Ismael Rivera Ismael Rivera a.k.a. “Maelo” (October 5, 1931 – May 13, 1987), was a Puerto Rican composer and singer of Puerto Rican music. Rivera was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, a sector of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was the first of five children born to Luis and Margarita Rivera. His father, Luis, was a carpenter and his mother a housewife. As a child, Rivera was always singing and banging on cans with sticks. He received his primary education at the Pedro G. Goyco Elementary School and then went on to learn carpentry at a vocational school. He also shined shoes to help his family financially and when he was 16 years old, he worked as a carpenter. During his free time he would hang around the corner with his best friend Rafael Cortijo and sing songs.In 1948, Rivera and Cortijo joined El Conjunto Monterrey, where Rivera played the conga and Cortijo the bongos. Rivera was unable to work full-time as a musician because of his work as a carpenter. In 1952, Rivera joined the U.S. Army but was quickly discharged, because he didn’t speak English. When he returned to Puerto Rico, he went to work as a lead singer with Orquesta Panamericana, thanks to the recommendation of his friend Cortijo. With Orquesta Panamericana, Rivera recorded and scored his first hits with the songs “El charlatán”, “Ya yo sé”, “La vieja en camisa” and “La sazón de Abuela”. However, an incident between Rivera and another band member, over a girl, led to his departure from the popular band. In 1954, he joined Cortijo’s Combo and recorded the following songs, which soon became hits in the American Latin community: Cortijo’s Combo continued to gain fame and so did Rivera’s reputation as a lead singer. Rivera was named sonero mayor by Cuban producer Ángel Maceda, owner of club Bronx Casino in New York; this is based in an interview done to Ismael. The band went to New York City and played in the famed Palladium Ballroom, where the orchestras of Tito Rodríguez, Tito Puente and Charlie Palmieri also played.[2] Rivera married Virginia Fuente on 1951. He also had relationships with other women like Gladis Serrano, who was the wife of Daniel Santos. Rivera had five children: Ismael, Jr., Carlos, Margarita, Caridad, and Orquídea. In 1959, Rivera, together with Cortijo and his Combo, participated in the European produced movie titled Calipso, starring Harry Belafonte. He traveled with Cortijo’s Combo, which also included Rafael Ithier and Roberto Roena, to Europe, Central and South America. Rivera was arrested for drug possession after a trip to Panama with the Cortijo combo. According to later reports, various band members regularly concealed illegal drug shipments, but this time the Customs inspectors were waiting for them. Rivera took the fall, sparing other members. But this event led to the break-up of Cortijo’s Combo. Shortly after, Rafael Ithier regrouped some of the former members and formed El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.[3] Upon his release from jail, Rivera formed his own band called Ismael Rivera and his Cachimbos. This successful band lasted for eight years. Rivera reunited with Cortijo and recorded “Juntos otra vez”. Later, Rivera went solo and did well with the recordings of “El Sonero Mayor” and “Volare”. He scored his greatest hit with “Las caras lindas (de mi gente negra)” written by Tite Curet Alonso. On May 14, 1974, Rivera participated in a concert at the Carnegie Hall which was recorded live. Rivera sang a song from Bobby Capó called “Dormir contigo”. One of his last public performances was in Paris, as an opener for Bob Marley in 1978. Later years Rivera was a faithful pilgrim of the Black Christ procession in Portobelo, Panama, from 1975 to 1985, and even wrote a song about the Black Christ, known affectionately as “El Nazareno”.[4] Rivera was baptized as the “Brujo de Borinquen” in Panama. The death of his childhood friend, Rafael Cortijo in 1982, affected him emotionally to the point that he couldn’t sing in the tribute to Cortijo celebrated at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Rivera was actively involved in the creation of a historical museum which depicts the contributions made to the cultural life of Puerto Rico by the black Puerto Ricans. Ismael Rivera died on May 13, 1987 in the arms of his mother Margarita, from a heart attack. He was buried at the Villa Palmeras cemetery in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Legacy On October 5, 2008, Puerto Rico’s governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá signed a proclaim stating that every anniversary of Rivera’s birth will be celebrated as “Día Conmemorativo del Natalicio de Ismael Rivera”.[5] On September 27, 2001, the Puerto Rican Senate approved the law #134 declaring October 5 as “Ismael Rivera Day”. In Villa Palmeras, Santurce, Puerto Rico, there is a plaza named “Plaza de los Salseros” which has a statue and plaque dedicated to Ismael.[6] Celia Cruz recorded a tribute to Ismael Rivera and so did Dario y su ComboRican. Videos: Compilations Con Todos los Hierros (1967) Juntos Otra Vez (1974) Eclipse Total (1975) Llaves de la Tradición (1977) Oro (1979) El Sueño del Maestro (1980) Sonero No. 1 (1982) Maelo… El Único (1992) Legend (1992) El Sonero Mayor Vol. 1 (1992) El Sonero Mayor Vol. 2 (1997) El Sonero Mayor: Latin Roots (1999) Maelo: The Fania Legends of Salsa Vol. 8 (2001) La Época de Oro Vol. 1 (2002) Historia Musical de Ismael Rivera (2004) Salsa Legende: Best of Ismael Rivera (2004) La Experiencia (2004) Mucho Corazón (2005) Su Época Dorada Vol. 1 (2007) Su Época Dorada Vol. 2 (2007) Dos Grandes de Siempre: 16 Éxitos (2008) Grandes Éxitos Vol. 2 (2008) La Herencia (2008) Historia de la Salsa (2009) Greatest Hits (2009) La Esencia de la Fania (2009) A Maelo (2011) Selecciones Fania (2012) El Sonero Mayor (2012) Further reading Ismael Rivera, el sonero mayor (1993) by César Pagano (Colombia) Salsa, sabor y control!, sicologia de la musica tropical (1998) by Ángel G. Quintero Rivera Dos libros sobre Maelo Dialogo (1998) by Francisco Cabanillas U.S. Bailando en casa del Trompo (1999) by Lil Rodríguez (Venezuela) and Ismael Rivera, el sonero mayor by Rafael Figueroa Hernández. “El Entierro de Cortijo” by Edgardo Rodríguez Juliá. Credits Year Album Artist Fania All- Featured 2012 Anthology Stars Artist Fania: Recuerdos Primary 2012 Románticos, Vol. 1 Artist Leyendas De La Primary 2012 Fania, Vol. 3 Artist [2012] Leyendas De La Primary 2012 Fania, Vol. 4 Artist Leyendas de la Primary 2012 Fania, Vol. 1 Artist [2012] More Music From the Primary 2012 Rum Diary Artist Saoco! The Bomba Primary 2012 and Plena Explosion Artist in Puerto Rico Composer, Ismael 2011 A Maelo Primary Rivera Artist Primary 2011 Salsa Caliente Artist Lo Esencial de Primary 2010 Fania Artist Ponte Duro: The Featured Fania All- 2010 Fania All Stars Artist, Stars Story Vocals Primary 2010 Salsa Fever, Vol. 2 Artist Year Album Artist Cecilia 2009 A Gozar! Composer Noël Featured A Man and His Tite Curet Artist, 2009 Songs: Alma de Alonso Primary Poeta Artist Composer, Ismael 2009 Greatest Hits Primary Rivera Artist Historia De La Ismael Primary 2009 Salsa Rivera Artist Los Mas Grandes 2009 Voces Bateria Canticos Cristiano Primary 2009 Salsa Club, Vol. 2 Artist Moncho 2009 Yo Tengo lo Mio Composer Rivera Primary 2008 100 Hits de La Fete Artist Featured Campeones: A Band Fania All- 2008 Artist, and Their Music Stars Vocals El Filósofo 2008 Vico C Bateria Platinum Edition El Poder de Tu 2008 Danny Lopez Bateria Palabra Manny Production 2008 En Vivo Manuel Assistant Grandes Exitos, Ismael Primary 2008 Vol. 2 Rivera Artist 2008 Greatest Hits Celia Cruz Composer Year Album Artist Hot and Spicy Salsa Primary 2008 Hits [Madacy Latino Artist 2008] Hector el Drums, Main 2008 Juicio Final Father Personnel Composer, Ismael 2008 La Herencia Primary Rivera Artist Leyendas de La Primary 2008 Fania, Vol. 6 Artist Leyendas de La Primary 2008 Fania, Vol. 7 Artist Leyendas de La Primary 2008 Fania, Vol. 8 Artist Marcos 2008 Mi Mejor Alabanza Drums Yaroide 2008 Mi Primer Capitulo Zammy Drums NYC Salsa, Vol. 2: The Incendiary Primary 2008 Sound of Latin New Artist York Primary 2008 On One, Vol. 1 Artist Ednita Production 2008 Real: En Vivo Nazario Assistant Ednita Production 2008 Real: En Vivo [DVD] Nazario Assistant Salsa Clasica en La Primary 2008 Calle 2008 Artist Primary 2008 Salsa One Artist Year Album Artist Salsa: A Musical Primary 2008 History Artist The Essential Guide Primary 2008 to Salsa Artist Primary 2008 Tropical Legends Artist 40 Salsas Pa’L Primary 2007 Pueblo Artist Primary 2007 Christian Salsa Artist Zon del 2007 Corijo’s Tribe Composer Barrio Essential Guide to Primary 2007 Latin Artist Fania Live 02: From Primary 2007 DJ Lespam Miami Artist Fania Signature, Primary 2007 Vol. IV – Hard Artist Salsa Greatest Salsa Ever Primary 2007 Box Set Artist Primary 2007 Latin Cool [Metro] Artist Latin Legends: Funk Primary 2007 & Boogie Selections Artist Latin Legends: The Primary 2007 Connoisseurs Artist Collection Latin Legends: The Primary 2007 Sensual Classics Artist Year Album Artist Leyendas de la Primary 2007 Fania, Vol. 2 Artist Los Soneros: Voices Primary 2007 of Fania Artist Primary 2007 Mad About Mambo Artist Navidad en el Primary 2007 Barrio Artist Abraham 2007 Por Ti Bateria Velazquez Primary 2007 Rumbón Navideño Artist 2007 Rutillantes Los Amados Composer Salsa Dance Hits: Primary 2007 The Legendary Fania Artist Recordings Salsa Legende: Best Primary 2007 of Salsa Artist Primary 2007 Salsa Party Artist Signature Fania: Primary 2007 Hot Salsa Artist Additional Tomando Control: Wisin & 2007 Personnel, Live Yandel Drums Ednita Production 2006 Apasionada Live Nazario Assistant 2006 Contra La Corriente Janina Cuerda Duena de Mi Ismael Primary 2006 Inspiracion/Dime La Rivera Artist Verdad Year Album Artist Fania: Leyendas Primary 2006 Latinas Cocteles Artist Fania: Leyendas Primary 2006 Latinas Fiesta Artist Fania: Leyendas Primary 2006 Latinas Romance Artist Primary 2006 Instant Latin Artist Primary 2006 La Salsa Vive Artist Las No.