User:Sammy Ceballos

Samuel Anthony Ceballos Diaz, (aka), Sammy Ceballos was born in Manhattaan, New York City, on August 28, 1958. Born of Puertorrican Heritage parents, (father) Santiago Ceballos Lopez and (mother) Lydia E. Diaz Algarin ,first son, had a brother, Eugene Nicholas Ceballos (deceased) and sisters Linda E, Ceballos and Maria Eugenia Ceballos. Moved to Puerto Rico at an early age,(7) yrs old.It wasn't until his sophomore year in high school were he began getting interested in music while attending Miami Military Academy in Miami, Fla. Started interested in percusion , later picking up the trumpet when he got back from Military School in Miami.While in Puerto Rico his junior year in high school he went to the first music school ever in his town of Carolina called Escuela Libre de Musica de Carolina,(Free School of Music)in 1972. His trumpet teacher were Elias Lopez, Mario Ortiz, Yuyo Martinez and Emilio Reales, among others. Later, went on to South America during his Senior year in high school to Colegio Internacional de Caracas, were he dedicated most of his time to sports, especially basketball,he did study trumpet at La Casa de la Juventud in La Guaira , Venezuela , with music teacher Prof. Arroyo, and performed with the Venezuelan National Guard Band in 1975. His father was transferred from his job in PR with PanAm Airways to Venezuela. After graduation in 1976, Sam went back to PR to study at the University of PR, and tried to pursue an athletic career in basketball, unfortunately sience he did not play in any of the local categories he was cut from his team. Decided to play, he went back to his counselor at CIC in Venezuela and he got a tryout for the University of Rhode Island basketball team, were he finally got accepted at Roger William College were he would play for a semester before getting a terrible injury to his right ankle. After a while of frustrations he re-took music and started back on the trumpet. Auditioning at Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass. Attended Berklee for 6 semesters, studing trumpet with Lou Mucci, Wes Hensel and recording and touring artist with Maynard Ferguson Wayne Nauss.After leaving Berklee, he came back to PR to pursue studies in Education , and started a long mucical career as a freelance trumpet player. Sammy has played and performed with well known Latin Artist such as Bobby Valentin,Ismael Miranda,Pete"El Conde" Rodriguez,Lalo Rodriguez,Nino Segarra,Marvin Santiago,Camilo Azuquita,Guillo Rivera,Tommy Olivencia,Roberto Anglero, Roberto Rohena,Tito Allen,Jr. Gonzalez, Larry Harlow,Sammy Gonzalez, Sonora Ponceña,Gilberto Santa Rosa,Orq. Experimental, Orq. Panamericana,Conjunto Chaney, Willie Rosario,Orq. de Cesar Concepcion, Joe Valle,Vitin Garay,Babo Jimenez, Ruby Haddocck, Conjunto Quisqueya, Puertorrican Power and many others. His experience as teacher(28 yrs.) in trumpet ,theory ,solfege,and harmony include the following experience from PR Department of Education, Private Schools ,and Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina. He is actually performing and very active as a trumpet player specializing in Lead Playing,musical contractor and musical director. Has his own 7 piece band and 12 piece band, specializing in Salsa and Latin Jazz charts. Worked for the PR Tourism Company for 7 years as a musical director for the Le Lo Lai program and had a 14 piece Orquestra, doing a show called Latin Revue,with dancer and choreographer Rosita Palmer and Singer Mariano Montesinos. His group called Tropical Ensemble worked for the Hilton Hotels, and the Embassy Suites Hotel for over 3 years 2004- 2006. Actually a cd is in the making wich would be his firt solo album. Married twice, first wife Nitza Santos Rivera, no children and Rebeca Zambrana Garcia, two children , Thatiana Marie and Rebeca Maria. Recorded with ,Orquesta Experimental, Nino Segarra, Bobby Valentin (Live CD), Jingles,and live Shows, for television...