El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
In May 1962, under the leadership of pianist/arranger/composer Rafael Ithier, members of Rafael Cortijo's 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 1965's El Caballo Pelotero until 1988, Ithier was the band's 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 1989"s chart-topping Amame!. Ernesto Sánchez did the lion's share - five cuts, including the title track. Baritone saxophonist with Mario Ortiz since the mid-80s, Sánchez was responsible for arranging Lalo Rodríguez's 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 1967"s 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.
Source - http://www.salsaclasica.com/elgrancombo/bio.asp?l=en
In May 1962, under the leadership of pianist/arranger/composer Rafael Ithier, members of Rafael Cortijo's 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 1965's El Caballo Pelotero until 1988, Ithier was the band's 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 1989"s chart-topping Amame!. Ernesto Sánchez did the lion's share - five cuts, including the title track. Baritone saxophonist with Mario Ortiz since the mid-80s, Sánchez was responsible for arranging Lalo Rodríguez's 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 1967"s 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.
Source - http://www.salsaclasica.com/elgrancombo/bio.asp?l=en
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Music