Ismael Rivera, “El Sonero Mayor,” was a Puerto Rican salsa legend. His powerful voice emotional performing, outstanding timing and improvisational skills became the hallmark of Rafael Cortijo’s Orchestra, revolutionizing the sounds of Afro-Caribbean music and pioneering a new genre called Salsa. His solo career soared in the 1960s, leaving a lasting legacy. He was essential part of the incredible Fania All Starts lineup.
Inducted posthumously into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2007, Rivera remains an enduring icon of salsa music.
