Born August 16th, 1969 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pete Nieves’ first musical influences came from his father, Carlitos Nieves, Sr., who played timbales and bongo with many of the great Salsa bands in the early 1960’s and 70’s. Pete’s father would always take his young son to rehearsals and jam sessions, immersing Pete with the sounds of musical greats of Colon, Lavoe, Harlow, and Palmieri just to mention a few.
After the death of his mother in September 1990, Pete could only console himself behind congas. It would not be until November 1990 that Pete would continue his late father’s tradition and start playing percussion and studying at Boys Harbor Performing Arts Conservatory with Master Percussionist, Johnny Almendra. Pete was a fast learning student, learning how to play different Afro-Cuban rhythms, reading and attending the music work shops under the direction of Ramon Rodriguez and Louis Bauzo.
In 1992 Pete started playing in Johnnie Almendra’s band, Los Jovenes del Barrio and branching out playing on the “Cuchifrito Circuit†with Salsa artists: Luis Ogando, Van Lester, and Jerry Galante. In 1996, Pete went to Osaka, Japan for six months with the late Ernie Agosto y La Conspiracion, performing six nights a week at the Imperial Hotel’s club, Pata Pata de la Salsa. While in Japan, Pete taught percussion and jammed with local musicians and also attended a percussion clinic by Master Percussionist, Richie “Gajate†Garcia. Upon his return to the United States in September 1996, Pete got right back into the scene, freelancing and performing all over the tri-state area but it was in 1997 when things got really busy Pete. In that year, Pete was playing with DLG, Frankie Negron, and Luis Damon at the same time.
From that time on Pete has performed and traveled internationally with Salsa artists: Johnny Rivera, Domingo Quinones, Miles Peña, Brenda K. Starr, D’mingo, Jorge Luis, Kevin Ceballo, Charlie Cruz, Son By Four, Tito Puente, Jr., Michael Stuart, Obie Bermudez, Giro, Michel, Joe King, Ensalada de Pulpo, Rey Ruiz, and Latin Rock Group, Soulsa.
Currently, Pete is freelancing and working with many Dj’s in the clubs and entertainment companies at private functions, adding percussion to the club atmosphere. Pete’s set up consists of congas, bongos, timbales and minor percussion.
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