Rafael Cortijo

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Rafael Cortijo (January 11, 1928 – October 3, 1982), was a Puerto Rican musician, orchestra leader and composer.

Cortijo as a child became interested in Caribbean music, showing interest in the works of some of the era's most important Plena music stars. He eventually met some Plena celebrities and he learned how to make his own congas and tambors.

Legendary singer Ismael Rivera met Cortijo when Cortijo was a youngster, as they were both from the Villa Palmeras neighborhood of Santurce; they became lifelong friends. Rivera was attracted by Cortijo's conga playing ability. Cortijo joined Rivera's orchestra, and the orquestra travelled at patronal celebrations all over Puerto Rico.

Cortijo wanted to have an orchestra where he could entirely dedicate himself to his first musical love: plena. A few years after earning experience with Rivera's orchestra, he separated, and formed his own, plena only, orquestra. Cortijo was instrumental in making sure his new musical group had trumpets and saxofones as well.

Rafael Cortijo became well known across Latin America. He attributed that to his tambors and the fact that, according to him, African tambor music was known worldwide. Cortijo was also a member of the Conjunto Monterrey, based in Monterrey, Mexico.

Later on, Cortijo worked on radio, with such luminaries as Myrta Silva and Miguelito Valdes. Cortijo also toured with Daniel Santos' orchestra.

By 1954, Cortijo was a member of "El Combo", whose leader, Mario Roman, retired soon after. As a member of "El Combo". Cortijo met lifelong friends Sammy Ayala and Rafael Ithier, who considered Cortijo one of his idols. Ismael Rivera, then the lead singer of Lito Peña's Orquesta Panamericana, joined Cortijo's band in 1955. From there on and until 1960, Cortijo and his orchestra played live on Puerto Rican television shows (they were the house band at "La Taberna India").

The orchestra virtually disbanded in 1962 when Ismael Rivera was arrested for drug possession in Panama. According to later reports, various band members concealed illegal drug shipments regularly since they were rarely intervened with at Customs; in this particular occasion an inspection was indeed made, and Rivera willingly took the bulk of the rap for the entire group (including Cortijo, who was deeply affected by Rivera's plea and regretted it through the rest of his life). Rafael Ithier and other bandmates went on to found Puerto Rico's legendary salsa group, "El Gran Combo".

Later on, Cortijo created another orchestra, "Bonche", where he was joined by his daughter, Fe Cortijo. Fe then became a well known musician on her own. Cortijo became bankrupt after this; the problems that he and Rivera faced took a toll on Cortijo's financial situation, and he and Rivera were not seen with good eyes by many Puerto Ricans due to their legal problems.

Cortijo and Rivera went on to live in New York. Cortijo, however, soon returned to Puerto Rico, where the legendary composer, Tite Curet Alonso, forged a friendship with the impoverished star and helped Cortijo produce a comeback album.

In 1974, Coco Records reunited all the former members of the "Combo" orchestra for a one time only concert.

In 1982, Cortijo was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he died on October 3 of that year.