Rivera, nicknamed "Maelo", born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was the first of five children born to Luis and Margarita Rivera. His father, Luis, was a carpenter and his mother a housewife. As a child, Rivera 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 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.
In 1948, Rivera and Cortijo joined El Conjunto Monterrey, where Rivera played the conga and Cortijo the bongos. Rivera was unable to work full-time as a musician, due to the fact that he worked as a carpenter.
In 1952, Rivera joined the U.S. Army but, was quickly discharged as he didn't speak English. When he returned to Puerto Rico he went to work with the Panamerican Orchestra, thanks to the recommendation of his friend Cortijo. Rivera recorded and scored his first "hits" with the songs "El Charlatan", "La Vieja en Camisa" (The Old Lady in a Shirt) and "La Sazon de Abuela". However, an incident between Rivera and another band member over a girl, led to his departure from the band.
Cortijo's Combo continued to gain fame and so did Rivera's reputation as a lead singer. Benny More visited the island and was impressd with Rivera's voice, he baptized Rivera "El Sonero Mayor" (The Premiere Improviser). The band went to New York City and played in the famed Palladium Ballroom, where the orchestras of Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente and Charlie Palmieri also played.
In 1959, Rivera, together with Cortijo and his Combo, participated in the European produced movie titled "Calipso", starring Harry Belafonte. He traveled with Cortijo's Combo, which also included Rafael Ithier and Roberto Roena, to Europe, Central and South America. Rivera was suspected of being involved with an illegal drug transaction during a trip to Panama. He was arrested upon his arrival to Puerto Rico, convicted and sentenced to jail. This event led to the break-up of Cortijo's Combo. Shortly after, Rafael Ithier, regrouped some of the former members and formed El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
Upon his release from jail, Rivera formed his own band called Ismael Rivera and his Cachimbos. The successful band lasted for eight years. Rivera reunited with Cortijo and recorded "Juntos Otra Vez" (Together Again). Later, Rivera went solo and did well with the recordings of "El Sonero Mayor" and "Volare (salsa style)". He was to score his greatest "hit" with "Las Cara Lindas (De Mi Gente Negra)" (The Pretty Faces (Of My Black People) written by Tite Curet Alonso. One of his last public performances was in Paris, as an opener for Bob Marley in 1979.[3]
The death of his childhood friend, Rafael Cortijo in 1982, affected him emotionally to the point that he couldn't sing in the tribute to Cortijo celebrated at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. Rivera was actively involved in the creation of a historical museum which depicts the contributions made to the cultural life of Puerto Rico by the black Puerto Ricans.
Rivera was a faithful pilgrim of the Black Christ procession in Portobelo, Panama, from 1975 to 1985,
and even wrote a song about the Black Christ, known affectionately as "El Nazareno".
Ismael Rivera died on May 13, 1987 in the arms of his mother Margarita, from a heart attack. Celia Cruz recorded a tribute to Ismael Rivera and so did Dario y su ComboRican. On September 27, 2001, the Puerto Rican Senate approved the law #134 declaring October 5 as "Ismael Rivera Day". In Villa Palmeras, Santurce, Puerto Rico, there is a plaza named "Plaza de los Salseros" which has a statue and plaque dedicated to Ismael.
El Mesías
Ismael Rivera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo soy la luz que brilla en la inmensidad
soy el sol, no brilla en la oscuridad.
Hubo una vez un rey de amor y gloria
con su divina ley quedó en la historia.
El mundo conquistó con su gran hazaña
Me dijo mi Nazareno.
Coro:
¿Quien soy yo? ¿Quien será?
Soy la ruta el camino por donde vas.
Un ventiuno de octubre de Panamá
caminando a Porto Bello debe llegar
esa es la ruta el camino por donde vas
el Nazareno a cargar.
A quien no mires a quien
si acaso haces mal, acuérdate
esa es la ruta el camino por donde vas,
pa' poderte arreglar.
Que lindo mi Nazareno,
que lindo mi Nazareno
el veintiuno de octubre,
Panameños nos veremos y cargaremos.
Que viva el Cristo negro de Porto Bello
el Cristo de los milagros
y es la ruta del camino por donde va,
yo te quiero cargar.
~
Que viva el Cristo negro de Porto Bello, que viva.
~
Ven caminando para aca'
si cargado vas de estar
que esta es la ruta el camino por donde va,
yo te voy a aliviar, mijito.
Con la Janet y con el Cholo
caminando voy pa'lla, no ves
esta es la ruta del camino por donde va
y el Nazareno cargar.
The chorus of the song El Mesias by Ismael Rivera speaks of the singer as being the light that shines in the vastness and a sun that glows in the absence of light. These lyrics could be interpreted as Rivera conveying himself as a guiding light or a beacon of hope to his listeners. The next stanza talks about a king of love and glory who made history with his divine law and conquered the world with his great achievements. He amazed people with his teachings and sermons of the mountain. This king could be assumed to be Jesus Christ, given that the rest of the song further references him as "Nazareno" and "Cristo negro de Porto Bello."
Rivera then sings about the significance of a particular route and path, likely leading up to the famous Black Christ of Portobelo, a revered religious statue in Panama known for its miraculous history. He emphasizes that anyone who walks this path and believes in Christ is on the right track and will find salvation. The song seems to be a celebration of faith, hope, and the power of belief, with Rivera and his companions looking forward to the annual procession where they can carry the statue of the Black Christ.
Overall, El Mesias is a beautiful song that celebrates faith and the power of belief in one's life. The lyrics speak of hope, guidance, and the importance of staying on the right path towards salvation. It is also a tribute to the Black Christ of Portobelo and the annual procession that brings together thousands of people to celebrate their faith.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo soy la luz que brilla en la inmensidad
I am the light that shines in the vastness of space
soy el sol, no brilla en la oscuridad.
I am the sun, I don't shine in darkness
Hubo una vez un rey de amor y gloria
There was once a king of love and glory
con su divina ley quedó en la historia.
with his divine law he remained in history.
El mundo conquistó con su gran hazaña
He conquered the world with his great feat
y a otros asombró con el sermón de la montaña.
and amazed others with the Sermon on the Mount.
Me dijo mi Nazareno.
My Nazarene told me.
¿Quien soy yo? ¿Quien será?
Who am I? Who will I be?
Soy la ruta el camino por donde vas.
I am the way, the path you follow.
Un ventiuno de octubre de Panamá
On the twenty-first of October in Panama
caminando a Porto Bello debe llegar
walking to Portobelo one must arrive
esa es la ruta el camino por donde vas
that is the route, the path you follow
el Nazareno a cargar.
to carry the Nazarene.
A quien no mires a quien
Whomever you don't see
si acaso haces mal, acuérdate
if you happen to do wrong, remember
esa es la ruta el camino por donde vas,
that is the route, the path you follow,
pa' poderte arreglar.
to help you fix it.
Que lindo mi Nazareno,
How beautiful my Nazarene,
el veintiuno de octubre,
on the twenty-first of October,
Panameños nos veremos y cargaremos.
Panamanians will meet and carry.
Que viva el Cristo negro de Porto Bello
Long live the Black Christ of Portobelo
el Cristo de los milagros
the Christ of the miracles
y es la ruta del camino por donde va,
and it's the route, the path he follows,
yo te quiero cargar.
I want to carry you.
Ven caminando para aca'
Come walking over here,
si cargado vas de estar
if you're loaded down
que esta es la ruta el camino por donde va,
because this is the route, the path he follows,
yo te voy a aliviar, mijito.
I'm going to relieve you, little one.
Con la Janet y con el Cholo
With Janet and with Cholo
caminando voy pa'lla, no ves
I'm walking over there, don't you see
esta es la ruta del camino por donde va
this is the route, the path he follows
y el Nazareno cargar.
and carry the Nazarene.
Contributed by Isaiah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lopz33
Un día como hoy, 24 de febrero de 1938, nació en la Ciudad de Nueva York, Nueva York, EEUU, el timbalero, vibrafonista, pianista, oboísta, arpista, percusionista menor, arreglista, compositor, productor y director de orquesta Louie Ramírez, el Genio de la Salsa. Maestro, lo seguimos extrañando. 🎵🥁🎹✍🎚🎶😢😢😢😢😢
@lucianosabas9599
tenía 14 años cuando la escuché en radiomar estación radial de Chorrillos Lima, junte mis solcitos y me compré el 45....temazazo!!!!! Saludos!!
@xiomaraflores9433
Saludos desde Venezuela es la mejor canción de Ismael
@Zameth29
La hermana de Ismael todavía biene a Panamá todos los años. Aquí la reciben como Ismael. 🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦🙏🏾
@juancarlosricovinasco4945
Y hoy, 5 de octubre, hace 89 años, la Isla del Encanto vio nacer al más grande de la salsa... ISMAEL RIVERA, El Sonero Mayor. Grande Maelo
@yasminhomayoun7888
Ich liebe dieses Lied ,seit ich es vor 30 Jahren zum ersten Mal hörte .Es ist voller Hoffnung ,Freude und Licht dazu diese sanfte Stimme von Ismael Rivera
- wunderbar.
Yasmin
@maritzabultron2698
Dios mío me hizo llorar él venía a Panamá todos los años a cargar la cruz de Nazareno lo amaba tanto pero Dios le concedió el milagro tan grande a través del señor del chorrillo que también fue muy bueno y el día que partió su sepelio fue muy grande....me estremeció escuchar está melodía y recordar todo lo que este artísta le tocó vivir.
Dios lo tenga en la gloria......arriba el Nazareno Maelo Panamá y Puerto Rico que lo vio nacer.......Panamá te extrañará siempre el 21 de octubre
@felipejurado5817
El gran chorrillero Sorolo , muerto hace no mucho tiempo, fue quien lo acercó al Negrito Lindo.
@enriqueantesano8589
Maelo el unico lo grabo esclusivamente para nuestro creador DIOS lo canto con tanto sentimiento q le puso el nombre EL MESIAS Grande Maelo el sonero. nosotros todos los SALSEROS t seguimos ....🎶🎵🔊🎧🍺🍻
@bicholol4709
escuchando esta cancion con unos amigos en el hospital nicolas solano de la chorrera en plena cuarentena sala 3 de cirugia viva jesucristo rey de reyes sabado 6 de junio d3l 2020