From The Leaders desk

Alfredo Rodriguez, who is of Puerto Rican decent, was born in Manhattan, NY. When he was 12 years old, he started private lessons at the church where he and his parents attended and studied trumpet privately throughout his high school years. 

He then had the opportunity to play for his first salsa band called La Solución from Chicago. While he played for La Solución, he had the chance to play in New York alternating the stage with Machito and his Mambo Orchestra.

Alfredo went on to perform with La Solución for 2 years. He then became one of the musician's that performed for most of the local salsa bands in Chicago.

After Alfredo’s graduated high school, he studied at Vandercook Music College for 2 years then continued his education at DePaul University for a year and a half focusing on Music Education.

Since then, Alfredo had the privilege to accompany singers like Cheo Feliciano, Celia Cruz, Luigi Texidor, Ismael Miranda, Adalberto Santiago, Tito Rojas, Lalo Rodriguez, Michael Stuart, Andy Montañez , Marvin Santiago, Frankie Negron, Domingo Quiñonez, Ray Selpulveda, Johnny Rivera, and Tony Vega to name a few. Alfredo also had the honor to play with Victor Manuel and his Orchestra and Ray Martinez and has band from New York. Alfredo has traveled throughout United States and has performed other Genres such as Classical, Jazz, and American popular music. Currently, Alfredo has become a member of the Trabuco Salsa band in Chicago. 

Lionel was born in 1961 in the town of East Chicago Indiana. At the age of 13, Lionel and his family relocated to the island of Puerto Rico. At the time, a surge in Salsa music was taking over the barrios, La Parada 22 in Santurce became a local hotspot. He was quickly drawn to these fascinating sounds. Lionel began participating with bands at the young age of 17 during this wave of Salsa music. After some time, he was back in the states. Just as he had prior to relocating, Lionel immersed himself and started playing in the local scene. Some of this participation in bands included, Caribe, Tipica 78, Ismael Rosa, Angel Melendez, Xtacy and others. He also took the stage with local and international artists. Lionel's passion and love for Salsa music continues today participating with Grupo Boriken and has become a member of Trabuco Salsa Band in Chicago.

Percussionist, bassist, and bandleader Nathan Rodriguez has been performing professionally since the age of 16. Passionate about teaching, he received his Bachelor of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and currently teaches music for the Chicago Board of Education. He leads the classic Puerto Rican conjunto style salsa band Conjunto Borikén. Additionally, he performs as a freelance musician with many local salsa bands at venues throughout the Chicago area and has done several TV appearances. Over his career, he has performed with well known salsa artists including Charlie Aponte, Cano Estremera, Herman Olivera, Tony Vega, Ismael Miranda, Johnny Rivera, Frankie Vazquez, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Lalo Rodriguez, and Frankie Negron amongst many others.

Nathan Rodriguez was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents. His father hails from Ponce, PR and his mother was born in Santurce. He began performing on the bongos at his local church at the age of 11 and added the conga at 13. He was soon invited to sit in at salsa and Latin jazz jam sessions around the city. At the age of 16, he began performing professionally with well established local bands and out of town artists.

Nathan established his own production studio, NateRod Studio, in 2018, and has become a go-to for full production and mixing and mastering services in the salsa community. Nathan has worked on albums by legendary singers such as Johnny Rivera, Tony Vega, and Wito Colon. Nathan released an album, “Pa’ Que Tu Lo Sepas”, with his very own Conjunto Borikén in 2019 that received great reviews and has been played all over the world. He followed that up in 2020 with a phenomenal Conjunto Borik én single “Homenaje A Los Conjuntos Del Ayer” with invited singers Johnny Rivera, Carlos Garcia, Kayvan Vega, Julio Lopez, Jorge Yadiel Santos, and Carlos Nevarez.

Carlos Tata Marquez was born January 1973 to parents Elba Velez and Carlos H. Marquez a well known Jockey from the 1960's and 70's. His grandfather Enrique Velez Rosa was a Master of Ceremonies pilar of Folkloric Jibaro music and a famous radio host in Puerto Rico. Carlos influences came from his uncles Wellon (Pianist) & Puchy (Bassist) who would encourage him to pursue music. At the age of 5 on or about 1978 he began playing bongos and congas drawing from the uncles he grew up watching. His family relocated to New York and in 8th grade he picked up the clarinet and trumpet, however his desire to play Salsa was clear to him. In his adult life now 1987, Carlos began playing with Yucayeque a local Bomba Plena Cultural group. He dabbled with other groups landing a pianist job with Carlitos Rey, a local singer in Chicago. He later played with 809 Orquetsra  and more recently has worked with Angel Melendez Hector Lavoe Tribute Band and the 911 Orquestra also Conjunto Boriken. Carlos has accompanied many artist both local and international. Today Carlos has become a member of the Trabuco Salsa Band and is in the process of recording the bands first digital album.

William "Billy" Rivera was born and raised in Gurabo Puerto Rico. It was in this environment that he was able to develop his artistic abilities; the effect was immeasurable. Billy will tell youth it was " en los campos" that he was first inspired to draw and paint. As these talents matured, he began to utilize them as his primary source of self-expression. With an ardent desire to further cultivate his gifts, Billy left Puerto Rico to attend the art schools of Chicago in 1989. Chicago presented great opportunities for learning, and it was there that Billy began to nurture his passion for music. This passion grew as he apprenticed with some of the local popular Salsa groups in the city. Billy began as a percussionist and later became a back up vocalist. His wide vocal range and smooth voice created high demand to back up Artist from the Salsa genre. Artist such as Alberto"El Canario," Ismael Miranda, Tony Vega, Lalo Rodriguez and countless others. Currently Billy has joined the Trabuco Salsa Band and will be releasing a single that is in the works for early spring 2024.