Puerto Rican singer Ismael Rivera, son, eldest son of the legendary salsero of the same name, died this Saturday at the age of 67presumably from a heart attack, a source close to the artist confirmed to Efe.
According to the source, Rivera Jr. shared with his partner in his vehicle, when he “began to feel bad” and died in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in the stourist sector of Isla Verde in Carolina, a city near San Juan.
“I just lost one of my best brothers,” said the source, who also said that “Ismaelito”, a nickname carried by Rivera Jr.
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For his part, Richie Bastar, musician of the legendary salsa orchestra The Great Combo of Puerto Rico, He also lamented the death of his colleague and compatriot.
“La Salsa is in mourning, may Ismael Rivera Jr, son of El Sonero Mayor, rest in peace, my condolences to his family and fans (sic),” Bastar said on his social networks.
Son of Virginia Fuentes y Rivera, known as “El Sonero Mayor”, Rivera Jr. was born on December 10, 1954 in Santurce, a district of San Juan and a well-known musical and artistic area.according to the website saocosalsa.com.
Taking advantage of the experience he saw and heard from his father, in 1977 Rivera son joined the Cortijo Combo, directed by Rafael Cortijo, his father’s musical teacher.
In this group, Rivera Jr. had the opportunity to be the male voice on the album “El Sueño del Maestro”, while Fe Cortijo was the female performer.
Later, Rivera Jr. recorded the production “Fruto Humano”, in which the song “Muralla de Bronce” stands out, dedicated to his father.
In addition, he participated in the Cortijo y Su Bonche group and worked in the orchestras of Francisco “Kako” Bastar, Los Hijos de la Salsa, El Combo de Siempre and ABC (Arte Boricua Cultura) by Jesús Cepeda, son of legendary Puerto Rican musician and “father” of the native bomba and plena genres, Rafael Cepeda.
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After participating in these groups, Rivera Jr. released the album “La Leyenda Sigue” and later, together with the sons of the salseros Andy Montañez and the late Pellín Rodríguez, they presented the album “Los Hijos de los célebres”.
Among the latest musical projects in which participated was in the album “Colegas” by Gilberto Santa Rosawhere he collaborated on the song “Dancers”.
He also contributed his voice to the songs “El charlatán” and “El sazón de grandmother” in the project “100 años de Lito Peña: Una Huella Musical”, dedicated to the also legendary Puerto Rican musician and director of the Pan-American Orchestra, in which he participated Ismael Rivera Sr.
EFE