El Gran Combo originated as an offshoot of the popular Puerto Rican band El Combo de Rafael Cortijo. Invited to start a new group with Joseito Mateo, a singer from the Dominican Republic, Ithier and six fellow musicians dropped out of Cortijo's band to start their new enterprise. The move shocked the Latin music world. "You were not supposed to leave Puerto Rico's favorite group like that," Ithier told Montreal's Gazette, "but the discipline was not very good anymore…. I did not want to be with a band that was not ready to work."
The new band was not lacking in discipline. Its members—including Rafael Alvarez Guedes (who chose the band's name), Eddie Pérez, Héctor Santos, Roberto Rohena, Rogelio Vélez, Martín Quiñones, and Miguel Cruz —prized teamwork and organization as much as they did musical talent. In 1962 the group recorded its first album, Meneame los Mangos (Shake My Mangos). The album was not a hit and the band was not an overnight sensation, but El Gran Combo were willing to work for their success.
It was three or four years before El Gran Combo reached that success, which arrived not long after the group recruited a promising young singer named Junior Montañhez (later known as Andy Montañez). With Montañez joining singer Pellin Rodriguez on vocals, the band turned out hit after hit—catchy dance tunes with such names as "El Menu," "Telefono," and "Goyito Sabater." The songwriting talent behind these and other hits was Perin Vazquez, whose lyrics told tales of everyday passions and universal longings. Working closely with Vazquez, Ithier created lively arrangements for piano, bass, trumpets, saxophone, congas, timbales, and bongos.
The group had released the album Acangana in 1963, just two days before the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Although distribution of the album was postponed because of the tragedy, the recording eventually reached gold-record status. In 1970 the band created EGC, an independent record label under which they released a number of albums, beginning with that year's recording, El Momo de Oro.
El Gran Combo gradually rose to become the first name in salsa within Puerto Rico, winning the island's prestigious Agueybana de Oro prize for the Best Band of 1969. Slowly, word about the band began to spread beyond the island's borders, and from 1971 to 1986 the band's international popularity was at its peak. During this time, El Gran Combo attracted a series of gifted young salsa performers—including singers Charlie Aponte, Johnny Ventura, Celia Cruz, and Jerry Rivas, and musicians Miguel Marrero, Milton Correa, Edwin Cortes, and Martin Quinones. In fact, so many exceptional salsa performers "graduated" from El Gran Combo that the band became affectionately known as the University of Salsa.
For many fans, El Gran Combo is synonymous with salsa—a musical genre that fuses Cuban and Puerto Rican sounds. Headed by three lead singers, El Gran Combo has always drawn dynamic energy from vocals. True to the salsa style, the group balances a vibrant horn section and a rhythmic percussion beat, tempered by the less-prominent bass and piano. One secret to El Gran Combo's long-lived success has been the group's ability to keep its music evolving and to remain open to new, fresh sounds. In 1971 the band added a trombone to its repertoire, played by Epifanio (Fanny) Ceballo. The recording De Punta a Punta, which won best album at Miami's Gold Record Festival, marked the debut of Ceballo, who remained with the band until his death in 1991.
More changes came for El Gran Combo in the mid-1970s, when Pellin Rodriguez left the band and was eventually replaced by the popular vocalist Charlie Aponte. By 1977 the vocalist Montañez also departed, joining the Venezuelan group La Dimensión Latina. Montañez's departure shocked and saddened fans, but his replacement, Jerry Rivas, soon won over audiences.
In 1984 El Gran Combo toured Alaska, where they produced Breaking the Ice—El Gran Combo en Alaska, which received a Grammy Award nomination. The band toured internationally throughout the 1980s and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1987 with a historic concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
Although many music critics thought El Gran Combo was past its peak by the 1990s, the band held on to its core group of devoted fans. "When they had singer Andy Montañez, they used to be the music machine of the Caribbean," Rudolph Mangual, publisher of the Los Angeles dance-music magazine Latin Beat, told the Los Angeles Times in 1996. "Obviously, they're way past their prime, but they're so good that they still matter…. [T]heir collective presence has a unique magnetism."
Although the band is an ensemble, one key figure stands out in El Gran Combo: Ithier, who has either outlasted or outlived the band's other cofounders. Many fans regard him as the group's heart and soul, yet Ithier has always emphasized the band's lack of hierarchy. "[El Gran Combo] has persevered because of its system," Ithier told Billboard magazine. "We share everything: our successes, our failures, our earnings. Everything is evenly distributed. And this is an incentive for the band. Everything we make, we divide."
Olvidemos Lo Ocurrido
El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
por tonterías que han surgido
por cosas que analizo y no le veo ningún sentido
vengo a pedirte y a suplicarte
que olvidemos lo ocurrido,
que me perdones por tu llanto, y por haberte ofendido
no quiero mas verte llorar,
quiero ser tu respirar y también tu sonreír
quiero ver en tu mirada si a mi lado eres feliz
que no nos separa nada, que eres de mi y soy de ti.
Sé que tu y yo hemos discutido, hemos llorado, hemos reído
y esta es la prueba que nuestro amor, jamas y nunca será vencido
discúlpame, yo te lo pido, a tus pies vuelvo arrepentido
para que tu y tu corazón, se queden siempre conmigo
no quiero mas verte llorar,
no quiero mas verte sufrir
quiero ser tu respirar y también tu sonreír
quiero ver en tu mirada si a mi lado eres feliz
que no nos separa nada, que eres de mí y soy de ti.
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida
así que yo te pido que olvidemos lo pasado,
de ahora en adelante será como tú lo pidas
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida
yo no quiero verte mas sufrir, solo quiero de ti,
recuperar la fe perdida porque…
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida
por toda la vida juntitos de la mano, de esa manera nos amamos,
y que esto siga…
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida
si sabes que como tu nadie me mima, tu me conoces bien
y es que nadie como tu me cuida
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida
quiero que me disculpes yo,
quiero que me perdones por hacerte pasar sin sabores
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida
que quede claro que eres ‘‘mía" y soy de ti, por toda la vida….
The lyrics of the song Olvidemos Lo Ocurrido (Let's forget what happened) by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico is a plea to a loved one to forgive for any hurt or harm caused by arguments and misunderstandings. The singer acknowledges the pain and sorrow that his actions have caused in the past and asks for forgiveness. He expresses a desire to be the source of happiness for the person and vows to do all that is necessary to ensure the relationship is always happy and fulfilling.
The song's central message of forgiveness and reconciliation is quite common in many romantic songs. It highlights the challenges that arise in relationships and the importance of forgiveness and letting go of the past. The lyricist uses vivid language to express the depth of emotions, showcasing his pain and regret for any hurt or harm caused. The singer's desire to be the source of happiness and the pledge to work towards a fulfilling future together shows a deep commitment to the relationship.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and moving expression of love, regret, and the desire for forgiveness. It highlights the importance of forgiveness and the willingness to work towards a better future with a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Sé que haz sufrido, por cosas mías, por tonterías que han surgido por cosas que analizo y no le veo ningún sentido vengo a pedirte y a suplicarte que olvidemos lo ocurrido, que me perdones por tu llanto, y por haberte ofendido
I know you have suffered because of my actions, for things that have no sense, for petty issues that have surfaced. I come to ask and plead with you to forget what happened, to forgive me for making you cry and for offending you.
no quiero mas verte llorar, no quiero mas verte sufrir quiero ser tu respirar y también tu sonreír quiero ver en tu mirada si a mi lado eres feliz que no nos separa nada, que eres de mi y soy de ti.
I don't want to see you cry anymore. I want to be your breath and your smile, to see in your eyes that you're happy by my side. Nothing can come between us, because you belong to me and I belong to you.
Sé que tu y yo hemos discutido, hemos llorado, hemos reído y esta es la prueba que nuestro amor, jamas y nunca será vencido discúlpame, yo te lo pido, a tus pies vuelvo arrepentido para que tu y tu corazón, se queden siempre conmigo
I know that we have argued, cried, and laughed together, but this shows that our love will never be defeated. I apologize and ask for your forgiveness, I come to you humbly so that you and your heart will always stay with me.
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida así que yo te pido que olvidemos lo pasado, de ahora en adelante será como tú lo pidas
You belong to me and I belong to you for life, so I ask that we forget the past and move forward the way you want it.
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida yo no quiero verte mas sufrir, solo quiero de ti, recuperar la fe perdida porque…
You belong to me and I belong to you for life. I don't want to see you suffer anymore, I just want to regain the lost faith in you because...
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida por toda la vida juntitos de la mano, de esa manera nos amamos, y que esto siga…
You belong to me and I belong to you for life, for life we'll hold hands, this is the way we love each other, let it continue...
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida si sabes que como tu nadie me mima, tu me conoces bien y es que nadie como tu me cuida
You belong to me and I belong to you for life. You know that no one pampers me like you do, you know me well, and no one takes care of me like you do.
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida quiero que me disculpes yo, quiero que me perdones por hacerte pasar sin sabores
You belong to me and I belong to you for life. I want you to apologize to me, I want you to forgive me for putting you through unpleasant experiences.
Eres de mí y soy de ti por toda la vida que quede claro que eres ‘‘mía" y soy de ti, por toda la vida….
You belong to me and I belong to you for life. It's clear that you are mine and I am yours for the rest of our lives...
Contributed by Emma V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fescobar3958
El gran combo. Juntitos de la mano de esa manera nos amamos y que esto siga🎊🥳🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
@keinersonett1982
Todas ls canciones del gran combo son bonita like si tambien te gustan
@armandovillalobos977
Exelente letra se lo dedicare a mi esposa estamos en una segunda oportunidad pero divorciados..letra bella..
@Juliyis
Se la dedico a mi hermanito mayor Johanson Carabali, que por más que seamos unos hptas orgullos el sabe que lo quiero y que es de las personas más importantes para mí. ❤
@andresm.4185
Que temazooo... 👏
Saludos desde La Capital Mundial de la Salsa, mi Cali 🇨🇴👍
@cindybrownie764
No quiero más verte llorar, no quiero más verte sufrir, quiero ser tu respirar y también tu sonreír 😍😍
@conniei3514
"OLVIDEMOS LO OCURRIDO"EL GRÁN COMBO" ESTO ES UN CLASICO EXCELENTE"😉👍🥂SALUD POR ESTE REC PLAY"
@luisfernandoapraez9377
Canciones que me dan paz absoluta. 😏😏😏
@gustavocastillo9652
La universidad de la salsa! El gran combo de Puerto Rico no tiene presa mala
@yayislove1
ME ENCANTA ESTA CANCION Y AYER CUANDO ME LA CANTASTE ME EMOCIONO MUCHO TE AMO MI NEGRO EL PASADO NO SE PUEDE BORRAR PERO SI SE PUEDE COMENZAR DE NUEVO