San Juan – Puerto Rican singer Ismael Rivera Jr., the eldest son of the legendary salsero of the same name, died this Saturday at the age of 67, allegedly of a heart attack, a source close to the artist confirmed to Efe.
The source said Rivera Jr. shared with his partner in his vehicle when he “began to feel unwell” and died in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant in the Isla Verde tourist sector in Carolina, a city near San Juan. .
“I just lost one of my best brothers”the source assured.
For his part, veteran Puerto Rican salsero Gilberto Santa Rosa, who included Rivera Jr. as a guest singer on his latest album Colegas in the song “Bailadores”, mourned his comrade’s death.
“Another colleague is leaving us. We will miss you Maelo, we will always have your music and the memory of your tender treatment… Rest in peace brother” – said Santa Rosa, known as the “Knight of Salsa”, in his social networks.
Richie Bastar, musician of the legendary El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico salsa orchestra, also mourned the death of his colleague and compatriot.
“La Salsa in mourning, rest in peace Ismael Rivera Jr, son of the mayor of El Sonero, my condolences to his family and fans (sic).”Bastar spoke out on his social media.
The son of Virginia Fuentes y Rivera, known as “El Sonero Mayor”, Rivera Jr. was born on December 10, 1954 in Santurce, a neighborhood of San Juan and a renowned music and arts district, according to the website saocosalsa.com. .
Taking advantage of the experience he saw and heard from his father, in 1977 Rivera Jr. joined the Combo de Cortijo directed by Rafael Cortijo, his father’s music 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.
Rivera Jr. later recorded a production of “Fruto Humano”, which features the song “Muralla de Bronce”, dedicated to his father.
In addition, he participated in the group Cortijo y Su Bonche and worked in orchestras conducted by Francisco “Caco” Bastara, Los Hijos de la Salsa, El Combo de Siempre and ABC (Arte Boricua Cultura) conducted by Jesús Cepeda, son of the legendary Puerto Rican musician and “father” of the local genres of bomb and captivity Rafael Zepeda.
After participating in these groups, Rivera Jr. released the album “La Leyenda Sigue”, and later, together with the sons of Salcero Andy Montañez and the late Pellin Rodriguez, they presented the album “Los Hijos de los célebres”.
Among the latest musical projects that Rivera Jr. participated in was the album “Colegas” by Gilberto Santa Rosa, where he collaborated on the song “Bailadores”.
He also contributed his voice to the songs “El charlatán” and “El sazón de grande” in the project “100 años de Lito Peña: Una Huella Musical”, also dedicated to the legendary Puerto Rican musician and director of the Pan American Orchestra. , in which he was attended by Ismael Rivera Sr.