SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Rafael Ithier, a beloved musician and a founder of the legendary salsa band El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, whose hits have inspired Bad Bunny and other icons from the U.S. territory and beyond, has died. He was 99.
An attorney for the Ithier family, Víctor Rivera, confirmed the musician's death to radio station WKAQ late Saturday. The cause of death wasn't immediately clear.
''Puerto Rico has lost a giant, a man whose life was dedicated to elevating our identity through the art and rhythm that distinguishes us to the world,'' said Marlese Sifre, mayor of Ponce. ''Rafael Ithier Natal was not only the founder and musical director of one of our cultural pillars, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, but he was also an example of discipline, excellence, and deep love for our land.''
Ithier was a self-taught pianist, arranger, composer, music producer and orchestra conductor of what many consider was the best salsa orchestra in the world.
Born in San Juan and raised in the working-class community of Río Piedras, Ithier lost his father at 8 years old.
He embraced music at an early age, picking up the guitar at 10 years old, which he played at a corner store for tips, according to the National Foundation for Popular Culture, a local nonprofit.
By 14, he left school for economic reasons and found jobs where he could. A year later, he joined his first musical group, Conjunto Hawaiano, and learned to play the Cuban tres and the double bass. He later learned to play the piano and taught himself how to read sheet music.
In his mid-20s, Ithier joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea. He later traveled to New York and formed ''The Borinqueneers Mambo Kings,'' named after the 65th Infantry Regiment of Puerto Rico, the renowned all-Hispanic and segregated Army unit that received medals for its service in World Wars I and II and the Korean War.
