Lyrics | Artists | Ismael Rivera

Ismael Rivera

Deeply rooted in the musical tradition of bomba and plena of his native Puerto Rico and son cubano, Ismael Rivera (born on October 5, 1931), also known as Maelo or El Sonero Mayor, went on to become one of the most beloved salsa singers in the history of Puerto Rican music, to the point where the island’s government declared the anniversary of his birth “Ismael Rivera Day” in 2001. The first of five siblings, Rivera developed a passion for music while still a young child, singing and playing make-believe percussion with cans and sticks. During his teenage years, he worked full ti...