Eliot Torres profile picture

Eliot Torres

I'm Back..and it's still all about the groove!!!

About Me

Born in East Chicago to Puerto Rican parents, Eliot Torres was raised with Latin music surrounding him. He got his first drum kit as a Christmas present when he was 4-years-old, but played it so hard that he demolished it within 24 hours. He spent most of his childhood thereafter banging on makeshift drum kits made out of boxes, pots and pans. Throughout his youth, Eliot attended an all Spanish church that was rich with percussion. On Sundays, all the children had a salsa bell or a set of bongos and played along with worship. This taught him that music is an important expressive outlet. Although music was always part of Eliot, he didn’t take it seriously as a career until he was 22. He moved from Chicago to Austin, Texas where music is a way of life. He started attending a church with a large worship team, but noticed that the congas were not being played. Eliot decided to give them a try. He started playing the rhythms he had heard as a kid and found that it came quite naturally to him. The professional band Salvador heard Eliot play and they were impressed. After a mere six months of playing percussion, Salvador approached him with an offer to become their percussionist. Eliot has been Salvador’s percussionist on & off for over nine years now and recorded five albums and a live DVD with them. He still travels with Salvador and Jaci Velasquez and enjoys playing the music he loves.ELIOT IS ENDORSED BY
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/21/2008
Band Members: Eliot also has been blessed to play with many other artists such as:Two time Billboard Award winner, multiple Dove Award winner, multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominee- Jaci Velasquez. *Aaron Winters* *Anthony Evans* *Akil Thompson* *Amy Grant* *Billy Graham* *Brandon Fraley* *Chris Rodriguez* *Courtney Jaye* *DeSol* *Disney’s “Night of Joy” *Franklin Graham* *Grady Nichols* *Harvest Crusade* *John Gibson* *Jason Eskridge* *Kate Taylor* *Kirk Whalam* *Liquid* *Promise Keepers* *Rachael Lampa* *Republican National Convention with Jaci Velasquez (2004)* *Ronnie Laws of Earth Wind and Fire* *Sharif Iman* *Space Capone* *Shoutfest* *Steve Means* *Teen Mania* *Tracy Root* *The Katinas* *The Maranatha Praise and Worship Team* *Third Day* *Victory World Outreach* *Waldo Weathers of the James Brown Band*Arranged and played percussion on the following chart-topping singles:“Breathing Life” Salvador (Top 5- 2002) “Crucified” Salvador (Top 5- 2001) “Cry Holy” Salvador (Top 15- 2001) “Lord, I Come Before You” Salvador (Top 15- 2000) “Lord, I Come Before You” Salvador video ( 1- 2000)Awards/Nominations:Won Dove Award for Spanish Language Album of the Year (2004) Nominated for Latin Billboard Award for Latin Christian/Gospel Album Of The Year (2004) Nominated for Latin Billboard Award for Best Latin Gospel Album (2003) Nominated for Dove Award for Best Short Form Music Video (2001)Recorded and arranged percussion on the following projects: Aaron Winters (2007) Abigail Johnson (2006) Kate Taylor (2006) Liquid- Tales from the Badlands (Gotee Records 2006) The Katinas- The Katinas Family Christmas (2004) The Katinas- The Roots DVD (Gotee Records 2004) Family Christian Stores- A Very Sentimental Warm & Cozy Christmas (2003) Mike Barnet (2003) Salvador- Live Worship CD/DVD (Warner Bros. 2003) Salvador- Into Motion (Word Records 2002) Salvador- Self-titled (Myrrh Records 2000) Salvador- Live in Austin Video/CD (Myrrh Records 1999) Threads Video/DVD (Word Entertainment 1999)Youth Impact (1998)Recorded percussion on the following albums:Salvador- Con Poder (Warner Bros. 2003)Women of Faith (Word Records 2007)Print media :Houston Chronicle (2003) CCM Magazine (cover, July 2002) Word Music (cover, 2002) True Believer (cover, summer 2000) Austin Chronicle (2000) Billboard Magazine (numerous times)Independent Musician Publications:Modern Drummer Magazine for Meinl Percussion (numerous times) Modern Drummer Magazine for Audix Microphones (numerous times) CCM Magazine for Audix Microphones (numerous times)Broadcasted Media:Lightening 100 Live with Aaron Winters, Nashville, TN Myspace Mixer 7: Females that Rock with Abigail Johnson TBN- Praise The Lord with The Katinas Arts and Entertainment Network with Jaci Velasquez 700 Club with Jaci Velasquez Hallmark- live concert from Disney’s “Night of Joy” with Salvador TBN- Praise the Lord with Salvador Day 7 with Salvador Real Videos with Salvador The Al Denson Show with Salvador
Influences: Eliot credits many musicians with influencing and inspiring him. These include: Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Luis Conte, Carlos “Patato” Valdez, Mongo Santamaria, Karl Perrazo, Raul Rekow and Alberto Salas. Eliot holds these musicians in high regard and calls them “pioneers and leaders of the Latin music industry.” He is thankful for their passion and dedication to music.
Sounds Like: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONSALVADOR WORSHIP LIVE
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Indie