Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento

Rafael Itier founded El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico in 1962.

The Korean War veteran served as El Combo's principal pianist and director.

He turned the orchestra into one of Latin America's premier salsa institutions, ushering in a golden age for the genre.

For over six decades, El Gran Combo not only served as an informal training grounds for dozens of salsa musicians, it also influenced global superstars like Bad Bunny, who sampled one of their songs in his latest album.

Puerto Rican Governor Jennifer González Colón announced that the island will soon hold an official date of mourning for Itier.

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

The star witness in the government's case against Sean Combs finished her testimony today. Cassie Ventura spent four days answering questions from the prosecution and Combs' defense about their relationship. Ventura testified that she loved Combs, but he was often violent and forced her to have sex with male escorts.

The star witness in the government's case against Sean Combs finished her testimony today. Cassie Ventura spent four days answering questions from the prosecution and Combs' defense about their relationship. Ventura testified that she loved Combs, but he was often violent and forced her to have sex with male escorts.

After Ventura's cross-examination, prosecutors called an agent from Homeland Security Investigations to the stand to lay some of the groundwork for the sex trafficking charges. At the end of the day, singer Dawn Richard began her testimony. She said she saw Combs hit Ventura more than once. Richard will continue testifying on Monday. Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento, NPR News.

After Ventura's cross-examination, prosecutors called an agent from Homeland Security Investigations to the stand to lay some of the groundwork for the sex trafficking charges. At the end of the day, singer Dawn Richard began her testimony. She said she saw Combs hit Ventura more than once. Richard will continue testifying on Monday. Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento, NPR News.

So basically, prosecutors are alleging that Combs forced two of his ex-girlfriends into these highly orchestrated sexual performances that were fueled by drug use. They're saying he ran a criminal enterprise that not only enabled but concealed those sex crimes along with other illegal activities.

So basically, prosecutors are alleging that Combs forced two of his ex-girlfriends into these highly orchestrated sexual performances that were fueled by drug use. They're saying he ran a criminal enterprise that not only enabled but concealed those sex crimes along with other illegal activities.

So basically, prosecutors are alleging that Combs forced two of his ex-girlfriends into these highly orchestrated sexual performances that were fueled by drug use. They're saying he ran a criminal enterprise that not only enabled but concealed those sex crimes along with other illegal activities.

She has shared a lot. She really painted a picture of pervasive control and violence over the 11-year relationship that she shared with Combs. So first she testified that Combs demanded that she participate in sexual encounters with male escorts that Combs would choreograph, watch, and film. Ventura said that he would allegedly blackmail her with these videos.

She has shared a lot. She really painted a picture of pervasive control and violence over the 11-year relationship that she shared with Combs. So first she testified that Combs demanded that she participate in sexual encounters with male escorts that Combs would choreograph, watch, and film. Ventura said that he would allegedly blackmail her with these videos.

She has shared a lot. She really painted a picture of pervasive control and violence over the 11-year relationship that she shared with Combs. So first she testified that Combs demanded that she participate in sexual encounters with male escorts that Combs would choreograph, watch, and film. Ventura said that he would allegedly blackmail her with these videos.

And then she also testified about how Combs was physically abusive towards her for years. The government showed photos of bruising and other injuries that Ventura said resulted from his beatings. So she said she loved Combs, but that he could also be scary, and she just didn't feel like she could safely leave that relationship.

And then she also testified about how Combs was physically abusive towards her for years. The government showed photos of bruising and other injuries that Ventura said resulted from his beatings. So she said she loved Combs, but that he could also be scary, and she just didn't feel like she could safely leave that relationship.

And then she also testified about how Combs was physically abusive towards her for years. The government showed photos of bruising and other injuries that Ventura said resulted from his beatings. So she said she loved Combs, but that he could also be scary, and she just didn't feel like she could safely leave that relationship.

Yeah, I mean, so like you were saying, Ventura testified that Combs wielded a lot of power over her, that power was professional, it was financial, emotional, physical, and that he used that to coerce her into this sex that she didn't want to participate in.