Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Daniel Penas career as a percussionist began at the age of 8 years old, when he first learned how to play the cowbell. Coming from a rich musical legacy also helped shape Daniels passion for music. His father, a classically trained accordionist, and Daniels grandfather, a œtamborero (tumbadora drum player) playing œperico ripiao styled merengue, were great influences in Daniels youth. Daniels fire for music ignited into full blaze after attending Fania All Star salsa legends Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz stellar performance in his native country, realizing that his passion for music was larger than what he intended it to be. Although Daniel used the Fania sound as his guide for percussionist training, he moved to New York City at the age of 16 and had the opportunity to join an evangelical church band while taking classes with Roberto Arias and Carlos De Leon, learning to play ªcongas¬ and timbales. Later on, the noted Santos Rigo Irizarry trained Daniel utilizing the Fania sound, creating an indelible mark in Daniels musical training. œThe great body of work that the Fania Sound provides is like a university of music. Its a school of our great Latin American heritage and it is an honor to bring that love and respect I have for Fania in everything I do. Moving to Miami in 1999, Daniel played with Ana Mendez and the Rumbo del Caribe band, making many of his dreams as a musician come true. He played in the Tite Curet Alonso tribute concert alongside Fania greats Larry Harlow, Adalberto Santiago, Tito Allen, Justo Betancourt among other Fania All Star legends. In recent times, Daniel frequently collaborates with another noted bandleader, composer and producer, Marlow Rosado, playing with Tito Puente Jr.s orchestra. Traveling the world and recording has made Daniel into one of Miamis top percussionists, playing with Jerry Rivera, Jose Alberto œEl Canario, Ismael Miranda, Ray de la Paz, Charlie Cruz, Cano Estremera, Cuco Valoy, Anthony Cruz, to mention just a few.
œOut of all the Fania greats, my biggest influence has to be the great Johnny Pacheco, for his musical legacy is what makes me want to become a better percussionist out of respect for the great musicians that are a part of the past, the present, and future of Latin music.
Mr. Respect, as Daniel is affectionately called by his peers in the music industry, launched his own musical production entitled œEleven which contains ten majestic songs. In it, Daniel implements his fugacious energy and musical magnetism in each song such as œ30 Thousand Feet with Marlow Rosado, œInseparable with Jimmie Morales and Tito Allen, œLirio de Los Lirios with Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz, and œLa Sangre y la Experiencia with Tito Puente, Jr. Daniel Penas conga will play at the beat of his audiences heart with his new production for a long time to come. Daniel Pena is honored to be endorsed by the best in the industry. He has been part of the Remo family for the past five years and proudly displays his personalized congas, courtesy of Remo. œMy new album was released in May 2017, Sancocho, under the label Muzik Connection Records.
Sancocho has 11 tracks and a list of greater musicians and artists like Ismael Miranda, Paquito Guzman, Menique, Jandy Ventura, Odilio Gonzalez, Hector "Pichie" Perez, Javier Vazquez, Gilberto Colon el Pulpo, Oscar Hernandez, Luis Marin, Nicky Marrero, Jimmy Delgado, Ricky Gonzalez, Richie Ray Gamalier Reyes among others great musicians. Daniel Pena is also endorsed by Vic Firth, Soultone Cymbals, Westone and Jorg Gray. Daniel Pena is a proud member of the Latin Recording Academy and The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
