Raphy Leavitt (September 17, 1948[1] – August 5, 2015)[2] was a Puerto Rican composer and founder of the salsa orchestra, La Selecta.
Marrero, who has always been strongly influenced by jibaro music, had a chance to show his dramatic singing style in early hits such as the anthemic "Jíbaro Soy", a patriotic Puerto Rican song unusual for the times, "Payaso", and "El Buen Pastor".
[5] On their way to a dance in Connecticut on October 28, 1972, the band's van had an accident, killing trumpet player Luis Maisonet and severely injuring Leavitt.
[1] Leavitt was in a coma, he sustained several fractures in his hip (he walked with a limp ever since), vertebrae and ribs in the accident, and was placed on intensive care.
[1] The company's first production was the album titled Provocame (Provoke Me),[1] which became a hit in Puerto Rico, United States and South America.
Leavitt was presented the Rafael Hernández Golden Bust Award for his compositions "Payaso" ("Clown"), "Jíbaro Soy" ("I'm a Countryboy") and "La Cuna Blanca" ("The White Crib").
The event was made into a television special entitled Raphy Leavitt and his Selecta Orchestra: 30 years of Music History.
[6] Raphy Leavitt died on August 5, 2015, at his home in Miami, Florida, two days after surgery to remove bacteria found around his artificial hip.