Ismael Rivera also known as "El Sonero Mayor" (The Premiere Improviser) (October 5, 1931 – May 13, 1987), was a renowned composer and singer of salsa music. Early life 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. [LINK: http://www.ismaelrivera.org/] La Fundacion Ismael Rivera In 1948, Rivera and Cortijo joined El Conjunto Mont

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