Today's Featured Artist - Latin Percussionist Ray Soto

    Ray Soto (congas) At Humbolt Park - Chicago

    Ray Soto with Los Consules

     Ray Soto circa 1970s

Percussionist Ray Soto has been playing the Latin circuit in Chicago for many years. He is renowned in the Salsa and Latin Jazz scene and continues to entertain us with his smooth style and arsenal of Latin rhythms.  Puerto Rican percussionist Ray Soto grew up in the streets of the Windy City. He began his musical career as a guitar player, occasionally hitting the skins. He was the son of a Record Store Owner that catered to the Latin American community. Working the store on occasion helped him appreciate all different types of rhythms. He originally played guitar in a Spanish trio then played in a rock group until salsa started to become popular after his return from Puerto Rico. He eventually switched to percussion and there found his niche. Ray was a collector of old Latin albums and amassed quite a collection of hard to get early albums of Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, The Allegre All Stars, and countless pioneers of early salsa. Listening to these albums helped bring out the natural swing in him that lies at the core of all Latin percussionists.

Ray Soto has played with many established Latin Bands in Chicago. Among them were, La Sonora Tropical, Los Casiques, Los Consules, The Mambo All Stars, and countless others. Over the years, Ray Soto has served as a mentor to many youths who want to learn and experience Latin Music. Today, Ray Soto assists Chicago’s Quatro Ensemble, a youth orchestra that consists totally of quarto players. In the Chicago music scene Ray Soto is someone you should know.

Ray Soto is featured on the album entitled, “Los Consules” (1977)