Georgie Padilla

THIS IS HOW IT ALL STARTED...

I was Born in Manhattan New York On July 14, 1960 and while I was growing I didn't expect being part of the Latin Music History. All my family agreed that the Passion for music started since I was born. According to my sister, I use to bang at almost everything that had sound. Also, when my mother use to put me in the tub for a bath, I use to hit the water so hard that I stayed naked in the tub with no water. My sister resolved the problem in a way that my father never agreed, she bought me a pair of bongos and the situation of banging everything in the house finished for once and for all.

I don't remember this story too much, but when I arrived to Puerto Rico I got for Christmas a pair of congas and a pair of bongos and that's the moment that I started to practice. My Brother Cele (Junior) showed me some salsa rhythms in which I started to practice by my self. By that time I met my old friends "Little"Johnny Rivero and Jessie Colon in a Rumba in Guayanilla. Also, I met the Navas Bros. (Tuin, Edwin and Freddie) in School, they were natural percussionists. My first musical opportunity was given by Berty Rodriguez, founder of Berty Sound Audio. He was going to do a rehearsal with a local group call El Son De Hoy. He didn't want to rehearse because he wasn't a conga player, so I went and stayed in the group. After that I was invited to a lot of rehearsals with other groups near my hometown. In one of those rehearsals I met Edgardo Arlequín, who was the School Band Teacher and now the Mayor Of Guayanilla. By that time I was playing already with a couple of groups around and wasn't interested in joining the School Band, but Mr Arlequín ask if I read music which I said - No, so, we made some arrangements for the Music sight-reading Classes and started in the Band as a Drummer and percussionist. From that School Band came out some great musicians like Edwin Echevarría, Angel Torres, Eduardo Toro, Miriam Cobián, Perfecto García, Tito Lugo, Harry "Teo" Rios, Israel Díaz, Ito Torres, Angie Maldonado and others. in 1976 I worked for Sonora Matancera's trumpet player Nelson Feliciano and after that I worked for his uncle Kito Vélez (r.i.p.) former 1rst. trumpet player and arranger for Cortijo y su Combo and El Gran Combo.

In 1978 I started the Bachelor Degree Studies in Musical Education in the Inter-American University In San Germán. Two year after I started working with Elías Lopés y Co. and worked in the Puertorrican Jazz recording. By that time, I Left studies and continue working as a full time musician. In 1983 I worked for Saxofones de Mayaguez and for the Frankie Ruiz Orch. Later on I worked for Amilcar Boscán, Isla Bonita Orch. José Nogueras and Pupy Santiago.

1n 1990 I joined Kike and Papo Lucca's Sonora Ponceña. Papo was the first person who gave me the opportunity to arrange for La Ponceña. Knowing the responsibility of being Ponceñas arranger I had to study Papo's way of orchestrating and the Ponceña's sound to keep the same style. Thank You Papo for believing in my work! In 1995 I left Ponceña and went back to finish my Bachelor Degree in Musical Education. Since I was studying, I prefer to stay freelancing. I worked for Orlando Collado, Miguel Antonio, Danny Rivera, Lucecita Benitez, Andrés Jiménez, working in recording as a percussionist and arranger for Jerry Rivera, Choco Orta, Guianko, Primera Clase, Ricardo Vizuete, Roberto Blades, Tito Gomez, Maelo Ruiz, Anthony Cruz, Hector Tricoche, Pedro De Jesús, Jandy Feliz, Wendell Rivera Latin Jazz, Eddie Perales Latin Jazz, Nelson Colón, David y Abraham, Alex D'Castro, Quique López and more.

In 1997 I met Bobby Cruz and started working for him, then, in 1999 Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz decided to join and do a Concert in The Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón and since then I still work for them. Also I worked for Cheo Feliciano, Quique Domenech, Tony Croatto (r.i.p.), Alex Croatto and Hector Ivan y Espiritu de Barrio (coming out soon!). I finish my Bachelor Degree In Arts with concentration in Music Education, Percussion, Coral Methods and Arranger and Orchestration. I have seven years in Teaching experiences, director of a High School Music Band and now working on my first recording production as a solo artist.

AND AFTER ALL THIS... IN THE NAME OF GOD THERE IS MORE TO COME!