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.
Para Mi Gente
Ismael Rivera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que ′ta bien buena
Este ritmo de borinque
Ya la gente lo adivina
Y lo vacilan sabroso
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que 'ta bien buena
Ya han pasoado muchos años
De nuestra separacion
Y el combo sigue sonando
Con gran sincronizacion
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que ′ta bien buena
Bailala bailala nena
Que esta plena bien caliente
Que con cortijo y su combo
Bacila toda la gente
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que 'ta bien buena
"Pa' que vacile mi gente oye!!!"
Suena!!!
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que ′ta bien buena
Y yo le doy gracias a Dios
Por haberme permitido
Estar otra vez contigo
Y tocando con sentido
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que ′ta bien buena
Y que no se quede ni el cojo
Sin bailar mi rica plena
Pues yo se que esta bien buena
Bailala tu mi morena
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que 'ta bien buena
Mire que buena
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que ′ta bien buena
Y pa' mi gente en Pánama
De Colombia y Venezuela
Mexico y Santo Domingo
Y boricuas en pertorro
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que ′ta bien buena
Bailala bailala nena
Que esta plena bien caliente
Que con cortijo y su combo
Bacila toda la gente
Para mi gente traigo una pena
Para la nena que 'ta bien buena
Buena!!!
The song "Para Mi Gente" by Ismael Rivera is a vibrant and energetic celebration of Latin American music and dance. The lyrics express the artist's joy and pride in his people, as well as his appreciation for a woman who is attractive and desirable. The song highlights the traditional rhythm of "borinque," which is recognized and enjoyed by people throughout Latin America.
Ismael Rivera sings about the enduring popularity of his music, even after many years of separation from his audience. He expresses gratitude to God for the opportunity to be reunited and to continue making music that is meaningful. The chorus encourages everyone, including the "cojo" or the person who may be disabled, to not miss out on the chance to dance to the lively plena rhythm.
Line by Line Meaning
Oyelo mi gente! juega!
Listen my people! Play!
Para mi gente traigo una pena
I bring a sadness for my people
Para la nena que ′ta bien buena
For the girl who is very attractive
Este ritmo de borinque
This rhythm from Borinquen (Puerto Rico)
Ya la gente lo adivina
People already recognize it
Y lo vacilan sabroso
And they enjoy it tastefully
En america latina
In Latin America
Ya han pasado muchos años
Many years have passed
De nuestra separacion
Since our separation
Y el combo sigue sonando
And the band keeps playing
Con gran sincronizacion
With great synchronization
Bailala bailala nena
Dance, dance girl
Que esta plena bien caliente
Because this plena is really hot
Que con cortijo y su combo
With Cortijo and his band
Bacila toda la gente
Makes everyone dance
"Pa' que vacile mi gente oye!!!"
"So my people can have fun, listen!!!"
Suena!!!
It sounds!
Y yo le doy gracias a Dios
And I give thanks to God
Por haberme permitido
For allowing me
Estar otra vez contigo
To be with you again
Y tocando con sentido
And playing with meaning
Y que no se quede ni el cojo
And so that not even the lame stay
Sin bailar mi rica plena
Without dancing my rich plena
Pues yo se que esta bien buena
Because I know it's really good
Bailala tu mi morena
You, my brunette, dance
Mire que buena
Look how good
Y pa' mi gente en Pánama
And for my people in Panama
De Colombia y Venezuela
From Colombia and Venezuela
Mexico y Santo Domingo
Mexico and Santo Domingo
Y boricuas en pertorro
And Puerto Ricans in Pertorro
Buena!!!
Good!!!
Writer(s): Carlos Ayala
Contributed by Eva E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carlos Martinez
De verdad que cortijo y Rivera era buena mancuerna....eso si era música 💃🕺👍🏼
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 3 de octubre de 1982, falleció en Santurce, Puerto Rico, el legendario percusionista, compositor y director de orquesta Rafael Antonio Cortijo Verdejo, uno de los gigantes de la música caribeña y latinoamericana. Maestro, lo seguimos extrañando.🎶🖋🥁🎵😢😢😢😢😢
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 5 de octubre de 1931, nació en la Calle Calma, Santurce, Puerto Rico, el legendario cantautor y director-fundador de Los Cachimbos, Ismael "Maelo" Rivera Rivera, el Sonero Mayor, el Brujo de Borinquen y el Muchacho de la Calle Calma. Maestro, lo seguimos extrañando.🎵🎤🖋🎶😢😢😢😢😢
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 21 de noviembre de 2012, falleció el cantautor Carlos Samuel "Sammy" Ayala Román. Maestro, lo seguimos extrañando. 🎵🎤✍🎶😢😢😢😢😢
ELIZABETH STERLING
❤️lindo tema..joyas musicales con artistas que ya no volverán
Trumpeter Almaraz
no puede faltar en la colección de los verdaderos conocedores
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 17 de febrero de 1933, nació en Santurce, Puerto Rico, el cantautor y güirero Carlos Samuel "Sammy" Ayala Román. Maestro, lo seguimos extrañando. 🎵🎤✍🎶😢😢😢😢😢
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 28 de enero de 1954, debutó en el Club Riviera en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el Combo de Rafael Cortijo. 🎵🎺🪘🥁🎷🎶
lopz33
Un día como hoy, 25 de junio de 1974, se realizó en el Coliseo Roberto Clemente, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el concierto "Juntos otra vez", en el cual se reencontraron Ismael Rivera, Rafael Cortijo y los integrantes del combo original.
irrcysc 1954
Q plena estupenda. Pa vacilar. Con maelo y cortijo. Saludos a todos los salsaeros y salseras. De todo el mundo desde uruguay