odconga

Hi My Name is Cesar Pena but my friends call me Oddy , my passion for music started from my very first days. At age three, I can remember telling my Mom, “I want to be a musician.” At age 5, I enrolled in lessons for classical guitar, and at age six, I performed my first concert. I continued playing and performing in local theaters in and around my home town until age 12, when I moved from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles to live with my Dad. Shortly thereafter, I began taking lessons for piano and Latin percussion, and by age 13, I had created my first classic rock band with four other musicians. I played the drum set and began leading televised performances as well as private party events. At age 16, I moved to Mexico City to continue my studies in music at the Nacional De Musica de Mexico school under professor Rogelio Barba. At age 17, I was creating computer music, and put together my second band named “WQ3” where I played percussion and piano. This time, the band played world music, Latin jazz and Tropical music. The band opened concerts for top artists with Mexico’s TELEVISA television. At age 19, I was working With TELEVISA with Mr. Tony Fox. We created the BOMBA LATINA Tropical music band, specializing in salsa, merengue, and merengue house music. I played percussion and piano and was involved with creating Tony Fox’ second original Tropical music CD. For the next four years with BOMBA LATINA, I performed in concerts and festivals along with other TELEVISA artists, including: 1995 Opening for CALO 1996 Dia De Los Billeteros, opening for JUAN GABRIEL (in JACOBVO SALBRUDOSQUI’s restaurant, Torito,) TEATRO FERROCARRILERO, opening for GARIVALDI, ANGELICA VALE, and RAUL VALE, Reina De Los Billeteros, opening for PATRICIA NAVIDAD Palacio Mundial Del Las Ferias, various event openings for MR PACO STANLEY Festival ACAPULCO EN LA PLAYA, concert performance Various popular Mexico City clubs, including MENEO , AZUCAR, EL CINE , and MONTANA 1997 Reina De Los Billeteros, opening for THALIA Loteria Nacional Para La Acistencia public events in Mexico City, all opening performances for main event artists including Palacio Mundial De Las Ferias, Rio Roja, Salon De Sorteos, and Torito Festival Acapulco En La Playa, concert performance In 1998, I began performing as a Latin percussionist outside of BOMBA LATINA as follows: 1998 to 1999 Miami local salsa clubs as a free agent with various local bands and musicians 2000 Ensenada, Mexico Mundo Y Su Calle 42 TROPICANA Show (from Cuba,) 2001 San Francisco local Latin jazz clubs as a free agent with various local bands and musicians San Diego CD recording with UN SOLO SON 2001 to 2002 In San Diego, Lester Alvarez And Me created CUBANEXPLOSION, traditional and contemporary Cuban music, 10 piece orchestra ,we were Luky to have the Best Manegers MarK Blutlner and Joe Bacaycay together we Recorded CUBANEXPLOSION CD and performed in various local clubs, festivals and concerts such as San Diego Street Scene 2001 and 2002; Festival CALLE 10 opening for Japan Orquestra Son Reynas; East County Performing Arts opening for AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS; live television performances on local Channels 6, 51, and 10; opening at the 2002 CD presentation for Eleias at CECUT, Tijuana, Mexico; Bongo and Conga studio recording for CLAITON CD 2003 to 2004 Played with LOS GUAJIROS DE CUBA in various salsa clubs in Baja California, Mexico TEATRO DE ENSENADA concert Dia Del Vino concert Percussionist for Televicion Azteca artist CECILIA GARCIA AMARO at Vinera PEDRO DOMEC concert, Vinera L. ACHETO concert, and CENTRO CULTURAL TIJUANAconcert 2005 Percussionist for Sona Nueva Percussionist for LOS GEMELOS DE ALQUIMIA, including concert performances in Anaheim and San Diego, California 2005 to Present Percussionist for San Diego ORQUESTA PRIMO, performing World Music, Latin Jazz, salsa, merengue, cha, cha, cha, cumbia, and rigatone With PRIMO, performed in various San Diego and Los Angeles clubs, festivals and concerts; opened for top Latin artists, including CACHAO, PONCHO SANCHEZ, and WILLFRIDO VARGAS; and more. performed on local televisions Channels 6 and 51; awarded the 2007 Jim Croce’s Annual Award for the Best Latin Jazz band of San Diego; San Diego Orchesta PRIMO Con Amor CD recording, which includes my original composition “Embarcadora” :)