Artist:Ismael Rivera
Song:Que Te Pasa a Ti
Album:La Herencia
Salsa singer Ismael Rivera was known as El Sonero Mayor. He was successful in the late 50s and after a jail sentence, he roared back in the 70s. He was born Oct. 5, 1931 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. His father was a carpenter. As a child, Rivera was always singing and banging on cans with sticks. Rivera learned carpentry and began working at age 16. In his free time, Rivera hung out with his friend Rafael Cortijo and sang. They joined the band El Conjunto Monterrey in 1948. Rivera played conga and Cortijo played bongos. Rivera still worked full time as a carpenter. Rivera tried to join the US Army in 1952 but was quickly discharged and returned to Puerto Rico because he couldn't speak English. He became lead singer of Orquesta Panamerica upon Cortijo's recommendation. But he was forced to leave after a dispute with a band member over a girl. Rivera joined Cortino's band Cortino y su Combo and that's where he had his first success in the late 50s with hits like Juan Jose and Oriza. He was playing Palladium Ballroom in New York and touring Europe. But then Rivera was arrested for drug possession in Panama and went to jail. This led to the end of Cortijo's band though some of them regrouped as El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. After his release from jail, Rivera formed Ismael Rivera Y Sus Cachimbos and had success in the 70s with several albums on Tico Records. Que Te Pasa A Ti is from the 1974 album Traigo De Todo. The song was written by Bobby Capo who was a bandleader but had great success as a songwriter. Musicians include Manuel Gonzalez on alto sax, Henry D'Aguilar on trombone, Chocolate Armenteros on trumpet, Javier Vasquez on piano, Raimundo Vasquez on bass, Sammy Ayala on percussion, Victor Gonzalez on bongos and Frankie Malabe on congas. The Tico recordings are owned by Fania and this comp was released in 2010. It is available as a digital download. It looks like Rivera retired after his old friend Cortijo died in 1982. Rivera died from a heart attack on May 13, 1987 at 55. Here's Ismael Rivera Y Sus Cachimbos performing Que Te Pasa A Ti.
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