Source Material: Roberto Roena – “Que Se Sepa”

Roberto Roena is a Puerto Rican salsa musician who has enjoyed an illustrious career since the 1950s.   He started as a dancer, alongside his brothers, on a television program in Puerto Rico called “La Taberna India.”  When Roena was 16 years old, he was recruited by Rafael Cortijo to play the bongos in his band, Cortijo y Su Combo.  Through his band, Rafael Cortijo popularized Puerto Rican bomba.  Unfortunately, when The Combo’s star singer, Isamel Rivera, was arrested for drug possession, the group disbanded.  

This led to the creation of El Gran Combo, a band formed in 1962 by Rafael Ithier.  Ithier was a former member of The Combo who recruited ex-members (including Roena) to join his band.  Initially, Roena did not join El Gran Combo out of respect for Cortijo. But after Cortijo left Puerto Rico in pursuit of musicians in New York, Roena eventually joined El Gran Combo.  To date, El Gran Combo is one of Puerto Rico’s most influential bands.  Roena’s contributions as a choreographer, dancer, and percussionist played a significant role in their success throughout the ’60s.

In 1969, Roena left the band to create his own group called Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound.  The band released a number of albums, including Apollo Sound 5, which features “Que Se Sepa,” a deep cut that showcased the versatility of their sound.  His band became one of the most popular latin bands throughout the ’70s.  And in 1973, Roena became a member of the Fania All-Stars, a group formed in 1968 by Fania Records (one of the most important latin music labels in history).  Roena’s impact on salsa music has helped the latin genre become what it represents today.

Roberto Roena – “Que Se Sepa”