He wrote songs for many artists, but one of his main ones was El Gran Combo<\/a><\/em>. One of his most memorable was \u201cLa Salsa de Hoy<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n As an army soldier, he saw the injustices of racism, which years later he wrote and sang in the satirical song \u201cSi Dios Fuera Negro<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n He made a funny cameo in one of his last compositions when Jose Lugo recorded him in a short intro for his song \u201cParece Que Uno Se Va A Morir<\/em>\u201d, which was part of Gyasabara\u2019s \u201cPoetic Justice<\/em>\u201d album.<\/p>\n 2. Anthony Cruz<\/strong> (May): one of the pioneers of the Salsa Rom\u00e1ntica movement of the 1990s. Great singer.<\/p>\n 3. Joseito Mateo<\/strong> (June): a Music legend in the Dominican Republic and Latin America. Joseito was a versatile merengue singer who could sing just about anything.<\/p>\n He happens to be the singer in the very first recording of El Gran Combo, when producer Alvarez Guedes asked the newly formed band to back up his already famous singer in the album \u201cMen\u00e9ame Los Mangos<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n 4. Jose \u201cChegui\u201d Ramos<\/strong> (June): a singer with a tremendous voice, the young Puerto Rican came to fame with the group Batacumbele.<\/p>\n He later became a sought-after chorus singer for his magnificent voice. He departed way too early.<\/p>\n 5. Antonio Barasorda<\/strong> (tenor PR) (July): the Puerto Rican tenor died this year at age 72. Barasorda studied in Spain and went on to perform in venues like the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and the Festival Casals in Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n He also performed in many other venues and operas around the world.<\/p>\n 6. Eladio P\u00e9rez<\/strong> (July): the Puerto Rican percussionist was perhaps better known for being the conga player of Eddie Palmieri\u2019s Orchestra during the \u201970s.<\/p>\n After he relocated back to Puerto Rico, he briefly re-joined Palmieri when he also moved to Puerto Rico in the 80s. Eladio also worked with Charlie Palmieri and Roberto Roena during his career.<\/p>\n Eventually, he formed his own band.<\/p>\n 7. Emilio \u201cMillito\u201d Cruz<\/strong> (July): a great Puerto Rican cuatro and guitar player, Millito was one of the most recognized talents of the instrument starting in the \u201970s.<\/p>\n Millito performed with many artists, and replaced Pedro Guzm\u00e1n in the famed Puerto Rican folk group Haciendo Punto en Otro Son.<\/p>\n 8. Jack Constanzo<\/strong> (August): an American percussionist, he gained fame as \u201cMr. Bongo\u201d starting in the 1940s. At that time, he visited Havana, Cuba, and learned to play Afro-Cuban rhythms in the bongo and conga.<\/p>\n Jack performed early in his career with Desi Arnaz and Rene Tousett, after having been a dancer with his wife.<\/p>\n He, later on, went on to perform with Stan Kenton and Nat King Cole, among others before forming his own Afro-Cuban band.<\/p>\n 9. Tony Sanchez<\/strong> (November): another great percussionist, Tony excelled in the trap drums, which he learned to play from his father.<\/p>\n He got to play in the Hotel Normandie in the late \u201950s to early \u201960s. He also played with Noro Morales and a plethora of renowned bands and artists.<\/p>\n Sanchez was a founding member of the Puerto Rico All-Stars. He also played with Bobby Valentin, particularly in the \u201cVa a la Carcel<\/em><\/a>\u201d albums.<\/p>\n In this last song, we get to appreciate both, Tony Sanchez on the trap drums, and Eladio Perez on congas.<\/p>\n![\"Joseito](\"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Joseito-Mateo-con-El-Gran-Combo-300x300.jpg\")
![\"Tony](\"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Tony-Sanchez-and-Ruben-Escabi-300x263.jpg\")