About me

I started playing drums practicing marching snare drum technique at the age of six. I played my first drum set at the age of 13 and was heavily influenced by the Motown, James Brown, Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, Bootsy Collins, Isley Brothers, OJays, etc... In 1966 I discovered conga drums and enjoyed playing with the park drummers during the Griffith Park "love-ins". From 1972-73 I played snare drum in a high school marching band for two years which made my time in school bearable. I rediscovered Conga drumming 1973 when I started to develop an interest in playing Latin percussion. My first percussion teacher was Rolito Soto, the premier Bongosero of the Cuban music group, Rumbavana, in 1982. Rolito taught me concepts for playing bongo and conga drumming, thanks to his constant support and friendship, I learned to play with "sabor".

In 1986 I moved to San Francisco where I met my wife with whom I am now married to for the past 24 years. Judith, who brought Afro-Cuban folkloric dance to the Bay Area in 1981 and I, have been working together as a team since 1987 doing performances, dance classes and workshops. At this point I started an intensive study of the Cuban box drum known as "Cajon" using the actual licks from some of the most exceptional Quinteros in Cuba. For the next 2 years I developed both a written and audio combination method to practice the Cajon "licks". This method made it easy for me to understand the very syncopated Afro Cuban drumming language

Since 1988 I have studied privately with many master drummers in Cuba such as Mario Jauregui, Windo, Ventura, and "El Mellizo". Master drummer Regino Jimenez has also been exceptional in his generous teaching and support. In the process of learning to play the drum known as the "Quinto", I was influenced by the following musicians: Jesus Alfonso, Pancho Quinto, Windo, and Pedro Orta (El Asmatico). The rhythms that I learned in Cuba and now teach in class are: Rumba, Changui, Bongo, Palo, Yuka, Makuta, Bembe, Yesa, Comparsa, Gaga, Conga de Santiago, Vodu, Paca, Dengue, Guiro, Evo, Congolaje, Afrekete, Ebioso, Mambo, Tumbao, Comparsa, Mozambique, Bembe, Guiro and Columbia. In 1989 Judith and I formed the Afro-Cuban dance group, Raices Afrocubanas. We are currently teaching in Berkeley California.