Gumbi Ortiz and the Latino Projekt
Gulfport, FL
Latin/Afro-Cuban Music

     At an early age Gumbi Ortiz was immersed in the musical traditions of his Afro-Cuban heritage. His Cuban mother and Puerto Rican father immigrated to America in the 1905s; there he was exposed to the ritual drumming of the Santeria ceremonies in his parent's Bronx “Nuyorica” apartment. He learned conga from his cousins and, by age 11, he started playing with Latin bands.   Soon he was playing with all of the great Latin bands, including Tito Puente to Charlie Palmieri who performed in and around New York City.   When his family moved to Florida, he continued to play with the many Cuban groups.   In the late 1980s he joined guitarist Al DiMeola and has since toured regularly him. In the late '90s Ortiz created the Latino Projekt, a way of blending his love for Cuban street music and his love for the new Cuban music known as timba.   Of the group Ortiz said that at first "It was just some guys in my garage who wanted to learn to play Cuban music. They were my friends, just kids. They wanted to learn to put this Cuban vibe into their own bands."
              Tampa native Johnny Z (drums) grew up with the surroundings of Latino culture and has played with various world-beat groups.   Johnny met Gumbi in 1996 and began to apprentice with him and in 2004 officially joined the Latin Projekt. Puerto Rican native and son of baseball hall of famer Orlando Cepeda, Hector Mayoral (vocals) fell in love with music at an early age and remembers listening to local groups such as El Gran Combo & Sonora Ponceña when he was only 8 or 9 years old.   When his family moved to Burbank, California, he began to take percussion lessons from bandleader Rudy Regalado, a friend of the family.   His music involvement continued when the family moved to Florida and he has recently switched to vocals with Latin Projekt.
              Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Brooklyn, Rolando “Ray” Olan (vocals and percussion) started his musical journey at 11 years old playing guitar with a Latin band called the Young Lads. He was inspired by his father who played with trios like Los Sanchez and Daniel Santos, the first guaracha bands Olan ever heard. After moving to the Big Apple he started chaperoning his older sisters to Latin dances where he was band boy for groups like Tito Puente, Eddie & Charlie Palmeri, Ray Barretto and Richie Ray.   A graduate of Hoftsra University, he has found regular work in Florida playing music, teaching musical theater, and directing children's educational programs. Born and raised in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Carlos Ocasio (Cuban flute) remembers many early music experiences with his family and friends, including the annual Christmas caroling ( parrandas ). During high school he became a member of the merengue group "Los Saxofones De Mayaguez," as a percussionist and later on as a singer. After college and military service he landed in Florida where he enjoys performing the traditional Cuban style of music called "charanga.”

              A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Benjamin Winkler (keyboards) began studying piano at age eight with his primary interest being classical music. Kenny Walker Masqueanda (bass) hails from outside of Reno, Nevada. After his Air Force family settled in St. Petersburg, Florida, Kenny first started playing bass guitar in his father's church and has since become a versatile musician who has played many styles with many groups in the Tampa Bay area and around Florida. 
http://www.latinoprojekt.com/home.shtml

Links
http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2003/vol7n35/LittleGarage-en.shtml
 

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