author of songs like ‘Pedro Navaja’, ‘Amor y control’, ‘Decisiones’ or ‘Buscando América’.
Nieves, for her part, maintained that from Ithier she learned “to choose good music, to be responsible and to be a good Puerto Rican, because Don Rafa that’s what he demonstrated.”
“He also showed his affection for me and the scoldings were also there,” said Nieves, remembering that a time in her life she went off the rails for consuming drugs and Ithier called him “stupid” because he was “wasting” his talent.
A Grand Farewell
As those present arrived at the temple, a man placed a speaker in the square in front of the Cathedral and began to delight everyone with music by Rafael Cortijo and his Combo, of which Ithier was a member before forming, along with three other musicians, El Gran Combo in 1962.
Dozens of people gathered in the square, who, from a giant screen, took the opportunity to watch and record the religious celebration on their cell phones, including when the Puerto Rican anthem, ‘La Borinqueña,’ was performed.
On the left side of the altar were the ashes of Ithier, a photo of him, and a wreath of flowers from the governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González, while on the other side was a painting by the Puerto Rican artist Pablo Marcano, exalting the deceased musician.
In his sermon, González Nieves indicated that he was celebrating a mass for “a new leader of the Puerto Rican vision”, referring to Ithier, whom he affirmed should be included among the great musicians of the island.
“Ithier spent a century battling, fighting. Artists must recognize his great potential, because with his music he marked a social commitment, exalting human dignity, especially that of the most needy,” added the religious leader.
The burial will be reserved for the family
Before the mass, the singers of El Gran Combo, Jerry Rivas, Anthony García and Joselito Hernández, performed a couple of songs, including ‘Las hojas blancas’, provoking emotions among all those present, including the artists themselves, who embraced and cried together.
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, also known as ‘Los mulatos del sabor’ or ‘The university of salsa’, has in its repertoire great hits like ‘Brujería’, ‘Ojos chinos’, ‘Timbalero’, ‘No hay cama pa’ tanta gente’, ‘Trampolín’, ‘Arroz con habichuela’, ‘Sin salsa no hay paraíso’ and ‘Achilipú’.
Today’s mass is the only act open to the public since, in compliance with Ithier’s wishes, the burial will take place later in a private act, reserved for the family.
Periodista egresada de la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). Le gusta escribir sobre política e historias humanas que puedan transformar vidas. Actualmente cursa un master en Comunicación Política y Marketing Digital.
