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 Sammy Perez is a percussionist conversant in indigenous, popular, and classical idioms. He is also an educator. Foremost he is a musician. Born in New York, Sammy’s family moved to Puerto Rico when he was three years old. Early on he displayed an interest in rhythm and music but it wasn’t until he was seventeen that he began taking his passion seriously, at first playing congas with local bands.
Within a couple of years his calling became obvious and Sammy enrolled in the Inter-American University of San Germán, Puerto Rico, earning a Bachelor’s degree in music with a percussion major.
Following his graduation, Sammy began attracting the attention of local artists and began playing with Luis Enrique, La Solución, Camilo "Azuquita", Gilberto Santarosa, Domingo Quiñones, and Moncho Rivera.
Parallel to his performing career is one of educator. For eighteen years, Sammy Pérez has worked within the Puerto Rican Department of Education, teaching for ten years in the Middle School Conservatory of Music, Libre de Musica, in Mayaguez. There, with the assistance of parents, community, and his colleagues, he has created a thriving percussion ensemble.
Sammy continues graduate studies in musical education, driven by the belief that music is the antidote to the ills of society.
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