Overview
- Family attorney Víctor Rivera confirmed Ithier's death, with the cause and exact date not disclosed.
- The self-taught pianist, arranger, composer, producer and conductor led El Gran Combo from its 1962 debut, guiding more than 40 albums, international tours and hits such as "Me Liberé," "Y No Hago Más Ná" and "Un Verano en Nueva York."
- Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Colón announced plans for an official mourning date as officials and cultural figures praised Ithier's role in elevating the island's musical identity.
- His influence endures across generations, with Bad Bunny citing El Gran Combo as a key inspiration and sharing an Instagram tribute featuring the group's songs after the news broke.
- A U.S. Army veteran who formed The Borinqueneers Mambo Kings in New York, Ithier later helmed the ensemble known as "la universidad de la salsa" and received a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.