F.ALEX BALLESTEROS -Band Director ,Vocals ,Percussion ,Piano
PABLO MARCELL - Congas, Vocals.
JASMINE BALLESTEROS-Vocals.
ADER VILORIA-Bass.
RAFAEL VILORIA-Piano.
JULIO ARAUJO-Bongo, Guiro, Bells.
CARMELO ZAES-Trumpet.
ANDREW TRAVERSE-Trumpet, Flugehorn.
MIKE BOWMAN-Trumpet
TONY GREAT-Tenor Sax
Influences
GRUPO NICHE(COLOMBIA)
GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO(PTO RICO)
SONORA CARRUSELES(COLOMBIA)
ORO SOLIDO(NEW YORK/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
BANDA GORDA(NEW YORK/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
OSCAR D' LEON(VENEZUELA)
LA MAQUINA(PUERTO RICO)
ELVIS CRESPO(PUERTO RICO)
CELIA CRUZ(CUBA)
CELINA(MEXICO)
AVENTURA(NEW YORK/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
Sounds Like
HEAVY SALSA, MERENGUE, CUMBIA, BACHATA, BOLEROS, AND MORE
FUEGO LATINO , Biograph
Fuego Latino, is made up of musicians from Colombia, Puerto Rico, U.S, New York,Uruguay and plays a mix of tropical rhythms and songs to include, Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue & Bachata. The groups’ originator and founder is Alex Ballesteros a native of Cali, Colombia. Alex began playing professionally in his early teens and is both an accomplished piano and timbale player. One cold evening while working on music charts and musical ideas, he came upon the notion that there was a call for a different type of tropical style salsa band. A musical idea that could be set apart from the others, by offering a mixed repertoire, be uniquely identifiable and have a transcending musical appeal.
He put his plan into motion and met up with several other local musicians whom also shared similar interest, and ideas and began a series of rehearsals. A short time later the group made their debut on April 25 2003 to a packed house at Club Tropicali. The group created quite the “buzz” at this initial performance and was asked to do a monthly residency. The group quickly became a staple in the area and has performed numerous gigs at many of the local music clubs, festivals and private events.
Collectively the core members of FUEGO LATINO have played at some of the mid-west largest music festivals to include, Milwaukee’s “Summerfest,” Oshkosh “Waterfest,” Rockford’s “On the Waterfront, Milwaukee’s ”Fiesta Mexicana International,” Madison’s “Fiesta Hispana,” Rockford’s “Fiesta Hispana,” Quad Cities Hornucopia, St Paul’s “Concord St. Cinco De Mayo Festival,” Washington Island Performing Arts Center and in the Madison area they have performed at Dane Dances, Taste of Madison, Willamson St. Fair, Orton Park Festival, Mifflin St. Block Party, UW Madison “Latin Music Series,” just to name a few.
The groups’ influences include El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico, Sonora Carruseles, Fania All-Stars, Joe Arroyo, Fruko Y sus Tesos, Eddie Palmieri, Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Perez Prado, and have also shared the stage with such acclaimed artist as Grupo Niche, El Gran Combo, Poncho Sanchez, Chuchito Valdes, Rey Ruiz, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and David Clayton Thomas. Currently, the group is working on recording a CD and targeting a release date by mid-summer of 2008.THE ORQUESTA FUEGO LATINO , COMING WITH THE BEST LATIN MUSIC IN THE WORLD: SALSA,CUMBIA,MERENGUE,AND MORE.....CONTACT US : (608)-658-7763 (608)217-9878 MADISON,WI www.abentertainmentllc.com
