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Sonora Los Fantasticos are an up-and-coming salsa band dedicated to the perfect execution of traditional “salsa dura”. This band is deeply rooted in the development of the image, culture and prestige of this classical afro-Caribbean art. But how did this phenomenon called Sonora Los Fantasticos begin? Here is a biographical look at a Fantastic story.
Eli Velazquez – Co-Director – Trumpet
A native of Santa Isabel Puerto Rico, Eli moved to New York City with his parents at a young age. He grew up in the Bronx as a boy became enamored with the trumpet. “I fell in love with the trumpet because it was a lead instrument and it sings”, says Velazquez. “I knew I couldn’t sing so for me this was the next best thing”, he continued. And so it began, the love hate relationship with his chosen instrument. With dedication and hard work Eli took lessons from a neighborhood musician and self-taught himself many popular numbers of the era –he was eleven years old.
Eli developed an appreciation for jazz and big band tropical music –yes this is before salsa; back then it was still called Son. He admired Vicentico Valdez, Daniel Santos, Tito Rodriguez; their image, their culture and their music. It became very clear that this was he wanted to do; to perform with that type of professionalism and execution.
During his Junior High School years Eli formed his first neighborhood band and performed in the school’s talent show and won not one but two trophies one as a group and one for originality for his performance of Summertime; a scene of things to come.
Fast forward a decade or two, and you’d find Eli living in Reading, PA. Eli became a family man, entrepreneur and community leader but also a musician. Eli immersed himself into the local music scene and quickly began playing as the only trumpet in conjuntos (sextets, quintets etc.). Through the help of veteran musicians of the area he learned to appreciate music from Sexteto Boriquen, Mario Hernandez and Johnny Pacheco. This music was lead by trumpets and they sang. Velazquez studied the patterns, the theory and the culture of this music and made it part of his playing style. Adrian Garcia co-Director of Sonora Los Fantasticos says, “If you like Harry James then you’ll love Eli Velazquez, he has the same richness in tone and vibrato; no one plays like that anymore”
In the 1980’s Eli performed with a well-known regional band, Orquesta La Libertad for five years before putting together his own band called Conjunto Tropical. Eli held that band together and performed with them for twelve years until his departure due to family and business priorities.
In 1996 Eli decided to put together a sextet made up of a guitar, bass, conga, bongo, a vocalist and one trumpet; the name of the sextet was Los Fantasticos. This was the beginning of the dream for Eli. He had put this group together to perform and educate all cultures about the richness of afro-Caribbean music. Los Fantasticos performed in local pubs for Cinco de Mayo Celebrations and Hispanic Heritage Month events.
Then in 2003 the other half of this dynamic duo joined Los Fantasticos; enter Adrian Garcia.
Adrian Garcia – Co-Director, Trumpet
Adrian Garcia is a songwriter, arranger, composer (of sorts), musician and band leader. Born in Bridgeport CT and raised between Puerto Rico and Central PA, it is very easy to hear the cultural synergies of these two worlds come together through his playing. He began playing at eight years of age. During that time Herb Alberts "live" was all the rage and its all he needed to hear to realize what he was destined to play.
Through the years he has participated in all types of musical formats including drum corps. At the age of 17 he joined the first of many salsa bands that he would play with called Sabor Latino (Latin Flavor), where he was lead trumpet and assisted in the musical arrangements. The list of bands he has played with is long and eclectic. Latin rhythms like the Cha-Cha-Cha, Salsa, Merengue, Boogaloo, Bolero, Mariachi have remained a big part of his music but his love for the Blues, Funk, Jazz and Old School R&B round off his musicianship and his overall personality.
Most recently Adrian had collaborated with hot Salsa phenomenon Luisto Rosario by writing the only original song, Ella No Es La Culpable, featured on his first self titled solo album. He has continued to compose and arrange despite his busy schedule as Co- Musical Director of Sonora Los Fantasticos. Adrian is also a freelance trumpet flugelhorn player and his credits include playing for Dominic, Adalberto Santiago, Giro, Luisito Rosario, Orquesta Ache, Grupo Balance and others.
Adrian met Eli in 1996 at a community event. They began talking music and eventually discovered they had one important thing in common; they both played trumpet. At the time they spoke about playing together and even spoke about the style of music they would play but, shortly after meeting Adrian was transferred to Virginia and he remained there for six years
Upon returning in 2003 the duo got together to formulate the sound that you have come to know as Sonora Los Fantasticos. Eli’s passion for the rich classic sound of the Son and Adrian’s dedication to the fusion of jazz progressions into new arrangements style have come together to form the sound that is sweeping the world. It’s all about the music, the culture, the image and you –the fan.
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Sonora Los Fantasticos's Friend Space (Randomized)
Aloha and Thanks for adding us! Wishing you and yours all the best always! Saludos from Honolulu-Hawaii Para todos! Viva La Musica Latina Mundial! Rolando Sanchez
Gracias hermano!! How you been? It's been almost 2 years since we've spoken? How is the band and the music? We definitely gotta catch up! God bless! Abrazos!
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