EL GRAN COMBO:
commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican Salsa music orchestra. It is Puerto Rico's most successful musical group, and one of Salsa's most famous groups across Latin America. In 1983 Colombian people involved in musical matters gave them the moniker La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa).

El Gran Combo was founded in May 1962, by Rafael Ithier. Although Ithier is still its musical director, as of 2010^[update], Willie Sotelo joined the group in 2006 as pianist, with Ithier conducting the group and playing sparingly. They are still actively performing after 40 years together.

ANDY MONTAÑEZ:
Montañez first gained fame as a member of the internationally successful El Gran Combo group, with songs like "Hojas blancas" (White Leaves), "Un verano en N.Y." (A Summer at NY), "El barbero loco" (The Crazy Barber), "Julia", "Ponme el alcoholado, Juana" (Rub Me With Alcohol), "Vagabundo" (Bum), "El Swing", etc. He stayed for approximately 15 years, producing 37 LP's. He left El Gran Combo to pursue a career with Venezuelan group La Dimension Latina. Creating a feud between the two groups. After leaving El Gran Combo, he enjoyed considerable success on an international scale with his own orchestra, touring Latin America and the United States several times. He represented Puerto Rico at the 1992 World's Fair in Seville, Spain.

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