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 David "La
Mole" Ortiz is a native of Santurce, Puerto Rico, and is regarded
as one of the most prolific, talented and melodic tumbadores in the
world. At the age of eleven, he learned to play congas from his
nine brothers. They taught him all different styles, such as
Guaguanco, Bomba, Plena, Rumba Abierta, Yambu, and other Afro-Cuban
rhythms native to Puerto Rico and the Carribean. Roughly four years
later, he began playing professionally with a group called Chagin Santos,
the brother of the great arranger, Ray Santos. La Mole remained with
the band for eight years, in which they performed all over the island
of Puerto Rico.
Later, Pablo Rosario, a percussionist in his own right, approached
La Mole and took him to countless numbers of recording sessions in
Puerto Rico. In addition, with the assistance of his brother, La Mole
secured live television performance gigs with Iris Chacon and Carmen
Jimenez. In 1977, La Mole joined the band of Rafael Cortijo, known
as "The Father of the Bomba and Plena," where he remained
for three years. "It was during those years with Rafael Cortijo
that I learned to authentically play bomba and plena music, as well
as how to accompany a band and compliment the music a whole," recalls
La Mole. Among the notable artists whom La Mole has recorded and/or
played live with are Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ismael Rivera, Jr., Willy
Chirino, Jesus Caunedo, Pedro Guzman, Van Lester, among many others.
Today, La Mole still resides in Puerto Rico, where he has taught countless
young rumberos on the Island, and instilled in them the skills and
discipline that has turned them into the next generation of extremely
talented and sought-after players. La Mole's teaching is in very high
demand, as all players want to learn from El Maestro.
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