Mambo Tropical

• Ric "Mightybone" Feliciano (Writer) - Trombone, Lead Vocal
• Orlando Castro (Writer) - Lead Vocal
• Yvette Watts - Lead Vocal
• Teresa Orozco - Flute, Vocals
• Shane Cantanho - Piano
• Joaquin Pla - Timbales
• Jim Polizzi - Bass Guitar
• Scott Englebright - Trumpet

Mambo Tropical, is a non-stop journey through some of the hottest contemporary and classic Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue and Reggaeton sounds of our time. Steeped in the rich Afro-Cuban music traditions and led by the vocals of Yvette Watts, this collection is sure to be a favorite of Latin music fans everywhere. The band can perform to a wide range of requirements from a small, quiet combo to a swingin' full-on 12-piece powerhouse.

Mambo Tropical features international songwriter and lead vocalist Orlando Castro, song writer, lead vocalist and trombonist Ric Feliciano, lead vocalist Yvette Watts and flutist and background vocalist Teresa Orozco. The Rhythm Section includes Joaquin Pla on Timbales, Shane Cantanho on Piano, Jim Polizzi on Bass, and various other percussionist of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Orlando Castro - Lead Singer, Songwriter, Background Vocals, Guitar Player, Harmonica Player Orlando was born and developed his artistic talents in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. He has been performing professionally since he was 17 years old. Orlando is a successful Singer, Songwriter, Guitar Player, Harmonica Player and performs Afro-Cuban Percussion as well. He has his own entertainment company where he produces radio, TV and video productions. Orlando also performs with the band Broken English and Orlando Y Sus Jugosos and has had many performances in Mexico and Latin America. Orlando shares his time and talent teaching the youth of Salinas, California where he is the Director of Rondalla Alisal. Rondalla Alisal was privileged to perform with Carlos Santana at a performance in San Francisco. But some of Orlando's greatest successes has been in his writing. Orlando penned two songs for Luis Miguel's breakthrough album, "ARIES" (WEA 1993), which won the 1994 Grammy Award for best "Latin Pop Album." Additionally, Tower of Power played on "Que Nivel De Mujer", yet another one of Orlando's songs on the "Aries" album. That same year, Orlando once again struck gold when he won the coveted BMI's 1994 Song Of The Year award for the song, "Suave", sung by Luis Miguel. Moreover, Orlando's hit song, "Suave", shot to the top nine(9) Billboard Hot Latin Tracks for all of 1994. In 1997, Orlando's song, "Si Te Vas", was included in "Billboard Hot Latin Tracks: Best of Pop 1997 : Various Artists". Currently, both of Orlando's songs, "Suave" and "Si Te Vas", have re-emerged in Luis Miguel's remix album "No Culpes a La Noche - The Club Remixes" (Warner Music 2009) and have recently climbed to #4 on the Mexican and USA Latin charts. In Argentina during the same interval, the album peaked at #1. Orlando, in his career as a successful singer and songwriter has worked with many international artists and has participated and written songs for:

LUIS MIGUEL CON SU PRODUCCIÓN ARIES, EN LAS CANCIONES. "SUAVE " Y "QUE NIVEL DE MUJER"

EL CONCIERTO CON LUIS MIGUEL

LUIS MIGUEL EN SU PRODUCCIÓN DAME, SU CANCIÓN "SI TE VAS"

LUIS MIGUEL "VIVO"

CRISTIAN CASTRO CON LA PRODUCCIÓN "AGUA NUEVA" Y LAS CANCIONES "SEÑORA POR FAVOR" Y "PROGRAMAME EN TU MENTE"

CRISTIAN CASTRO "GRANDES EXITOS"

JERRY RIVERA CON LA PRODUCCIÓN FRESCO Y LA CANCIÓN: "SUAVE"

Orlando now lends his accomplished lyrical writing talents to Mambo Tropical's upcoming album. Orlando Castro is a long-standing voting member of the Recording Academy-better known as the Grammy's, as well as the Latin Grammy's. Orlando is also a member of BMI.

Ric "Mightybone" Feliciano - Lead Singer, Songwriter, Trombonist, Background Vocals, Keyboardist Ric, who is a Puerto Rican from New York City (Nuyorican) is a Singer, Songwriter, Keyboardist & Trombonist. Working for 30 years in music business, Ric has performed with Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Foreigner, Pete Escovedo, John Lee Hooker, Jr., Johnny Polanco, Latin Rhythm Boys, Phil Driscoll, Orquesta La Verdad, Broken English, Masada, Orquesta Salson, Saboricua, Anthony Blea, and many others. Ric was an integral part the Grammy nominated album, Phil Driscoll's "Warriors" (Word Records 1994) in that he was responsible for that album's horn arrangements. The Grammy genie struck again when Ric played in a horn section called "Hot Sauce" for the Grammy nominated album, John Lee Hooker, Jr.'s, "Blues With A Vengeance" (Kent Records 2004) Ric has also performed with Latin Rhythm Boys upcoming album "The Year Of The Cuatro" (2010) with Johnny Polanco and Artie Webb and is performing with the group in an upcoming feature film "An American in Puerto Rico". Ric now lends his astounding musical writing talents as well as his gift with arrangements to Mambo Tropical's upcoming album. Ric's influences are Willie Colon, Jimmy Bosch, Hector Lavoe, and Chino Nunez with the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Marc Anthony, and Horn Bands from the 60's and 70's R&B era.

Ric has been a voting member of the Recording Academy-better known as the Grammy's, as well as the Latin Grammy's since 1999. Ric is also a member of BMI.

Vocalist Yvette Watts has always been passionate about music. Born into a musical family, Yvette starting singing at a young age, and over the years her dynamic and captivating vocal abilities flourished. After impressing several music industry veterans, Yvette was invited to perform on the TV show Buscando Estrellas and won first prize at the Festival de la Cancion Latino Americana. She has toured throughout Europe with the Cuesta College Vocal Jazz Ensemble and studied with Russian opera legend Marina Koshetz as well as with Nela Girolo. After settling in the Bay Area, Yvette teamed up with classically-trained musician Teresa Orozco-Peterson and veteran performer Jim Polizzi to form the foundation which would later evolve into the 11-piece ensemble now known simply as, Yvette Y Su Orquestra Mambo Tropical.

Teresa Orozco - Flauta Flutist Teresa Orozco's musical activities range from orchestral player and contractor, recording artist, studio musician, musical director and founder of the chamber ensembles of "Ovation Chamber Music". As an educator and mentor to over 80 young musicians, she is now in her ninth season as conductor for the Avanti Flute Choir of the San Jose Youth Symphony Organization. As a contract musician, she is currently a flutist of the Monterey Symphony since 1987, New Music Works since 1992, and performs for the Carmel Bach Festival since 2005. She subs for Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera and the Santa Cruz Symphony. In 2009, Teresa was a sub with the Cabrillo Festival of Modern Music under the direction of Marin Alsop. In 1983 she toured with the San Francisco Merola Western Opera Company.

Teresa also specializes in Jazz and Latin music, and has been a member of Mambo Tropical since 2004. Teresa is a regular guest artist with Kaweh playing Flamenco Rumba/Mediterranean inspired music. Her work with migrant education last year in Salinas was met with great success, teaching a K-8 music appreciation and choir class. This experience opened the door for Teresa, leading her to her current position as Music Appreciation and Theory instructor of the prestigious Valley Christian Schools in San Jose where she teaches a 5/6 combo and coaches all flutes from the elementary level to high school. Teresa also has her own private studio where she coaches some of the most dedicated college bound flutists in the Bay Area.

Ms. Orozco received her BA/MA in music performance from San Jose State University with honors, Magnum Cum Laude. She has received instruction from a wide range of instructors, both privately and in master classes. They include: Isabelle Chapuis-Starr, Maria Tamburrino, Barbara Breeden, Lloyd Gowen, Jean-Pierre Rampal, James Galway, Julius Baker, Ransom Wilson, Robert Stallman,and Keith Underwood. Ms.Orozco resides in San Jose with her three incredibly musically talented children where they have performed together as a family in operas, retirement homes, churches and hospitals.

Joaquin Pla - Percussion Born in Barranquilla, Columbia from a musical family consisting of six brothers & two sisters all of which play in different groups. Juaquin has played and recorded with flautist Nester Torres, the Lucho Bermudez Orchestra as well as Grupo Niche.

Shane Cantanho - Piano Shane began classical training in the third grade & then began playing jazz in high school & won the outstanding solo award at the Herb Patnoe Jazz Festival. He also has a BA in improvised music from SJSU

Jim "Jimbo" Polizzi - Acoustic Bass Jim brings a great classic sound to the foundation of the band with his classic salsa instrument, the "Baby" Bass. "Jimbo's" captivating and pulsating bass patterns and sounds provokes audiences out of their seat and on to dance floors everywhere Mambo Tropical performs.

Other members of Mambo Tropical are: Jim Polizzi - Bajo, Scott Englebright-Trumpet

After performing non-stop over the past few years, in late 2004, Mambo headed into the studio to begin recording the first tracks of their debut CD, and quickly gained the attention of Latin music legend, Pete Escovedo. Pete was so impressed with the group that he decided to work with the band on the CD as a featured musician. With the new CD now complete, the group is now gearing up for the Spring and Summer concert season, which will include several CD release events in various cities around the US.

Mambo Tropical will soon be releasing their newly anticipated CD,which features all orginal material written by Orlando Castro, and Ric Feliciano. Mambo Tropical has come a long way, and has evolved into their own unique souond. The new CD features many ballads with up tempo twists, that are sure to capture all the die hared salseros.

Mombo Tropical was very honored in 2009 to be chosen to perform at the Festival Tirado in Mexico. This festival is an International Festival. The festival has multtitude of musical genres ranging from classical to salsa and Folklorico

• Pa' Gozar (Cha Cha) - Spanish Harlem Orquestra
• La Canoa Ranchaa - Grupo Niche (Cumbia)
• Rumba #7 - Original Rumba
• Idilio - Wille Colon (Salsa)
• 3 D Mambo - Tito Puente
• Carnival - Celia Cruz
• Como Podre Dissimilar - Grupo Niche
• Piel Morena - Thalia (Cumbia)
• Cucurucucu Paloma - Celia Cruz (Guaracha)
• Dos Gardenias Para Ti - Buena Vista Social Club
• El Cafetal/Sarandonga - Hansel (Reggaeton)
• Oye Como Va - Tito Puente (Reggaeton Version)
• Agua Limpia Todo (Mambo) - Tito Puente
• Una Aventura - Grupo Niche
• Cherry Pink Apple Blossom White - Various
• Cuando te Vea - Tito Puente
• Cogle El Gusto - Original Mambo
• Mi Tierra - Gloria Estefan
• Que le Den Candela - Celia Cruz
• Sabor a Mi - Various (Bolero)
• La Mucura - Various (Cumbia)
• Quimbara - Celia Cruz
• Suavamente - Elvis Crespo (Merengue)
• Co Co May May - Various
• La Piragua - Hansel (Cumbia)
• Soy Antillano - Celia Cruz
• Bamboleo - Celia Cruz
• La Receta - Chano Polo
• Arananara - Chano Polo
• Contigo En La Distancia - Various (Bolero)
• Flaut y Timbal - Tito Puente
• Ran Kan Kan - Tito Puente

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Reunions, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Thanks alot to all of you ....great trombone player ... and amazing vocals. Remember to ask this band to play a few slow ones too so you can let the vocalist shine. They could use someone to answer/respond the phone contact number more often ..but they do eventually get back to you. Thanks again for making our wedding and 1st dance an amazing event for everyone. Coy and Lorrie -- Coy W, Big Sur, CA, 9/29/2007
• The band was amazing-- all 90 of our family and friends loved them. Very professional in terms of initial contact, contract, performance. Engaging, lovely people. Highly recommend. -- Kathryn C, San Francisco, CA, 3/4/2007
• They were great! Music was really good and very professional. They accomadated our venue size, and worked well with demands and requests. Everyone had a wonderful time. Thanks so much Maggie Felix -- Maggie F, Redwood City, CA, 9/20/2007

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