Ismael Rivera, nicknamed "Maelo", was born in Santurce Puerto Rico, October 5, 1931 and 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, Ismael 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, Ismael and Rafael joined El Conjunto Monterrey, where Ismael played the conga and Rafael the bongos. Ismael was unable to work full-time as a musician, due to the fact that he worked as a carpenter.
In 1952, Ismael 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. He 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 Ismael and another band member over a girl, led to his departure from the band.
In 1954, he joined Cortijo's Combo and recorded the following songs which soon became hits in the American Latino community:"El Bombon de Elena",
"El Negro Bembon", "Juan Jose","Besitos de Coco", "Palo que tu me Das",
"Quitate de la via Perico", "Oriza", "El Chivo de la Campana",
"Maquinolandera", "El Yayo", "Maria Teresa" and
"Yo Soy del Campo". Cortijo's Combo continued to gain fame and so did Ismael's reputation as a lead singer.
Benny More visited the island and was so impressd with Ismael's voice he baptized him "El Sonero Mayor" (The Primiere 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, Ismael, 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. Ismael 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, Ismael formed his own band called Ismael Rivera and his Cachimbos. The successful band lasted for eight years. Ismael reunited with Cortijo and recorded "Juntos Otra Vez" (Together Again). Later, Ismael 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 Caras Lindas (De Mi Gente Negra)" (The Pretty Faces (Of My Black People) written by Tite Curet Alonso.
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 Colesium. Ismael was actively involved in the creation of a historical museum which depects the contributions made to the cultural life of Puerto Rico by the black Puerto Ricans; However, on May 13, 1987 he died in the arms of his mother Margarita, from a heart attack, leaving a legacy of music and a route of cultural memories.
