La historia de Ismael Rivera, el Sonero Mayor, que dejó huella
No hay un día en Cartagena de Indias en que no suene Ismael Rivera. Los salseros de la ciudad van cada sábado a ver sus videos y a escuchar sus canciones ‘Donde Fidel Leottau’, la esquina del Portal de los Dulces donde la ciudad vive en su salsa. Los que llegan allí solo dicen: ¡Pónme a Maelo! Ya todos saben que se trata de Ismael Rivera: El Sonero Mayor (1931-1987), que parece más vivo que nunca, y no deja de cantar más allá de su muerte. Él cada vez que lo daban por muerto decía: “Algunos me creían muerto, pero qué va. Aquí estoy, ya llegué”.
La historia de Ismael Rivera, el Sonero Mayor, que dejó huella Ismael Rivera, known as ‘El Sonero Mayor’, continues to be celebrated in Cartagena de Indias through his music, with his presence felt through his songs and videos. His musical passion began in his youth while working in construction, where he met Rafael Cortijo, and together they revolutionized bomba and plena music, adapting it for larger orchestras. Despite facing segregation, discrimination, drug addiction, and imprisonment, Rivera’s legacy endures, with his definition of a ‘sonero’ as a ‘poet of the people’ resonating today, further solidified by a recent biography.
- Ismael Rivera, ‘El Sonero Mayor’, remains popular in Cartagena de Indias, with his music a staple at Fidel Leottau.
- Rivera’s musical journey started in his youth while working in construction, where he met Rafael Cortijo.
- Cortijo and Rivera modernized bomba and plena music, performing it in a style similar to large dance orchestras.
- Rivera’s music reflected the social and racial conflicts of Puerto Rico during his time.
- Rivera faced drug addiction and served a prison sentence, after which he received support primarily from the poor community.
- A new biography by César Pagano, ‘Ismael Rivera, El Sonero Mayor’, highlights his life and legacy.
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