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El Gran Combo

Puerto Rican Salsa Orchestra

El Gran Combo
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Entertainment, Music
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El Gran Combo Biography

Led by pianist and musical director Rafael Ithier, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico is one of Puerto Rico's greatest dance bands. Four decades after their inception, the 13-piece salsa group continues to inspire dancers with its horn-punctuated Latin rhythms and lush vocal harmonies. Officially named "Ambassadors of Our Music" by the Puerto Rican Senate, El Gran Combo's many hits include such classics as "El Menu" and "Timablero." Their 1978 album, En Las Vegas, sold more than one million copies, while its follow-up, In Alaska: Breaking the Ice, was nominated for a Grammy. A longtime member of popular Latin band Cortijo y Su Combo, Ithier formed El Gran Combo in 1962 with eight of his bandmates, including percussionist, dancer, chorus singer, and salsa bandleader Roberto Roena. The Puerto Rican release of the group's debut album, Acángana, recorded two days before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, was delayed until it had already been released in Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, and the United States. El Gran Combo continued to expand its following in the early '60s, performing to enthusiastic crowds in New York, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela. In Puerto Rico, they appeared regularly on the popular television show El Show de Las 12.

El Gran Combo has gone through numerous personnel changes, with only Ithier and alto saxophonist Eddie Perez remaining from the original group. Roena left in 1969 to form a new Roberta Roena y Su Apollo Sound, and vocalist Andy Montanez left to join Dimension Latina in 1977. Trumpet player Taty Maldonado passed away in 1991. Despite the loss of talented musicians and singers, El Gran Combo has continued to evolve. They added a trombone player and third vocalist in 1991 and continue to feature top-notch vocalists, including Charlie Aponte, who joined in 1972, and Jerry Rivas, who replaced . In 2002, El Gran Combo featured vocalists Charlie Aponte, Jerry Rivas, and Papo Rosario, trombone players Victor Rodriguez and Moises Nogueras, saxophonist Freddy Miranda, bassist Fred Rivera, and the rhythm section of Miguel Torres on congas, Domingo Santos on timbales, and Mitchell Laboy on bongos.

In 2004, the revamped group issued Aquí Estamos y...¡De Verdad! to great critical acclaim and a place on the Latin Airplay charts. Two years later, they scored again with Arroz con Habichuela and the holiday set Asi Es Nuestro Navidad, fronted by Gilberto Santa Rosa. In 2008, their Combo label reissued seven classic albums from their catalog, while 2010's Salsa: Un Homenaje a el Gran Combo hit the number three spot at Top Latin Albums, and worked its way inside the Top 200. 2011's Sin Salsa No Hay Paraiso appeared on Sony proper and placed on the year-end Latin Albums charts and several others. The group celebrated a half-century together with 50 Aniversario, Vol. 1, their debut for EGC Records, with three-quarters of it comprising re-recorded songs from the band's storied career and reminiscences with Ithier and others. It placed inside the Top Ten at Top Latin Albums. The group continued to tour internationally to sold-out crowds in Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Vocalist Charlie Aponte retired and was replaced by Anthony Garcia for 2016's Alunizando. The change suited fans, as the album hit number four on the Top Latin Albums chart.

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El Gran Combo Videos

  • El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - El Combo del Mundo
    El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - El Combo del Mundo
    El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - El Combo del Mundo | En Cuarentena Álbum (2021)
  • Richie Bastar of El Gran Combo Exclusive Interview for SlamaNater ...
    Richie Bastar of El Gran Combo Exclusive Interview for SlamaNater ...
    Richie Bastar of El Gran Combo Exclusive Interview for Pete Nater's Salsa Legends And Masters AcademySLAMANATER.com.
See All Videos »

FAQs on booking El Gran Combo

  • How do I book El Gran Combo to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like El Gran Combo for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for El Gran Combo, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for El Gran Combo or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for El Gran Combo

    Speaking fees for El Gran Combo, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book El Gran Combo are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire El Gran Combo, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does El Gran Combo speak about?

    El Gran Combo is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entertainment, Music.

  • Where does El Gran Combo travel from?

    El Gran Combo generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is El Gran Combo’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like El Gran Combo for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book El Gran Combo for your next private or corporate function.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host El Gran Combo or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

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El Gran Combo is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book El Gran Combo for your event is $100,000 - $200,000. El Gran Combo generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Myke Towers, Lunay, Omar Apollo, Ivy Queen and Ricky Martin. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling El Gran Combo for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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