Born on December 7 he comes from a very humble family but full of lots of love and flavor.
Roots:
my dad played the guitar and serenaded all the women in the neighborhood, my mom loved to play and sing, she would take a pewter plate and improvise a güiro and start playing and singing hahahaha. I also had an uncle who was a singer of Mexican music (Rancheras) my first recording was in 1965 with the Sexteto Tropical.
That’s where I come from.
How many productions do you currently have?
In total I have about 45 productions with different groups, but with my Conjunto COCO Y SU SABOR MATANCERO I have 8 productions.
In your musical trajectory, which musicians have left their mark on you?
The first one was my debut in the professional field with Maestro Porfi Jimenez and the stars of Venezuela.
This was in 1974 where I had the joy of being the first Venezuelan singer to perform with Las Estrellas De Fania at the Nuevo Circo de Caracas.
And also to have accompanied great stars of Latin music with my Conjunto COCO Y SU SABOR MATANCERO.
Among them the Queen Celia Cruz, the Inquieto Anacobero Daniel Santos, Celio Gonzalez, Leo Marini, Nelson Pinedo, Lino Borges, Mundito Gonzales, Canelita Medina, Trina Medina Cheo Garcia, Memo Morales, Oscar D Leon and others.
Of the productions you have, which is the most significant?
One of them is the album entitled Coco y Su Sabor Matancero “Sabor Ritmo y Calidad” where the great singer and (sonero) José Alberto el Canario participates as director, chorus and co-producer.
And the other significant one is COCO Y SU SABOR MATANCERO CON “TODO” because there I managed to bring together several artists of the stature of Wilmer Lozano,
Mariana la Sonera de Venezuela, the comedian and singer El Moreno Michael and Rodrigo Mendoza, also the floor singers Luis Muñoz and my son Coco Ortega Jr.
How many productions have you participated in as an independent producer of your own?
The first was Yo Soy El Son Cubano, Coco y Su Sabor Matancero en Concierto, a Gozar con Mi Son Cubano, Coco y Su Sabor Matancero Original, Coco y Su Sabor Matancero Tremendo Comban and Coco y Su Sabor Matancero “Con todo”.
Where are you currently living and how do you see the music scene there?
At the moment I am in Caracas Venezuela
At present, as in all parts of the world, we musicians have been the most affected since the work has declined too much, but we hope that with God’s favor things will open up little by little and that we will become aware that this is not a game and that we have to take care of each other.
Have you been in the best time of your life and what do you miss the most?
What I miss most is the era of the 70s, 80s, 90s.
When we played in three and four places on the same night.
Tell us about your last production?
As I told you, I had the pleasure of bringing together first class singers and the result was Coco y Su Sabor Matancero “Con Todo” (With Everything).
Coco y Su Sabor Matancero (ft: Rodrigo Mendoza) – Margot, tell us about this song?
Let me tell you that this song Margot is a Venezuelan waltz pasaje of which three versions have been made, the first interpretation was made by a great representative of our Venezuelan Music as it was Don Mario Suarez, then it was made by a great Peruvian musician Don Lucho Macedo.
And the most resent by Coco and its Matancero flavor and the person selected to interpret it was one of the great singer (sonero) Rodrigo Mendoza for his great interpretative quality of our Latin Music.
Do you miss Venezuela, your homeland?
The time I was living in the United States I missed daily my dear and always loved Venezuela, now I am in my homeland Venezuela.
What are we currently expecting from Coco & su Sabor Matancero?
My most recent production titled “Un Guaguancó Páramo” which was released on December 16, 2021.
“Un Guaguancó Pá mi Barrio” by Angel Flores, a song that brings together eight great
manages to bring together eight great exponents of our Latin music.
Performers:
Coco Ortega Jr.
Mariana “La Sonera de Venezuela”.
Angel Flores
Yorjan Cardona
Jimmy El León
Marcial Isturiz
Rodrigo Mendoza
Arrangement and Musical Direction:
Félix Guzmán “Guachafa”
Members Coco y Su Sabor Matancero:
Coco Ortega general director – singer, minor percussion
Andrés Romero “Tapón” – Trumpet
Cesar Guares “El Guaro” – Trumpet
Félix Guzmán “Guachafa” – Bass guitar
Franklin Infante – Piano
Igor Cochyze- Timbalito
José Araujo – Tumbadora – Singer
Coco Ortega Jr. – Singer
Yorjan Cardona – Singer
Backing Vocals:
Carlitos Guzmán
Eloy Blanco
Special guest:
Leo Pérez – Flute
Article of Interest: Fabián Rosales Araos Chilean singer-songwriter, native of the city of Valparaiso