Puerto Rican musician Rafael Ithier, who was known as the founder of the orchestra band El Gran Combo, has passed away. According to De Último Minuto, Ithier, who was married to Carmen Soto, died on Saturday, December 6, in his home of natural causes. The news of his death was confirmed by his lawyer Victor Rivera and later by WKAQ, the radio station based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Rafael Ithier's death is now being mourned by fans of Latin music all over the world. Ithier, who had previously received six Latin Grammy Award nominations, is survived by his wife and six children. Ithier and his wife, who had been married for several years, kept a low profile away the spotlight.More about Rafael Ithier's personal life and career, as the legendary performer passes awayRafael Ithier, whose full name was Rafael Ithier Natal, was born on August 29, 1926, in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, to parents Mérida Natal and Nicolás Ithier. According to De Último Minuto, Ithier showed a passion for music from a very young age. He had previously served in the US Army during the Korean War, following which he briefly was part of a New York group called Borinqueneers Mambo Boys, which he left to form El Gran Combo.Rafael, who back in 2024, was honored with a doctorate by the University of Puerto Rico founded the salsa band El Gran Combo in 1962, a group that has dominated salsa music for decades. In a 2017 interview with International Salsa Magazine, Ithier recalled his early life growing up and his other passion of becoming a baseball player. He said:"I’ve been a musician for 50 years. But ever since I was little, I always wanted to be a baseball player. Baseball was very popular in Puerto Rico, and we listened to the radio broadcasts of the major leagues. So, my greatest dream was to be part of the Dodgers or the Yankees, but my physical condition wasn’t up to it. I got tired quickly. Until I finally convinced myself that I would never be in the Big Leagues.”He further added about how his family life influenced his career as a musician. He said:"Well, there was always a musical tradition in my house. My father, Nicolás Ithier, was a bohemian guitarist who played serenades. One of his brothers was a member of the first trio founded by Rafael Hernández. My sister, Esperanza, was a singer and pianist. I played guitar and later learned the double bass. But my introduction to the piano was thanks to Esperanza, who guided me a lot, because the truth is, I never went to a school to be formally taught the piano.”After founding El Gran Combo, the group released their first album Menéame los mangos in 1962, to much commercial success, with Alunizando being their last album release. Just like him, Ithier's children keep a low prolife away from the spotlight, so not much is known about their personal lives. According to reports, one of his daughters, Thelma Ithier Sterling, studied at the Manhattan School of Music and is an accomplished musician in her own right. Ithier's other children include Pedro, Carlos, Mérida, Maritza, and Ivonne.Rafael Ithier, who was the last surviving member of El Gran Combo was ninety-nine years old at the time of his passing.