Rolando's Bio!

Rolando Sanchez Percussionist-Singer-Songwriter-Producer, actor, leader of Hawaii's Premiere, longest running, best selling Latin recording artist from Hawaii. 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 From Hawaii to the rest of the world.
With CDs sold internationally and the number of awards and accolades from the press, government, musical organizations and 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, Billy’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 the Timbales. Then it happened! Santana Band came out and proved to be the biggest inspiration for many Latin musicians in the Bay Area (the world) including Rolando. It seemed that Latin bands were performing everywhere:
Azteca, Malo, Sapo, Dakila, Grito, Solar, Bandido, Latin Bloods, 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 also some 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. Together with Adela Chu (Pianist/Dancer/Performer) formed a Latin band called MALASADA ELECTRICA, performing at community events, college campuses, and the world renowned Anna Banana’s Nightclub to capacity crowds. In 1988 he conceptualized his current band, SALSA HAWAII. Shortly after forming the band they landed an engagement on Sundays and Mondays at Trapper’s Nightclub in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The band’s success was evident as they played to capacity crowds. They soon hit the Waikiki circuit performing at the likes of The Captain’s Table Lounge, Holiday Inn Waikiki, Nick’s Fishmarket, Nicholas Nicholas, Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel Surfboard Lounge, Sheraton Waikiki’s Esprit Nightclub, Zanzabar, Hawaiian Hut, Planet Hollywood, All Star Café Hawaii, and many others throughout the islands, including two tours to the beautiful islands of Tahiti.
ROLANDO SANCHEZ & SALSA HAWAII released their first full cassette album "Rhythms of the Islands". Shortly thereafter, Cosmo Records contracted them for their first CD album release entitled "Ahora" (R.S.C.D. 1005). With this CD they won the awards for Best Latin Recording and Best Latin Vocalist at the HAWAII MUSIC AWARDS.
They acquired the award for Best Latin Music Video. The band has been featured in many television shows, specials and music videos in Hawaii and Tahiti, as well as numerous write-ups in National, International, and Local magazines, newspapers, trade magazines and periodicals. For the last 20 years, they have accumulated an astounding collection of awards, certificates of recognition, and proclamations for example: Hawaii Music Awards Pele Award of Excellence Latin Battle of the Bands Waikiki Ho’olaule’a (Plaque of Appreciation) State of Hawaii Martin Luther King Jr. Commission Award Certificate of Commendation from the Office of the Governor Community Service Award – City & County of Honolulu Certificate of Appreciation – Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Appreciation – House of Representatives, State of Hawaii 1990 – 1999 ASCAP Songwriter Awards 1997 John Lennon Songwriter Certificate for Top 50 Original Song And many more other Proclamations, Awards and Certificates of Achievements presented to Mr. Rolando Sanchez through the last 26 years.
During this period the Rolando has also shared the stage with local, national, and international recording artists of many genres: Mariachi del Sol, Joe Henderson, Michael Franks, Eddie Palmieri, Orquesta De La Luz, The Mamas & The Papas, Sting, Crystal Gayle, Jazz Crusaders, Tito Puente, Pete and Sheila E., to name a few.
He also performed for the 1998 Miss Universe Pageant Coronation Ball at the new and beautiful Hawaii Convention Center and the boat cruise party for all of the contestants which was featured on the Miss Universe special on cable’s channel E!.
Rolando appeared on episodes of the three national TV shows shot in Hawaii: "Jake & The Fatman" “One West Waikiki" “Off The Map” also the movie "Fist of Steel" starring Alexis Arguello and Carlos Palomino.
As a producer, Rolando has been promoting Latin music in the islands on the radio on stage and by creating events such as the world renowned HAWAII INTERNATIONAL LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL which has been a mainstay for the last 26 years, featuring Latin music bands and artists from around the world. 2007 festival will be held May 19th in the Hibiscus Ballroom at the Ala Moana Hotel. Some of the musical guests who have appeared at the Festival include: Chepito Areas, Danilo, and Mario Sanchez (from the San Francisco Bay area), Son Reinas (Japan), Carmen Jimenez (New York), Emilia (Japan), Sabrina (Hawaii). Orquesta La Palabra (Cuba-LA), and many other local , national and international artists, he co-produced the Cinco de Mayo Latin Music and Dance Concert celebrating May 5th ( Cinco De Mayo) at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu featuring "The King of Latin Music" Tito Puente and his orchestra. Also appearing Pete Escovedo and his orchestra featuring Sheila E. and Hawaii’s own Latin dance band: Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii.
In 1998, the band signed a recording contract with MGC Records and released three CDs produced by RSC Productions Hawaii.
"Ten Years of Salsa" (MGC 1023) – a compilation of songs recorded in the last decade. "Bridging the World" (MGC 1024) – to commemorate the 1998 Hawaii International Latin Music Festival. "Hawaii Latino" (MGC 1027) – the newest release receiving rave reviews worldwide. “Salsa Hawaii” (EUCD 1575) The International release from ARC Music Inc. from the UK. This CD received many great reviews from music trade magazines around the WORLD! “Salsa from Hawaii” Produced by Rolando Sanchez for Quiet Storm Records, featuring the music of local Latin music bands in Hawaii, this CD was released in 2002.
In 2007 Rolando is releasing a compilation CD to commemorate his 20 years of playing, producing and making Latin Music in Hawaii.
All CD’s feature a variety of Latin styles such as Latin Jazz, Salsa, Merengue, Ballads, Cha-Cha and more. In addition to his own recordings, he has been the featured guest percussionist on more than a dozen CDs from various local, national, and international recording artists. If you come to Honolulu, Hawaii make sure you contact us so you can catch their performances live at many of the top nightclubs and concerts around the Islands.
Anyone who knows Rolando knows that he always strives to grow both musically and spiritually and shares this with all who come into contact with him. Rolando Sanchez is a musician that surpasses the boundaries of traditional sounds, using a mixture of both Latin Jazz and Latin Rock. Playing his timbales and congas in a mystifying and enchanting beat, his audience goes wild, dancing uncontrollably to his music. His music is alive and contagious, containing something pleasing to all musical tastes. Rolando Sanchez and Salsa Hawaii is exhilarating…stimulating…energizing…intensifying!! (COSMO RECORDS)
We would like to thank all Latin-Jazz-Salsa music lovers and dancers from all around the World who have enjoyed watching, listening and dancing to our band’s music for all these years, thank you so much for all your support!!
For more information on the band, events and bookings or CDs, please contact us directly:
RSC Music Productions Hawaii Phone: 808-342-0911
Email: sanchezr015@hawaii.rr.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rolandosanchez
RSC Music Productions Honolulu Hawaii Who I'd like to meet: You and You and You! Musicians, family, fans, friends, songwriters, promoters, dancers, producers, record companies and anyone that loves our styles of Latin-Jazz-Salsa
NEW CD NOW AVAILBLE!! “VAMONOS DE FIESTA ~~ LET’S GO PARTY”
Sophisticated new Latin Music from Hawaii!!