Rafael Ithier was a Puerto Rican salsa musician and the founder of the highly successful orchestra El Gran Combo. He was 99 years old as of 2025. He was born in Río Piedras, which is now a neighborhood within the city of San Juan.
Early Life & Cause Of Death
He was born on 29 August 1926 in Río Piedras. He passed away at his home in San Juan on December 6, 2025, at the age of 99. He grew up in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, and loved music from the time he was a kid.
He later joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War. While he was in Korea, he started a music group called the Los Borinquena Mambo Boys.
In 2016, when he turned 90, a Puerto Rican news outlet interviewed him about his long-lasting impact on the island’s music.
Net Worth, Ethnicity & Religion
According to the reports, his net worth was approximately $10 million from all of his income sources as of 2025. He was of Puerto Rican Ethnicity. His religious faith was in the Christian Religion.
Wife, Kids & Parents
According to the reports, he was married. His wife’s name is not updated yet. He had a daughter named Thelma Ithier Sterling. He was born to his Puerto Rican parents.
His mother’s name was Mrs Mérida Natal, and his father’s name was Mr Nicolas Ithier. He had a sister named Esperanza.
His uncle, Salvador Ithier, performed alongside Rafael Hernández, who is also known as one of Puerto Rico’s great musical figures.
View this post on Instagram
Career Details
He became a skilled guitarist, especially in the bolero style, and played with the Tito Henriquez group called Taone. Later, his sister Esperanza encouraged him to learn the piano.
In 1977, he worked as the music arranger for the first album of the Puerto Rican group “Puerto Rico All Stars.” In 1962, he started the group “El Gran Combo” and became its leader.
Even by 2012, he was still leading the orchestra and traveling with them. When he turned 90, he said in an interview that the group’s success came from their strong discipline.
Read Also:- Denise Richards Net Worth, Husband, Biography, Parents, Height, Ethnicity & Career
Content Source – Google News & Social Media
Image Source – Google Images
