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Samuel López
Soon, Samuel became a charter musician for the Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance Group in Austin, Texas. During his time with PRFDance, Samuel worked and learned from Puerto Rican folkloric masters, Don Modesto Cepeda, Los Pleneros De La 21, Grupo Paracumbe, William Cepeda, Grupo Guateque, and Gibaro de Puerto Rico. In 2005, Samuel began his studies in Music Education at Texas State University-San Marcos. During his studies, Samuel became the official timbale player for the award winning Salsa Del Rio Band at Texas State University. In 2007, Samuel recorded the album, Lloraras with Salsa Del Rio and contributed to the winning of the Downbeat Magazine Award for Best Recording of the Year in the blues, pop and rock category. It was during his years with Salsa del Rio when the group was awarded the Best Salsa Band of the Year three times in a row at the Premios a la Musica Latina ceremony hosted by Univision TV in San Antonio. With Salsa Del Rio, Samuel performed in the 2007 Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland, and the 2008 Notre Dame Jazz Festival. Samuel has performed with Pete Rodriguez Jr., Nilsa "Cita" Rodriguez (2006), Brian Lynch (2007), and Larry Harlow (2008). Samuel currently plays timbale in San Antonio's Mambo Kings Big Band. And, through the Mambo Kings, Samuel has played along with Memo Acevedo, Georgie Padilla, Mike Vax, and Luis Gasca. Samuel is a member of Austin's Cienfuegos and La Moûa Loca, a salsa group where he plays timbale and bongo for local venues and private events. Samuel is also playing congas for Orchesta Trabuko in Austin, TX. Samuel has also had the honor of studying congas under Richie Flores, David "La Mole" Ortiz, and Georgie Padilla. Samuel is currently pursuing a Masters of Music degree in Latin Music Performance from Texas State University. His ultimate goal is to become a full-time professor, an active professional Latin percussionist, and an advocate for Latin Music Education. Samuel is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society.
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Samuel López, born and raised in Puerto Rico, moved to Texas at the
age of seven and began learning how to play bongo, conga and timbale
from the teachings of family and friends. As a young teenager,
Samuel began playing in various salsa and merengue groups in the Killeen-Austin-San
Antonio area.