Salsa Hawaii – Hot Hawaii Salsa

Born in Masaya, Nicaragua, to a musically artistic family; his father, an accomplished songwriter, pianist, and singer. His mother also played piano and sang as with most of his immediate family. His musical influence began at a very young age playing drums with neighborhood kids emanating the music of the time (i.e.: Beatles, Trini Lopez, Paul Anka, etc.).

In his early teens he began listening to more Latin music styles, which formed the basis for his music today. The bands that influenced him at the time were Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Billy’s Caracas Boys, Sonora Matanzera, Sonora Santanera, Daniel Santos, and a Nicaraguan band Los Satelites del Ritmo.

In the late 60s, the family relocated to San Francisco, California where he grew up and truly realized that music was to be his life. The music scene in the Bay Area at this time was very diverse. He delved in all the different styles. During that time, Latin music was beginning to blossom and all kinds of Latin-style bands such as The Aliens, Latin Bloods, Los Beamers, Bandido, Unidad 77, and Limbo began to play in and around the Bay Area. Cesar’s Club was THE place to be to experience the best Latin musicians (Pete and Coke Escovedo, Roger Glenn, Luis Gazca, Pablo Telles, Victor Pantoja, Francisco Aguabella, Carmelo Garcia) performing live. That’s when Rolando realized his passion for Latin music and particularly Timbales.

Then it happened!
Santana Band came out and proved to be the biggest inspiration for all Latin musicians in the Bay Area (the world) including Rolando. It seemed that Latin bands were coming out of the woodwork: Azteca, Malo, Sapo, Dakila, and Salsa De Berkeley to name a few. He played with different bands in San Francisco’s Latin music scene and shortly thereafter, decided it was time to start his own band. Called SOLAR, they played a mixture of Latin rock and Latin jazz fusion. Rolando and his brother Mario (still playing congas with Bay Area bands) were also some of the guys hanging out at Dolores Park in the Mission District playing congas and timbales along with such notables as Raul Rekow, Karl Perazzo, Chepito Areas, Carlos Badia, John Santos, and many other well-known Bay Area Latin percussion artists of today.

His band gained popularity and started playing the circuit where he met and befriended such artists as Pete and Sheila E. and Master Armando Peraza who helped develop his affinity for percussions. While playing in the Bay Area, SOLAR was billed with bands like Azteca, Azuquita, Sapo, Cal Tjader, Cesar’s All-Star Band, Willie Bobo, and others. After their break-up, he formed the band SUNSMOKE together with his uncle, Freddie Velasquez, who had just returned to the Bay Area from touring the country with the Phil Driscoll Band. SUNSMOKE quickly became well-known in the Bay Area and they toured the west coast and Canada where they opened for blues master B.B. King and performed at the Canadian Rock Festival with bands from all over the world.

After a couple of very busy years, including recording some demos for major record labels, they broke up and Rolando spent some time in Los Angeles checking out the music scene there. Upon returning to the Bay Area, he joined MESSIAH, one of the hottest Funk/Gospel/Rock/Disco bands. Their hit single, “Get Up On Your Feet and Dance”, became a hit in the disco scene. MESSIAH then went on to Japan where they enjoyed instant success and toured for 4 months. Shortly after their return, the band broke up and The Rolando Sanchez Band was born. Composing and writing his own material, Rolando released his first single cassette with two original songs, “She’s the Lady” and “Cold Hearted Woman”. “She’s the Lady” was made into a music video shown on local stations on both east and west coasts at the very beginning of the MTV movement. It featured some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians including vocalist Jo Baker (Elvin Bishop Band). After being in the Bay Area for nearly 20 years, Rolando felt the need for a change of pace in his life. In 1984, he visited his sister in Hawaii and the rest, as they say, is history.

Not long after arriving in Honolulu, Rolando decided to make it his home and the place where he would throw his musical fate to the wind. His very first musical engagement in Honolulu was at the Waikiki Shell with one of Hawaii’s hottest singer/songwriters of that year, Mr. Audy Kimura, in celebration of 25 Years of Statehood. This made it all the more clear to him that he was in the right place. Together with Adela Chu (Pianist/Dancer/Performer) formed a Latin band called MALASADA ELECTRICA, performing at community events, college campuses, and the world renowned Anna Banana’s Nightclub to capacity crowds. In 1988 he conceptualized his current band, SALSA HAWAII. Shortly after forming the band they landed an engagement on Sundays and Mondays at Trapper’s Nightclub in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The band’s success was evident as they played to capacity crowds. They soon hit the Waikiki circuit performing at the likes of The Captain’s Table Lounge, Holiday Inn Waikiki, Nick’s Fishmarket, Nicholas Nicholas, Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel Surfboard Lounge, Sheraton Waikiki’s Esprit Nightclub, Zanzabar, Hawaiian Hut, Planet Hollywood, All Star Café Hawaii, and many others throughout the islands, including two tours to the beautiful islands of Tahiti. ROLANDO SANCHEZ & SALSA HAWAII released their first full cassette album “Rhythms of the Islands”. Shortly thereafter, Cosmo Records contracted them for their first CD album release entitled “Ahora” (R.S.C.D. 1005). With this CD they won the awards for Best Latin Recording and Best Latin Vocalist at the HAWAII MUSIC AWARDS. They acquired the award for Best Latin Music Video.

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The band has been featured in many television shows, specials and music videos in Hawaii and Tahiti, as well as numerous write-ups in National, International, and Local magazines, newspapers, trade magazines and periodicals.

For the last 20 years, they have accumulated an astounding collection of awards, certificates of recognition, and proclamations for example:

• Hawaii Music Awards
• Pele Award of Excellence
• Latin Battle of the Bands
• Waikiki Ho’olaule’a (Plaque of Appreciation)
• State of Hawaii Martin Luther King Jr. Commission Award
• Certificate of Commendation from the Office of the Governor
• Community Service Award City & County of Honolulu
• Certificate of Appreciation Hawaii Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Certificate of Appreciation House of Representatives, State of Hawaii
• 1990 – 1999 ASCAP Songwriter Awards
• 1997 John Lennon Songwriter Certificate for Top 50 Original Song
  …and many others.

During this period the band has also shared the stage with local, national, and international recording artists of many genres: Mariachi del Sol, Joe Henderson, Michael Franks, Eddie Palmieri, Orquesta De La Luz, The Mamas & The Papas, Sting, Crystal Gayle, Jazz Crusaders, Tito Puente, Pete and Sheila E., to name a few. They also performed for the 1998 Miss Universe Pageant Coronation Ball at the new and beautiful Hawaii Convention Center and the boat cruise party for all of the contestants which was featured on the Miss Universe special on cable’s channel E!. Rolando appeared on episodes of two national TV shows: “Jake and the Fatman” & “One West Waikiki”, also the movie “Fist of Steel” starring Alexis Arguello and Carlos Palomino.

As a producer, Rolando has been promoting Latin music in the islands by creating events such as the Latin Explosion Concert Series and the world renowned HAWAII INTERNATIONAL LATIN MUSIC FESTIVAL which has been a mainstay for the last 14 years, featuring Latin music bands and artists worldwide. Some of the musical guests who have appeared at the Festival include: Chepito Areas, Danilo, and Mario Sanchez (from the San Francisco Bay area), Son Reinas (Japan), Carmen Jimenez (New York), Emilia (Japan), Sabrina (Hawaii). Orquesta La Palabra, and many other local , national and international artists, he co-produced the Cinco de Mayo Latin Music and Dance Concert that took place May 5th at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu featuring “The King of Latin Music” Tito Puente and his orchestra. Also appearing is Pete Escovedo and his orchestra featuring Sheila E. and Hawaii’s own premiere Latin dance band, Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii.

Rolando is also currently producing the new Pop sounds of FLAVOR’Z a singing female duo from Japan, the CD single UNEXPECTED LOVE will be released in Hawaii and Japan in early 2002

In 1998, the band signed a recording contract with MGC Records and has since released three CDs produced by RSC Productions Hawaii.

“Ten Years of Salsa” (MGC 1023) – a compilation of songs recorded in the last decade.

“Bridging the World” (MGC 1024) – to commemorate the 1998 Hawaii International Latin Music Festival.

“Hawaii Latino” (MGC 1027) – the newest release receiving rave reviews worldwide.

“Salsa Hawaii” (EUCD 1575) International release ARC Music Productions. This CD received many great reviews from music trade magazines from all over the WORLD!

“Salsa from Hawaii“, Quiet Storm Records, featuring the music of the top Latin music bands in Hawaii, this CD will be released early 2002.

Both the originals and cover songs on their latest CD feature a variety of Latin styles such as Latin Jazz, Salsa, Merengue, Ballads, and Cha-Cha.

In addition to his own recordings, he has been the featured guest percussionist on more than a dozen CDs from various local, national, and international recording artists.

If you come to Honolulu, Hawaii make sure you contact us so you can catch their performances live at many of the top nightclubs and concerts around the Islands.

Anyone who knows Rolando, knows that he always strives to grow both musically and spiritually and shares this with all who come into contact with him. Rolando Sanchez is a musician that surpasses the boundaries of traditional sounds, using a mixture of both Latin Jazz and Latin Rock. Playing his timbales and congas in a mystifying and enchanting beat, his audience goes wild, dancing uncontrollably to his music. His music is alive and contagious, containing something pleasing to all musical tastes. Rolando Sanchez and Salsa Hawaii is exhilarating… stimulating… energizing… intensifying!!

The band would like to thank all Latin music lovers around the world ! !