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“Music has made me a more complete person, it’s part of who I am, I think I would be a miserable person without music, it’s a tremendous art, a language I feel very comfortable with”.

A well known percussionist, he is considered one of the most Swinging timbaleros in the world, possessing a particular style that has allowed him to leave a distinctive touch in the groups where he has participated, as far as the interpretation of the timbal is concerned.

Born to Puerto Rican parents in New York’s Harlem Latino, Ralph is a self-taught musician who learned the trade by listening to his brother’s records and the music of his idols in nightclubs, where he used to sneak in when he was 16.

His first experiences with professional Latin music took place in Puerto Rico, where he had the opportunity to share the stage with renowned bands such as La Terrífica, El Gran Combo, and La Sonora Ponceña, among others, for three years.

He then returns to New York where he begins to play with local groups. In 1978 he met the maestro Ray Barretto, with whom he began a fruitful and productive working relationship that would result in five extraordinary record productions.

This particular percussionist considers that music is an important part of his life, so much so that he has stated that “Music has made me a more complete person, it is part of who I am, I think I would be a miserable person without music, it is a tremendous art, a language with which I feel very comfortable”.

Ralph has recorded with important figures of the show, such as: David Byrne, Paul Simon, Harry Belafonte, Earl Klugh, Juan Luis Guerra, Cachao, Celia Cruz and Yomo Toro, although he is mostly recognized for his musical relationship with Ruben Blades and Seis del Solar, a group of which he was part for 13 years, recording and performing internationally.

His musical contributions have also been fundamental. Although he does not consider himself a composer, he has composed for some salsa singers.

He also wrote a rap that he sang on a record by Seis del Solar; the song is entitled “Entrégate”. In addition, in Timbalaye’s first recording, he wrote the lyrics for “Raza Cósmica”. He has also contributed to the group’s arrangements. He even participated in the recording of two Latin jazz albums made by Seis del Solar.

He is currently one of the most sought-after musicians and has continued to work on commercials and soundtracks for film and television.

His charisma allowed him to develop an unexpected career as an actor: he performed in The Mambo Kings playing the role of Pito Fernández.

He has also participated in films and documentaries, Cachao, Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos, with Andy García, The Roots of Rhythm with Harry Belafonte and The Life and Times of Rubén Blades.

In 1996 he participated with Tito Puente in the show Master Timbaleros, presented in New York. This historic concert was the culmination of 26 years of dedication, practice and love for music. Puente noted on that occasion:

“Ralph is a star of the future who has never forgotten his Latin roots. His group is a marvel.

This valuable percussionist began to feel the need to record something in his own style, taking care of what is his premise in his musical work: “I have always said that one should play with the same quality in front of 10 or 5,000 people.

When the sound is perfect, there is a lot of rapport and you kind of rise six inches off the floor when that happens. I think that’s called swinging with intensity.

Hence his next step was the founding of the group “Timbalaye”, a septet with a strong big band sound.

The group combines contemporary Latin jazz with various tropical rhythms: timba, songo and traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms, bomba, cha cha chá and son montuno.

Their innovative sound has allowed the group to perform weekly in New York. In October 1997, Ralph and company performed with >Batacumbele> in a historic concert at Hostos College.

Among their most recent projects is a recording at the Birdland for a compilation to be released by RCA Records.

Among its members are Oriente López from the Afro-Cuba group, Arturo Ortiz from Rubén Blades and Juan Carlos Salas from the famous Venezuelan group Guaco. Timbalaye is considered the most select band in Latin Jazz.

This talented percussionist considers that his priority is to know that the public will be satisfied with what they have heard: That is my mission, to bring joy to the people.

 

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Percussionist, Singer, Singer-Songwriter, Producer and Leader is Hawaii’s Best Selling Latin Artist

Rolando Sanchez, percussionist-singer-songwriter-producer, leader of Hawaii’s first longest recording Latin recording artist.

In this Site you will experience the history and achievements of this musical Family called “SALSA HAWAII” for over 20-years, performing, recording, touring and just sharing the love and ALOHA of our Latin Music Wolrdwide.

With CDs sold Worldwide and the number of awards and accolades from press, government, musical organizations, community organizations, locally, nationally and Internationally.

HONOLULU TROPICAL Celebrating 20 years of Latin Music in Hawaii Rolando Sanchez Salsa Hawaii Singer, Songwriter, Percussionist (timbales-congas-bongos- drums) Recording Artist, and Producer. Born in Masaya, Nicaragua, to a musical, artistic family; his father, an accomplished songwriter, pianist, and singer.

His mother also played piano and sang as with most of his immediate family.

His musical influence began at a very young age playing drums with neighborhood kids emanating the music of the time (i.e.: Beatles, Trini Lopez, Paul Anka, etc.).

In his early teens he began listening to more Latin music styles, which formed the basis for his music today. The bands that influenced him at the time were Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Billo’s Caracas Boys, Sonora Matanzera, Sonora Santanera, Daniel Santos, and a Nicaraguan band Los Satelites del Ritmo.

In the late 60s, the family relocated to San Francisco, California where he grew up and truly realized that music was to be his life. The music scene in the Bay Area at this time was very diverse. He delved in all the different styles.

During that time, Latin music was beginning to blossom and all kinds of Latin-style bands such as The Aliens, Latin Bloods, Los Beamers, Bandido, Unidad 77, and Limbo began to play in and around the Bay Area.

Cesar’s Club was THE place to be to experience the best Latin musicians (Pete and Coke Escovedo, Roger Glenn, Luis Gazca, Pablo Telles, Victor Pantoja, Francisco Aguabella, Carmelo Garcia) performing live.

That’s when Rolando realized his passion for Latin music and particularly Timbales.

Then it happened! Santana Band came out and proved to be the biggest inspiration for all Latin musicians in the Bay Area (the world) including Rolando. It seemed that Latin bands were coming out of the woodwork: Azteca, Malo, Sapo,Dakila, and Salsa De Berkeley to name a few. He played with different bands in San Francisco’s Latin music scene and shortly thereafter, decided it was time to start his own band called SOLAR; they played a mixture of Latin rock and Latin jazz fusion.

Rolando and his brother Mario (still playing congas with Bay Area bands) were alsosome of the guys hanging out at Dolores Park in the Mission District playing congas and timbales along with such notables as Raul Rekow, Karl Perazzo, Chepito Areas, Carlos Badia, John Santos, and many other well-known Bay Area Latin percussion artists of today.

His band gained popularity and started playing the circuit where he met and befriended such artists as Pete and Sheila E. and Master Armando Peraza who helped develop his affinity for percussions.

While playing in the Bay Area, SOLAR was billed with bands like Azteca, Azuquita, Sapo, Cal Tjader, Cesar’s All-Star Band, Willie Bobo, and others.After their break-up, he formed the band SUNSMOKE together with his uncle, Freddie Velasquez, who had just returned to the Bay Area from touring the country with the Phil Driscoll Band. SUNSMOKE quickly became well-known in the Bay Area and they toured the west coast and Canada where they opened for blues master B.B. King and performed at the Canadian Rock Festival with bands from all over the world.

After a couple of very busy years, including recording some demos for major record labels, they broke up and Rolando spent some time in Los Angeles checking out the music scene there.

Upon returning to the Bay Area, he joined MESSIAH, one of the hottest Funk/Gospel/Rock/Disco bands. Their single, “Get up on Your Feet and Dance”, became a hit in the International disco scene. MESSIAH then went on to Japan where they enjoyed instant success and toured for 4 months. Shortly after their return, the band broke up and THE ROLANDO SANCHEZ BAND was born. Composing and writing his own material, Rolando released his first single cassette with two original songs, “She’s the Lady” and “Cold Hearted Woman”.

She’s the Lady” was made into a music video shown on local stations on both east and west coasts at the very beginning of the MTV movement.

It featured some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians including vocalist Jo Baker (Elvin Bishop Band). After being in the Bay Area for nearly 20 years, Rolando felt the need for a change of pace in his life.

In 1984, he visited his sister in Hawaii and the rest, as they say, is history.

Not long after arriving in Honolulu, Rolando decided to make it his home and the place where he would throw his musical fate to the wind.

His very first musical engagement in Honolulu was at the Waikiki Shell with one of Hawaii’s hottest singer/songwriters of that year, Mr.

Audy Kimura, in celebration of 25 Years of Statehood. This made it all the more clear to him that he was in the right place.

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