Willy Rodriguez

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
This article has been tagged since March 2007.

Willy Rodriguez"[1] (born on February 1, 1982 in New York, New York), to parents from the Dominican Republic, is a noted pianist of salsa.

1 Early years
2 "La Excelencia"
3 First Salsa album
4 Conducting credit(s)
5 Awards and nominations
6 External links & Sources

[edit] Early years

Willy Rodriguez started playing piano at the age of 3. At 7 years of age, Rodriguez began playing classical piano at the Gea Samper Conservatory of Music. His studies in classical piano would lead him to play classical recitals at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Rodriguez was excepted to La Guardia High School and continued his musical studies there until graduation. He also took classes at El Museo del Barrio with piano instructors specializing in the afro-Cuban styles.

[edit] "La Excelencia"

Willy Rodriguez is one of the original members of La Excelencia playing piano and conducting. Rodriguez became the bands conductor in 2002 and has been with La Excelencia ever since.

[edit] First Salsa album

In 2006, Willy Rodriguez would record piano on "La Excelencia's" first salsa album "Salsa Con Conciencia" (salsa with a conscience) which has been acclaimed as one of the best salsa albums of the year.

[edit] Conducting credit(s)

Musical Director for Tito Puente Jr, son of the late king of mambo Tito Puente
Carolina Ovalle Arango aka Carolina La O former Alquimia singer.
Musical Director for the Luminous Visions Organization Founded by the Actress/producer Carla Pinza and the late Actor/Producer Raul Julia
Musical Director for Shakespere Gives Us A Clue, Performed in Lincoln Center,NYC