Roberto Roena, a salsa music percussionist and orchestra leader was born January 16, 1940 in Mayaguez (Puerto Rico). Roena was a member of El Gran Combo which was Puerto Rico’s first salsa music orchestra. Later, he became the leader and founder of his own band “Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound”, which is regarded as one of the most popular Latin salsa bands in Puerto Rico. Roena is also a long-standing member of Fania All Stars, the salsa supergroup that has been enjoying worldwide success since 1970s. Roena was born in Mayaguez’s Dulces Labios neighbourhood. He learned dance from his brother Cuqui and began to perform routines at home. Roberto, nine years old, moved with his family to Santurce. There, the brothers refined their cha-cha cha routines and delighted their audience in talent contests. Their weekly performances were recorded on “La Taberna India”, a television program on WKAQ-TV. Rafael Cortijo, percussionist, saw Roena performing during the broadcasts. Roena was not only a dancer but also a skilled player of the percussion Conga drum. Raphal Cortijo taught him how to play Bongos and later became the bongo player in his band. He played occasional baseball. Roberto was 16 years of age when Cortijo needed a bongo player to join a new group he was starting. Cortijo saw Roberto as a bongo player who could both dance and play cowbell simultaneously. He recruited Roberto to his band and taught him how to play both. Named after an old band called “El Combo”, in which many of the original members were involved, the group’s name was derived. Roena, Ismael rivera, and Cortijo were Roena’s vocalists for seven years. They toured major stages in the United States, Europe and South America with that line-up. It’s worth noting that “Cortijo y Su Combo”, a group of mostly black musicians (of Puerto Rican heritage), was the first to gain access to venues where only white artists performed, both within and outside Puerto Rico. Ismael Rios, the Combo’s star singer, was arrested for drug possession. Cortijo’s musicians pondered the possibility of staying together despite the loss of “El Sonero Mayor”. Some members of the group decided to separate themselves from their jailed leader singer and “El Gran Combo was born.” Roena didn’t join the new Combo out of gratitude and loyalty for Rafael Cortijo his mentor. Cortijo eventually left Puerto Rico to search for new musicians. After nine months Roberto decided to join the “El Gran Combo”, which was then led Rafael Ithier. El Gran Combo was the new sensation in Latin music and Roena was a member of the group from 1969 to 1969. Roberto wanted to start his own salsa band and formed “Los Megatones” (a Latin Jazz group that played Wednesday nights at a local bar) in 1967. Roberto quit El Gran Combo two years after forming Los Megatones. This was due to personal differences with Andy Montanez (one of “El Gran Combo”‘s vocalists). Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound, one of the most popular Latin salsa bands in Puerto Rico, was formed in 1969. Roberto Roena’s orchestra was named “El Apollo Sound” as the launch of NASA’s Apollo 11 moon mission coincided with their first rehearsal. The band recorded many hits, including Y Tu Loco Loco Loco and Traicion as well as Que Se Sepa, Herencia Rumbero, Que Se Sepa, Que Se Sepa, and Traicion. Roberto Roena is also a long-standing member of Fania All Stars. This showcase group represents the Fania Records label which has been enjoying worldwide success since 1970s. His signature song, “Coro Miyare”, was recorded with the group. Live performances featured Roena dancing and playing the bongos with his uncle Anibal Vazquez in a choreographed section that nearly always received standing ovations. In the 1970s, Mr. Roena made a huge step forward in the fusion between salsa and jazz by teaming up with Manu Dibango, an African superstar (saxophonist), of “Soul Makossa”. Roena was able to arrange and play music despite not knowing how to write or read music. “Apollo Sound” featured musicians, among others, from Tito Puente’s ensemble, “Cortijo y Su Combo”, El Gran Combo”, and “Los Sunsets”. Mario Ortiz was a well-respected arranger and composer who helped him develop his repertoire. Roberto created a new sound in salsa music with “Apollo Sound”. He used two trumpets, a trombone and an saxophone, which he drew from the influence of Blood, Sweat and Tears’ wind section (for which he recorded “Spinning Wheel”) Roberto believed variety was the key to his success. He included everything, from the go-go to romantic, in his musical repertoire, in English and Spanish. Roberto Roena’s Apollo Sound’s debut CD had many hits, including “Tu loco loco y yo tranquilo,” and the “El escapulario” hit. Apollo Sound also recorded for a decade under the International Records label, a subsidiary of Fania, where they achieved success like “Traicion,” Mi Desengano,” and the “Marejada feliz,” as well as “El progreso.” He was a popular radio personality and had tours throughout the United States as well as Latin America. Roberto Roena’s showmanship was a complement to the music of the salsa band. He was known for his unique tricks, such as dyeing his hair and wearing a harness to “fly” around New York’s Madison Square Garden. A noted journalist who followed Apollo Sound commented that they were “the original group in Puerto Rico with a system psychedelic lights, go-go girls and percussion.” This was in response to a crisis in salsa music. Roberto Roena continued to record and collaborate with local bands. Roena attempted to revive Apollo Sound in 1990. He opened the concert for Sting, the British rock singer, at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente. There he performed his salsa version of Every Breath You Take (with amused Sting on the sidelines). He celebrated his 25th year with his orchestra at a concert at Centro de Bellas Artes, San Juan in 1994. The performance was recorded and made available for download, validating his music to a new generation. From Wikipedia
