Salsa singer Ismael Rivera Jr. died this afternoon, Saturday, of a heart attack.
His cousin Moncho Rivera confirmed to Primera Hora that the son of the “Mayor of Sonero” Ismael Rivera died “in the company of his wife and a few friends”. Sonero was 67 years old.
“It was very unfortunate, the family suffered a lot and so did I,” commented also the salsero Primera Hora, confirming that he will dedicate his presentation to him tomorrow, on the Zalsa Official Day, which will take place in the amphitheater Tito Puente.
“He lived richly, lived the way he wanted to, and I will always remember him as my older cousin. He took care of me and helped my mother in my upbringing,” he said.
The departure of “El Heredero” was celebrated by percussionist El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and his friend Richie Bastar on their Twitter account.
Our salsa community is in mourning once again, Ismael Rivera Jr. just passed away, Heir by right of the Sonero Legacy Mayor Ismael Rivera (father) Rest in peace.#IsmaelRivera Jr. pic.twitter.com/J2uEK0EgLJ
— Richie Bastar (@richieperc) March 19, 2022
“Our salsa community is in mourning once again, Ismael Rivera Jr. just passed away, heir by right of heritage of Sonero Mayor Ismael Rivera (senior). Rest in peace, ”the musician wrote, to which he received comments of condolences and condolences.
For its part, Efe pointed out that Puerto Rican salsa veteran Gilberto Santa Rosa, who included Rivera Jr. as a guest singer on his latest album Colegas in the song “Bailadores”, mourned the death of his comrade.
“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,” wrote Santa Rosa, known as “El Caballero de la Salsa”, on his social networks.
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”.
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.