Andy Montañez was born on May 7, 1942 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. His rich and powerful voice is an essential part of the hallmark sound of the salsa legend “El Gran Combo.”

In 1977, he received an offer from Dimension Latina, based in oil-rich Venezuela, which he could not refuse and joined the band as singer until 1980, when he left in order to launch his solo career.

Montañez released several albums in the 80s and 90s. His 1983 album "Hoy ... y Ayer" marked the 20th anniversary of El Gran Combo and included many of their hits. Like El Gran Combo, Montañez used two trumpets, two saxophones and one trombone and a rhythm section of conga, bongo, timbales, cowbells, maracas, bass, piano and chorus. In 1985, Montañez released a self-titled album “Andy Montañez,” which was high up on the charts and was one his best works. It includes the unsurpassable song “Genio y Figura” by Catalino Curet Alonso. Ernesto Rivera was in charge of the arrangements and Montañez’s sons, Andy Jr. and Harold, the backup vocals.

Andy Jr. and Harold launched their career as a duet in 1987 with the release of the album "El Comienzo del Camino," followed by "Siguiendo el Camino" in 1989. Both albums were produced by the band’s leader, trombone player, arranger and composer Julio “Gunda" Merced. Don Perignon decided to fly solo as band leader and made his debut in La Buena Vida! in 1989. Luisito Carrion was among the three lead singers. He had previously worked with Gunda Merced’s Salsa Fever, La Terrifica, and Bobby Valentin.

In 1990, Carrion joined Sonora Poceña. Andy became the center of controversy when his appearance at the 1989 Calle Ocho Festival in Miami was vetoed by Club Kiwanis, the organizer, on the grounds that Montañez had visited Cuba in 1979 with Dimension Latina. Paradoxically, he had been allowed to appear in the Festival the previous four years. Andy’s response was that his political stance was private and that he was not a Communist. That year, Montañez and El Gran Combo participate in the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Montañez returned in 1990 with “Todo Nuevo,” which featured appearances by some of he best session musicians of Puerto Rico. The song “Fantasma,” arranged by trumpet player Tommy Villareny was the album’s first hit. Following the tradition of the Puerto Rico Todos Estrellas’ albums of the 70s, Don Perignon brought together a mini-galaxy of Puerto Rican stars under the flag of La Puertorriqueña for the 1990 Soneros festival. The leading Puerto Rican composers Catalino Curet Alonso y Johnny Ortiz contributed with their songs.