Michael Anthony Gallegos: Lead Singer
michaelg@orquestasalsarengue.com
Michael has been performing on stage since the age of twelve when he was singing backup vocals for his father Adalberto. Michael was born in San Antonio, Texas where he recorded on projectsfor Elizabeth Gutierrez and Texas Fire, Velasquez music and Adalberto's "Para todos" album. Michaelhas also performed with Descarga, Latino Solido and is currently singing lead vocals for "Salsarengue". Following his father's footsteps, he hopes to record albums and perform around the world..
Leslie Mejia : Singer
lesliem@orquestasalsarengue.com
Leslie is an active vocalist in the Tucson community, having appeared with several of the area's finest Tejanos bands, including Incognito, Velocity and Ritmo Tejano. Beside her work with "Salsarengue", she sings regulary at the Hilton El Conquistador "Last Territory Restaurant" and has rendered the National Anthem several times for the Diamond Backs triple- A team , The Tucson Sidewinders.
Tony Thomas : Timbales, Singer
tony@orquestasalsarengue.com
Tony, A native of Panama City, Panama, began playing percussion at th early age of 13 in locals bands back in Panama. In the early 80's he join the United States Air Force which brought him here to Tucson, where he has since made his home. A self taught percussinist, he has had the privilege to perform in several Tucson area bands such as Highrise, Brotherhood, Caramba, Descarga and many more. As manager and timbalero of "Salsarengue" , he is ready to take it to the next level..
Kelland Thomas : Saxophone
kellandt@orquestasalsarengue.com
Kelland is a Professor of Music and Director of the Camerata Program at the University of Arizona. He as performed throughout the United States and in Canada, Europe and Japan, and has played behind such greats as Marcus Belgrave, Louis Bellson, Donald Walden, Reggie Workman, Jimmy Heath and the four Tops. He serves as the Musical Director for "Salsarengue".
Ray Arroyo : Bass
raya@orquestasalsarengue.com
Born and raised in Brooklyn , New York, Latin music has always been in Ray's blood. His parents are native of Puerto Rico, and grew up listening to the early rythms of Mambo, Pachanga, Boleros, Merengues and the music we now call Salsa. He has played with many Latin bands in the Phoenix area, and now is proud to lay down the funky and soulfull bass grooves that pin down "Salsarengue's sound.
Mike Wilkinson : Trombone
mikew@orquestasalsarengue.com
Mike has been playing the trombone for 19 years. He moved to Tucson 10 years ago to study trombone at the University of Arizona and decided to stay in the area after graduating. He has been performing Latin music for seven years with Descarga and was excited to help start another Latin venture with "Salsarengue". Besides also performing with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, various jazz groups, and traveling Broadway musicalsin town, he also teaches Band at Doolen Middle School, a job he has held since 1999. Besides being a musician and music teacher, he also enjoys the outdoors and is always daydreaming of his next backpacking trip.
Eddie Caro : Congas
eddiec@orquestasalsarengue.com
Eddie, is a Puerto Rican born in New York City. A self-taught percussionist, he is a 23 year veteran of the United States Air Force. While stationed in Almogordo, New Mexico, he performed with Phade, a smooth jazz quintet. After retirement, he moved to Tucson and joined the Latin jazz group Meztiso and later Descarga. With "Salsarengue" he is excited to bring a fresh new sound to the listeners and dancers of Tucson. Eddie is married to a beautiful woman and a father to three grown children.
Michael Harrison : Trumpet
michaelh@orquestasalsarengue.com
Michael, a native of Arizona and a University of Arizona graduate, has played trumpet in numerous musical settings around the state and country including The Tucson Symphony, Arizona Jazz Orchestra, Tucson pops Orchestra, Disney College All-Star Band in Anaheim in 2002, and a six month tour of the United States and Japan with The Glenn Miller Orchestra in 2003. He is currently the Director of Bands at Utterback Magnet Middle School in Tucson where is responsible for 180 students in five ensembles. He maintains his status as a professional musician by actively performing with "Salsarengue" and others such groups around the region.
Daniel "Sly" Slipetsky : Piano
sly@orquestasalsarengue.com
Sly, is a freelance pianist and tuba player who has happily made Arizona his home since 1997. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Sly began his piano studies at the age of eight and picked up the tuba at fourteen. He won first place in the Rich Matteson Jazz Competition at the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina in the summer of 2002. Sly has and continues to successfully earn his living strictly by performing solo and in various ensembles throughout Tucson and the Southwest. In January of 2003 , Sly teamed up with Enrique "Hank" Feldman to forma duo that specializes in "ethnic jazz". Their first album, "Vida Rica", was released in the summer of 2005.
