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 from a heart attack. This was confirmed to EFE by a source close to the artist.
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, Richie Bastar, musician of the legendary El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico salsa orchestra, also mourned the death of his colleague and compatriot.
“Salsa in mourning, may Ismael Rivera Jr, son of the mayor of El Sonero, rest in peace, my condolences to his family and fans (sic).” Bastar spoke about this on his social networks.
Facts about the life of Ismael Rivera Jr.
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, he had the opportunity to be the male voice on the album “El Sueño del Maestro” and 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.
more about his career
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) under the direction of 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 then, together with the sons of Salcero Andy Montañez and the late Pellin Rodriguez, presented the album “Los Hijos de los célebres”.
Among the latest musical projects in which he participated was the album “Colegas” by Gilberto Santa Rosa, where he collaborated on the song “Bailadores”.
He also voiced 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.
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