EGC, La Universidad de la Salsa, Puerto Ricos premier salsa dance band, legends. El Gran Combo is, bar none, probably the most recognized and acclaimed name in latin music. The following exerpt I have borrowed from Salsa Clasica BiographyEl Gran Combo de Puerto Rico In May 1962, under the leadership of pianist/arranger/composer Rafael Ithier, members of Rafael Cortijos Combo deserted to become the 11-piece El Gran Combo (EGC). The defectors were Rogelio Kito Vélez (d. 1990; trumpet and arrangements); Eddie Pérez and Héctor Santos (saxophones), Martin Quiñones (conga), Roberto Roena (bongo and dancer), Miguel Cruz (deceased) (bass). They were joined by Andy Montañez and Pellín Rodríguez (b. Pedro Rodríguez de Gracia, 4 December 1926, Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico, d. 31 October 1984; vocals); Milton Correa (timbales), Victor Pérez (trumpet). They became the quintessential salsa dance band, churning out hit albums for three decades. With the addition of a trombone in the late 60s and a third vocalist at the beginning of the 70s, EGC retained the resultant 13-piece format (two saxophones, two trumpets, trombone, conga, bongo, timbales, bass, piano and three singers) until the present day. The only founder members remaining in the 90s version of the band are leader Ithier and Eddie Pérez. In February 1963, members of EGC (Ithier, Cruz, Roena, Correa, Quiñones, Vélez, Eddie Pérez, Santos) comprised the backbone of an early morning Latin jam session (descarga) recording led by Kako, and issued under the title Puerto Rican All-Stars Featuring Kako in 1965. The other participants included Charlie Palmieri and Mario Ortiz. Vélez handled arrangements until his departure in the mid-60s, and wrote their perennial hit Ojos Chinos (Chinese Eyes), from Ojos Chinos - Jala Jala (1964). From 1965s El Caballo Pelotero until 1988, Ithier was the bands sole arranger. To accommodate the massively popular romantic salsa style, Ithier delegated arranging duties to two external arrangers on seven out of the eight tracks on 1989s chart-topping Amame!. Ernesto Sánchez did the lions share - five cuts, including the title track. Baritone saxophonist with Mario Ortiz since the mid-80s, Sánchez was responsible for arranging Lalo Rodríguezs monster 1988 salsa romántica hit, Ven Devórame Otra Vez (Come And Devour Me Again). Ithier totally abstained from arranging on Latin-Up! in 1990, while Sánchez was hired again to write the charts for five of the tracks. EGC had gone off the rails once before, in the second half of the 60s, when the overwhelming pressure of the boogaloo craze obliged them to record a number of songs in this R&B/Latin fusion style. After leaving, Vélez recorded with his own band, ie. Kito Vélez Y Sus Estrellas and Kito Vélez Y Sus Estrellas Vol. 2, and worked with the Nelson Feliciano Orchestra. He wrote all the arrangements on Nelson Feliciano/Canta: Junior Cordova and arranged and played on Nelson Feliciano Orch./Kito Vélez/Canta: Joe P. (1973). Vélez and Quiñones appeared on 1967s Los Mejores Musicos De Puerto Rico (The Best Musicians Of Puerto Rico), which was directed by Ray Santos, who wrote the arrangements and played baritone saxophone. In mid-1969, Roena left Gran Combo to lead his own band. For the first eight years of their existence, El Gran Combo recorded on the Gema Records label. In 1970, they launched their own EGC Record Corp. and released 11 albums on the label up to 1978. Also in 1970, they won the Momo De Oro award for The Best International Band at carnival in Caracas, Venezuela. Rodríguez departed after 1972s Por El Libro. He worked as a solo artist and as a co-lead singer with La Salsa Mayor, Oscar DLeóns former band. Charlie Aponte replaced Rodríguez on El Gran Combo 5, recorded in August 1973. The same month, EGC appeared at the Fania All Stars historic first concert at New Yorks Yankee Stadium. In August 1974, Juntos Otra Vez (Back Together Again) reunited Cortijo with his 1962 combo accompanists who broke away to become EGC, namely, Ithier, Eddie Pérez, Roena, Vélez, Santos, Cruz and Quiñones. In 1976, Gran Combo were featured in Jerry Masuccis movie Salsa and on the soundtrack album, performing a live version of their 1972 hit Julia (from Por El Libro). In 1977, EGC suffered a considerable blow when Andy Montañez split to join then top Venezuelan salsa band, Dimensión Latina. On the recommendation of Quique Lucca, leader of Sonora Ponceña, his vacancy was filled on 1978s 15to Aniversario by Jerry Rivas (b. 1955, Puerto Rico). EGC celebrated their 20th anniversary with a tribute concert at New Yorks Madison Square Garden on 4 September 1982, and released the double album 20 Años - 20 Exitos (20 Years - 20 Hits), which contained new recordings and remixes of their two decades of hits. That year, some ex-members of Gran Combo, including Pellín, Roena, Quiñones, Correa, Santos and Victor Pérez, re-grouped under the banner of El Combo Del Ayer (The Combo Of The Past) for El Combo Del Ayer, and again the following year for Aquel Gran Encuentro. In October 1983, Ithier collaborated with Luis Perico Ortiz, Rubén Blades, singer Roberto Lugo and members of the Dominican merengue band, Conjunto Quisqueya, on Entre Amigos (Between Friends). The album contained Homenaje (Rafael Ithier), a tribute to Ithier written by Perico and Ramón Rodríguez. In 1987, Gran Combos quarter of a century was marked with the celebratory three disc 25th Anniversary 1962-1987/Today, Tomorrow & Always. Prominent Puerto Rican composer, Roberto Angleró, wrote a number of Gran Combos hits, including: Serrana (Smile Its El Gran Combo, 1968), Dos Copas Y Un Olé (Este Si Que Es El Gran Combo, 1969), La Salsa De Hoy (Disfrútelo Hasta El Cabo!, 1974), La Soledad (Mejor Que Nunca/Better Than Ever, 1976), Aquí No Pasado Nada (El Gran Combo En Las Vegas, 1978). Angleró also recorded as a vocalist and bandleader, i.e. Roberto Angleró Y Su Combo (c.1970), Guaya Salsa? (1973), Tierra Negra (1979), Por El Color De Tu Piel (1980), Trulla Moderna (1981), El Apretón (1982) and Roberto Angleró (1984). EGCs frequent international tours included their UK debut in 1986 and return visits in 1989 and 1990. The band function as a co-operative, with each member receiving an equal share of the earnings. This has contributed to their continuity of personnel and tightness of sound. The 1991 line-up read: Ithier (piano and musical director), Aponte, Rivas and Papo Rosario (vocals), Taty Maldonado and Victor E. Rodríguez (trumpets), Eddie Pérez and Freddy Miranda (saxophones), Fanny Ceballo (d. 1991; trombone), Fernando Freddy Rivera (bass), Miguel Torres (conga), Cuqui Santos (timbales) and José Miguel Laboy (bongo). Ceballo was replaced by Moises Nogueras, who worked previously as a staff trombonist for Tony Morenos Musical Productions label, sessioning on albums by Roberto Lugo, Willie González, Pedro Arroyo, Andy and Harold Montañez, Nino Segarra, Tito Rojas, Anthony Cruz and Tito Gómez. Ithier resumed total control of arranging chores on 1991s Erupcíon!, and the relaxed freshness of some of his charts clearly demonstrated that he had benefited from his respite.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 12:24:44 +0000
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