Salsa En La Calle Tributo Postumo A Ralph Irizarry

Our community sadly lost a pioneer on Sunday, September 5, 2021, when Grammy award-winning percussionist, bandleader, and studio musician, Ralph Irizarry passed away after battling an infection in his lungs. Ralph played on jingles, film and television scores, and had a distinctive playing style that made an indelible mark on those artists with whom he performed. In addition, he performed, recorded, and toured with the likes of Harry Belafonte, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Paquito D'Rivera, Juan Luis Guerra, Earl Klugh, Israel “Cachao”Lopez, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon and many others. Irizarry appeared on the Johnny Carson Show and the David Letterman Show, as well as Don Francisco's Sabado Gigante and Raul Velasco's Siempre en Domingo. Ralph was featured in the film The Mambo Kings and in documentaries such as Belafonte's Routes of Rhythm, Cachao's Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos, and The Life of Rubén Blades.

Ralph Irizarry was born in New York's Spanish Harlem; his family first moved to Brownsville Brooklyn and then briefly to Queens before finally relocating to Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1970. There, he spent three years gaining musical training and experience, and eventually joined Ponce's La Terrifica, as well as playing with El Gran Combo and Sonora Poncena.

In 1974, Ralph returned to New York City to pursue a career as a professional musician. After playing with local groups for almost four years, his break finally came when Ray Barretto invited him to join his orchestra. Shortly afterward they were in studio recording the first of six productions. In April 1983, Rubén Blades invited Irizarry to join in the formation of Seis Del Solar. This association lasted for fourteen years and consisted of intense performing and traveling as well as the production of eight recordings.

In 1996, Ralph Irizarry created his own Latin Jazz project - Timbalaye - a septet with a different instrumental format: Latin percussion instruments instead of the typical drum set. Timbalaye's repertoire combined contemporary jazz sounds with rhythmic elements from all over Latin America and Africa. Two years after the group's inception came their first release, Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye followed by "Best Kept Secret”, and "It’s Time" released in 2003.

Ralph went on to form Salsa bands Son Cafe and Los Viejos De La Salsa and performed with these bands till his Inclusion Body Myositis retired his hands. As this rare muscle disease ran its course, Ralph never stopped encouraging and supporting the next generation of percussionists.

Ralph was a humble and compassionate son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend whose humor and love for food and a good cigar, will be missed and remembered. He is survived by his family, wife of 44 years, Elizabeth, their three children; Ralph Jr., Marlon and Marisa, grandchildren; Ralph III, Raphael, Briana, Jacob, Ava, and Lizzie, and his older siblings; William, Dolores, and John.

Maestro Ralph Irizarry’s legacy lives on through his music and shared memories between him, his family and his many friends and peers which he considered familia. Ralph joins his parents Pancho and Gloria in Heaven where he’s restored as a Master Timbalero, putting on a show for the friends and family he missed all this time. Salute to Ralph Irizarry, a Master of his craft and a beautiful human being who lived a wonderful life. You made New York and Ponce proud, Ralph. We honor you!