About Me
Hi My Name is Cesar Pena but my friends call me Oddy , my passion for music started from my very first days. At age three, I can remember telling my Mom, “I want to be a musician.†At age 5, I enrolled in lessons for classical guitar, and at age six, I performed my first concert. I continued playing and performing in local theaters in and around my home town until age 12, when I moved from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles to live with my Dad. Shortly thereafter, I began taking lessons for piano and Latin percussion, and by age 13, I had created my first classic rock band with four other musicians. I played the drum set and began leading televised performances as well as private party events. At age 16, I moved to Mexico City to continue my studies in music at the Nacional De Musica de Mexico school under professor Rogelio Barba. At age 17, I was creating computer music, and put together my second band named “WQ3†where I played percussion and piano. This time, the band played world music, Latin jazz and Tropical music. The band opened concerts for top artists with Mexico’s TELEVISA television. At age 19, I was working With TELEVISA with Mr. Tony Fox. We created the BOMBA LATINA Tropical music band, specializing in salsa, merengue, and merengue house music. I played percussion and piano and was involved with creating Tony Fox’ second original Tropical music CD. For the next four years with BOMBA LATINA, I performed in concerts and festivals along with other TELEVISA artists, including:
1995
Opening for CALO
1996
Dia De Los Billeteros, opening for JUAN GABRIEL (in JACOBVO SALBRUDOSQUI’s restaurant, Torito,)
TEATRO FERROCARRILERO, opening for GARIVALDI, ANGELICA VALE, and RAUL VALE, Reina De Los Billeteros, opening for PATRICIA NAVIDAD
Palacio Mundial Del Las Ferias, various event openings for MR PACO STANLEY
Festival ACAPULCO EN LA PLAYA, concert performance
Various popular Mexico City clubs, including MENEO , AZUCAR, EL CINE , and MONTANA
1997
Reina De Los Billeteros, opening for THALIA
Loteria Nacional Para La Acistencia public events in Mexico City, all opening performances for main event artists including Palacio Mundial De Las Ferias, Rio Roja, Salon De Sorteos, and Torito
Festival Acapulco En La Playa, concert performance
In 1998, I began performing as a Latin percussionist outside of BOMBA LATINA as follows:
1998 to 1999
Miami local salsa clubs as a free agent with various local bands and musicians
2000
Ensenada, Mexico Mundo Y Su Calle 42 TROPICANA Show (from Cuba,)
2001
San Francisco local Latin jazz clubs as a free agent with various local bands and musicians
San Diego CD recording with UN SOLO SON
2001 to 2002
In San Diego, Lester Alvarez, Rafael Meneses And Me created CUBANEXPLOSION, traditional and contemporary Cuban music, 10 piece orchestra ,we were Luky to have the Best Manegers MarK Blutlner and Joe Bacaycay together we
Recorded CUBANEXPLOSION CD and performed in various local clubs, festivals and concerts such as San Diego Street Scene 2001 and 2002; Festival CALLE 10 opening for Japan Orquestra Son Reynas; East County Performing Arts opening for AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS; live television performances on local Channels 6, 51, and 10; opening at the 2002 CD presentation for Eleias at CECUT, Tijuana, Mexico;
Bongo and Conga studio recording for CLAITON CD
2003 to 2004
Played with LOS GUAJIROS DE CUBA in various salsa clubs in Baja California, Mexico
TEATRO DE ENSENADA concert
Dia Del Vino concert
Percussionist for Televicion Azteca artist CECILIA GARCIA AMARO at Vinera PEDRO DOMEC concert, Vinera L. ACHETO concert, and CENTRO CULTURAL TIJUANAconcert
2005
Percussionist for Sona Nueva
Percussionist for LOS GEMELOS DE ALQUIMIA, including concert performances in Anaheim and San Diego, California
2005 to Present
Percussionist for San Diego ORQUESTA PRIMO, performing World Music, Latin Jazz, salsa, merengue, cha, cha, cha, cumbia, and rigatone
With PRIMO, performed in various San Diego and Los Angeles clubs, festivals and concerts; opened for top Latin artists, including CACHAO, PONCHO SANCHEZ, and WILLFRIDO VARGAS; and more. performed on local televisions Channels 6 and 51; awarded the 2007 Jim Croce’s Annual Award for the Best Latin Jazz band of San Diego; San Diego Orchesta PRIMO Con Amor CD recording, which includes my original composition “Embarcadoraâ€:)Fiesta Del Sol Concert
RITMO CALIENTEOrquesta Primo
MAMBO SALVAJEDay In The Park