Born and raised in San Jose, CA, I started playing music (drums) in 1965. I was inspired by both my Abualos, who taught me about Latin music. At that time I was also playing Rock & Roll and R. & B. with a hint of Latin rhythms in the mix. I started playing Timbales in the early 70's & continued playing Cumbia, Mambo, Pachanga and Latin rock. My first Salsa orquesta was Tony Perez Y Su Orquesta based in San Jose & soon after that, I began working with a very young Latin Rock band, "Los Unicos," based in East San Jose. Los Unicos played a mix of popular music; as did another group, "All these People," of which I was a member. During the early 80s I formed a Salsa group called "Orquesta Fango," & I also joined Cana Dulce, another Salsa group. As my music career expanded, I started working with some talented musicians: Rico Reyes, who worked with Santana and Azteca; Richard Kermode Pablo Telez from "Malo;" & Piano great Carlos Fredrico, who worked with the Escovedo brothers and Benny Valardie back in the 60s. By the 1990s I put together an all star Salsa group to play the first Salsa Festival in Las Vegas; we opened for Salsa artists Luis Enrique, Eddie Santigo, Willie Chirino (from Puerto Rico), Andy Montanez, and Orquesta Costa Brava. While working the Salsa Circuit for a few years, I got a call from Art Galvan of the Kool Katz band; Art was looking for a timbal player and he liked my style. I performed the timbal on their first full CD: "Mi Gusta Como Balie." I moved to the central valley (Modesto, California) between working with Kool Katz and playing in my own group ("Timbalero") & continued working the Salsa circuit I've opened up for George Lopez, worked with Pete Escovedo, Cuban piano great Gustavo Ramirez, percussionist from Cuba Carlos Caro, Congero Mario Flores, and I was also honored with the privilege of opening up for the Conga Kings in 2007. Further, the Kool Katz Band & I had the privilege working with Latin soul singer Joe Bataan in 2007. Currently, I'm working with Kool Katz on our second CD and I am still working the Salsa circuit with my group "Timbalero."
.. GRACIA I QUE VIVA LA MUSICA
Born and raised in San Jose, CA, I started playing music (drums) in 1965. I was inspired by both my Abualos, who taught me about Latin music. At that time I was also playing Rock & Roll and R. & B. with a hint of Latin rhythms in the mix. I started playing Timbales in the early 70's & continued playing Cumbia, Mambo, Pachanga and Latin rock. My first Salsa orquesta was Tony Perez Y Su Orquesta based in San Jose & soon after that, I began working with a very young Latin Rock band, "Los Unicos," based in East San Jose. Los Unicos played a mix of popular music; as did another group, "All these People," of which I was a member. During the early 80s I formed a Salsa group called "Orquesta Fango," & I also joined Cana Dulce, another Salsa group. As my music career expanded, I started working with some talented musicians: Rico Reyes, who worked with Santana and Azteca; Richard Kermode Pablo Telez from "Malo;" & Piano great Carlos Fredrico, who worked with the Escovedo brothers and Benny Valardie back in the 60s. By the 1990s I put together an all star Salsa group to play the first Salsa Festival in Las Vegas; we opened for Salsa artists Luis Enrique, Eddie Santigo, Willie Chirino (from Puerto Rico), Andy Montanez, and Orquesta Costa Brava. While working the Salsa Circuit for a few years, I got a call from Art Galvan of the Kool Katz band; Art was looking for a timbal player and he liked my style. I performed the timbal on their first full CD: "Mi Gusta Como Balie." I moved to the central valley (Modesto, California) between working with Kool Katz and playing in my own group ("Timbalero") & continued working the Salsa circuit I've opened up for George Lopez, worked with Pete Escovedo, Cuban piano great Gustavo Ramirez, percussionist from Cuba Carlos Caro, Congero Mario Flores, and I was also honored with the privilege of opening up for the Conga Kings in 2007. Further, the Kool Katz Band & I had the privilege working with Latin soul singer Joe Bataan in 2007. Currently, I'm working with Kool Katz on our second CD and I am still working the Salsa circuit with my group "Timbalero."