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 Born
in Santurce, Puerto Rico on March 22, 1976, Héctor “Coco” Barez
is one of the most active musicians of the new wave of young Puerto
Rican percussionists. He has constantly contributed and represented
Puerto Rico in the folkloric environment and international presentations
of great prestige around the world.
Coco honed his musical talent taking courses at The Music Conservatory
of Puerto Rico, L.A. Music Academy in Pasadena, CA, and the Universidad
Interamericana de PR. But he attributes his highest learning to the
street, especially lessons taught by Nicolás-Lebrón,
Alfredo Rodriguez, Anthony Carrillo, Paoli Mejías, Javier Oquendo,
Héctor Calderón, Felipe del Valle, Victor Emmanuelli,
and many others. He also adds Familia Cepeda Familia, Ayala, Giovanni.Hidalgo,
and Airto Moreira to the list of great influences.
Coco began his musical carrer in 1998 as a percussionist and a dancer
with Grupo Folclórico Plenibom. Since 2001, he’s performed
with the “Grupo Folclórico Bellos Atardeceres” in
the “El Festival de Folclore” in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Since that-year he has been part of Ballet Folclórico Nacional
Areyto, which has given him the opportunity to perform in countries
such as Hungary, Guadalupe, Spain, Martinica, and the United States.
Performing as a musician in bomba, plena, and even batucada with Guateque,
Los Pleneros de la 23, Son del Batey and Batucada Baobá. He
is always contributing to the music as a performer dancer and even
teaching in seminars as Taller Tamboricua and the School of Performing
Arts of Carolina P.R., among others.
The past few years have been significant in Coco Barez’ career
as a band member of Calle 13 and Bacilos. Calle 13’s first release
received three Latin Grammy’s and one MTV Latino Awards, as well
as a Grammy nomination. Their 2006 tour visited the United States and
South America, Mexico, Perú, Panamá, Venezuela, Guatemala,
Honduras, El Salvador and Colombia (with an audience of more than 60,000
people).
With Bacilos, Coco participated in their farewell tour to Ecuador,
Guatemala, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, finishing in
the Viña del Mar Festival in Chile. Coco will be on tour again
with Calle 13 as part of their second album release and will continue
collaborating and performing on other music projects.
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