Edwin Bonilla

Here's another salsa treat coming to Toronto that you probably don't want to miss... my favourite song from this artists is "Si Tu No Vienes No Bailas" and since I couldn't find a clip of this song, I did find one of his latest hits, click here to listen to his latest hit, plus the latest top 10 salsa songs.

EDWIN BONILLA
Performer, Producer, & Composer

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, of Puerto Rican families from the Central Highlands of the island. He was only four years old when his family moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey where he grew up. Aside from the Puerto Rican "jíbaro" (countryside music), his parents often played at home, he listened to Motown, R&B, and Rock during his preteen years. At 11 years of age, Bonilla began to pay more attention to the music of New York figures such as Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colón, and the rest of the emerging Salsa groups. The process of self-learning timbales started at 13 years of age. Within a year he was already playing professionally with a trio that mostly played "jíbaro" music in New Jersey which eventually led to work with Salsa bands. Turning15 years old Bonilla started playing with a local band called Orquesta Sónica that featured, two youngsters who are well known today, Jimmy Bosch on trombone and Herman Oliveras on vocals. While playing with several different groups, Bonilla studied at the Drummers Collective in New York City. In 1981, he joined the Charanga Casino. They were extremely popular throughout the North American Northeast and Miami during the early 1980's. Bonilla’s experiences in the Charanga Casino led to his advanced knowledge of Cuban music. During this time he was exposed to Afro-Cuban rhythms through the frequent jams, Santería, and Afro-Cuban religious gatherings among the large Cuban population in Elizabeth. By then, Bonilla was into Cuban septets, traditional or "típico" ensembles, Orquesta América, Arcaño y sus Maravillas, Chapottín, Beny Moré, the Cuban jam sessions, Orquesta Aragón, Los Papines, Cachao, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, and other similar groups and figures. While performing with the Charanga Casino he caught the eye of Hansel Martínez, who invited him to join him and Raúl, whereupon Bonilla moved to Miami in 1987.

Since then, his development as one of the world's premiere percussionists of its kind can be traced through his ever-growing resume. As a percussionist practitioner and player of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, Bonilla has always been in close touch with rhythmic patterns of the world. His music experiences include Jazz, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Indian, Rock, Caribbean, Brazilian, Soca, and Pop. Edwin Bonilla recorded over 500 projects and has done continuous studio work for the last 12 years, including videos (e.g. Gloria Estefan), advertising jingles, and movie scores. These recording projects have allowed him the opportunity to play Timbales, Congas, Bongos, Trap Drums, along with many other African, Ethnic, and Brazilian percussion instruments. His first solo album “Edwin y su Son” was released on July 8, 99 and “Edwin Bonilla Soy la Candela “ his 2nd album was released on March 14, 2002.

The following list reflects the nature and scope of some of the bands and artists, he has performed with throughout the years and is currently working with; Gloria Estefan (for the past 10 years), Edwin Bonilla y su Son, Israel Lopez Cachao, Florida Philharmonic, Stevie Wonder, Hansel y Raul, Nestor Torres, Miami Sound Machine, Eddy “ Guagua “ Rivera and Dominion, and a lots of session work.

Of Edwin Bonilla’s 1000 recording projects, the following is just a sampling of some of the most important to date: Gloria Estefan-Grammy Award Winner, Madonna, Dave Grusin, ‘N Sync, Julio Iglesias, Jose Feliciano, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle, Celine Dion, Bellamy Brothers, Thalia, India, Lenny Kravitz, Shakira, Quincy Jones-Jook Joint-Grammy Award Winner, Barrio Boys, Frank Sinatra-Duet II-Grammy Award Winner, Jose Luis Rodriguez (El Puma), Jon Secada-Amor-Grammy Award Winner, Franco de Vita, Arturo Sandoval-Hot House-Grammy Award Winner, Carlos Ponce, Roberto Blades-Grammy Award Winner 2002 (Encore), Manhattan Transfer, Israel Lopez (Cachao), Gypsy Kings, Mark Anthony, Jerry Rivera, Alejandro Fernandez, Alexandre Pires, Juan Luis Guerra, Paulina Rubio, Ricky Martin, Lucero, Jennifer Lopez, Nestor Torres-Grammy Award Winner 2002-This Side of Paradise-, No Mercy, Azucar Moreno, Eric Burne, Hansel y Raul, Tito Puente Jr., Roberto Torres, Monguito el Unico, Charanga Casino, Wilfredo Vargas, and Shalim Ortiz.

In the end, Edwin’s desires as a performer, producer, and composer, are fulfilled through honesty and care for his audience. It is precisely because of such attention to his following that he is so eager to produce good music above all.

(Bio compliments of Picante Xpress Latin Entertainment Magazine).

Click here to find out more about this artist:

Congaheard.com article on Edwin Bonilla
Latin Percussion article on Edwin Bonilla