Ismael Rivera

Ismael Rivera a.k.a. "El Sonero Mayor (The Primiere Improviser)" (October 5, 1931 – May 13, 1987) born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was a renowned composer and singer of salsa music.

Ismael, nicknamed

Ismael Rivera a.k.a. "El Sonero Mayor (The Primiere Improviser)" (October 5, 1931 – May 13, 1987) born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was a renowned composer and singer of salsa music.

Ismael, nicknamed "Maelo", was the first of five children born to Luis and Margarita Rivera. His father, Luis, was a carpenter by profession and his mother a housewife. As a child, Ismael was always singing and banging on cans with sticks. He received his primary education at the Pablo G. Goyco elementary school and then went on to learn the art of carpentry at a vocational school. He 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.