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Orlando Vega, a New Jersey native, was already playing
congas
at the age of four with his father, Wilmer Vega. Wil also taught his son to play
bongos
and when Orlando was 12, bought him his first
LP instrument -
a pair of Matador bongos.
Soon Orlando was playing with his father's band, "Will Vega & Friends," and at 15 he
joined a local band, "Son Latino."
At 18 Orlando hit the New York scene playing bongos with
Eddie Palmieri.
Since then, he's been with
Huey Dunbar, Charlie Cruz, Justo Betancourt, Luisito Carrion, Cano Estremera, Brenda K. Starr, and
others. "I love to play Salsa and Latin Jazz music," he states, "and I'm planning to
branch out to Pop and R&B." His playing not only displays incredible chops but taste.
He is best known for his bongo playing but is equally at home on congas.
After his father, Orlando's sources of influences include
Tito Puente,
Johnny Rodriguez, Jr.,
Jose "Juicy" Jusino,
Little Johnny Rivero,
Jimmy Delgado,
Carlos "Patato" Valdez,
and of course, master conguero Giovanni Hidalgo.
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