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.
Hola
Ismael Rivera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
¿Dime cómo estás,
cuánto hace que no te veo
Ya tu lo ves
Soy el mismo,
Nada cambio, nada cambio
Todo es igual.
No y ya no te nombro siquiera
Hola
¿Dime cómo estás?
cuánto hace que no te veo
Ya tu lo ves, no eres la misma
Todo cambio, todo cambio
No eres igual no
No eres ni tu sombra siquiera
Y ahora da pena decirte:
Hola dime como estas
The song "Hola" by Ismael Rivera is a conversation between two people who haven't seen each other in a while, and the singer is expressing surprise and disappointment about the changes in the other person. The song opens with the singer greeting the other person, asking how they are and the length of time since they last saw each other. The phrase "Ya tu lo ves" (now you see) is repeated several times, where the singer is emphasizing the fact that he hasn't changed despite the time and distance that have passed. The singer then admits that the other person has changed, stating that they are not the same as before. The phrase, "No eres ni tu sombra siquiera" (you're not even your shadow) exemplifies the extreme difference that exists between the person he once knew and the person before him. The song concludes with the singer offering a sad, empathetic response, asking the other person how they are.
The song touches on the themes of time, change, and growth. It highlights the fact that although time passes and things may evolve, some people remain fundamentally the same while others undergo significant transformations. It's a song that conveys the emotions of being reunited with someone and initially having high hopes and expectations, but ultimately feeling let down by the outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Hola
Greetings
¿Dime cómo estás,
Asking how the person is doing
cuánto hace que no te veo
Expressing that it's been a long time since you've seen the person
Ya tu lo ves
Acknowledging that the person can see that you're still the same
Soy el mismo,
Stating that you haven't changed at all
Nada cambio, nada cambio
Reiterating that nothing has changed
Todo es igual.
Asserting that everything is the same
No y ya no te nombro siquiera
Admitting that you don't even mention the person anymore
Ahora ya puedo decirte:
Revealing that now you can say something
Hola
Greetings
¿Dime cómo estás?
Asking how the person is doing
cuánto hace que no te veo
Emphasizing that it's been a long time since you've seen the person
Ya tu lo ves, no eres la misma
Pointing out that the person has changed
Todo cambio, todo cambio
Stating that everything has changed
No eres igual no
Asserting that the person is not the same
No eres ni tu sombra siquiera
Comparing the person to their own shadow, implying that they're unrecognizable
Y ahora da pena decirte:
Expressing that it's now difficult to say something to the person
Hola dime como estas
Reluctantly asking how the person is doing
Writer(s): JUAN PABLO TORRES
Contributed by Alexandra I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
luis roque
Quien compuso ese tema saludos?
CharlesFlorence
@Luckylouie522 I always thought the song was from Brazil because of the rhythm Bobby Valentin made with Marvin Santiago
Valexanddraa
Según tengo entendido, el compositor se llama Juan Pablo Torres... Trombonista y músico cubano.
Luckylouie522
Saludos no lo dice el Disco (DERECHOS RESERVADOS) NOTA HAY OTRA VERSION DE BOBBY VALENTIN Y MARVIN SANTIAGO QUE SALIO PRIMERO 1976 Y ISMAEL RIVERA 1977 ARREGLOS DE BOBBY VALENTIN*** Y LOUIE RAMIREZ...
Maira Alejandra Perez Zabala
Que sentimiento, que tranquilidad, que paz trasmite Ismael en esta canción. Ese hombre podía hacerlo a uno llorar, gozar, recordar con su voz. Grandeeee Maeloooooooo
Victor Rincones
Esa canción me da tristeza por recuerdos de parejas muy bonita
alvarito gonzalez
@Ronayber Romerode
Ya también yayovellez
Ronayber Romero
Que buen comentario ❤️
Yorman Sequera
Que temon la esencia pura de la música de corazón y cantada con la maestría del maestro Ismael Rivera soy un venezolano Caraqueño amante de este fantástico género caribeño llamado Salsa.
Gracias Dios por dar tan bueno exponentes de esta cultura
Tatiana
🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷lo más humilde que había, Ismael Rivera ,el sonero mayor 🇵🇷❤️