The Official Roster of Chicago Salsa Musicians

Over the years there were many musicians that played a role in Chicago’s salsa history. Unfortunately, too many have been forgotten. In their honor we owe it to them to let everyone know who they were. In an effort to recognize those musicians, we would like to post a roster here of all Chicago salsa musicians - both past and present. For this we need your help. I can start the list with the names of some of those I remember but will need your help to make the list complete. Again, help us recognize them for their influence in molding Chicago’s salsa scene. Please feel free to add any names to the list so that everyone will know who they were or still are. Thanks.

Vitin Santiago – Vocalist/ Band Leader

Gilberto Diaz – Timbales/ Band Leader

Joe "Peruco" Torres – Bass

Tommy Muriel – Piano

Facio (Helios Alfacio)– Piano

Arturo Aguilar - Piano

Tito DelToro – Timbales

Chiqle – Trumpet

Felipe – Trumpet/ Band Leader - Felipe Y Su Gran Sonora

Edwin "Tarzan" Rivera– Congas/ Band Leader (La Poderosa)

Jack “Papo” Feliciano – Conga/ Trumpet/ Band Leader (Sonora Tropical)

Angelo Perez – Bass
Juan Perez - Piano

Chito Castro – Vibraphone/ Flute (Manuel Y Sus Estrellas)

Hector “Tato” Rivera – Conga

Gelito Sanchez – Guitar/ Band Leader

Angel Perez – Vocalist

Julio Ortiz – Trumpet

Bob Stockwell – Trumpet

Aniel Lugo – Bass

Mickey Rivera – Timbales

Ray Soto – Timbales (Los Consules)

Mike Maldonado – Vocalist

Teddy Torres – Vocalist

Chuck Velez – Bass (Sonora Tropical)

Richie Straka – Trumpet (La Confidencia)

Jorge “Papo” Quintero – Vocalist (La Confidencia)

Hector Narvaez – Piano

Roberto Sanchez – Bongos (Sonora Tropical)

Dez Desormeaux – Sax (Sonora Tropical)

Greg Aguirre – Trombone (Sonora Tropical)

Scott Sutter – Trombone (Sonora Tropical)

Harry Vera – Vocalist (Sonora Tropical)

Jesus “Papiro” Vera – Timbales (Sonora Tropical)

Miguel “Chocolate” Cruz – Bongo (Various)

Jose “Negrito” Perez – Conga (Various)

Marcus Persiani – Piano (Sonora Tropical)

Sol Sostre – Conga

Freddie Rodriguez – Trumpet (Various)

Hector Nunez – Vocalist (Various)

Luis “Prieto” Rosario – Timbales (Various)

Jesus Soto – Bass (La Solucion – Chicago)

Juan “Jap” Castro – Bass (La Justicia)

Edwin Sanchez – Piano (Various)

Mike Rivera – Bass (Tipica 78 – Chicago)

David Rodriguez – Tres/ Guitar  (La Solucion - Chicago)

Carlos Gonzalez – Timbales

Elmer Brown – Trumpet (Various)

Mike Janus – Trumpet (Various)

Angel Melendez – Trombone/ Band Leader (911)

Freddie Torres – Bass (Various)

Frankie Rodriguez – Trombone (911)

Manuel Ramos – Timbales/ Band Leader (Manuel Y Sus Estrellas)

Vida Rivera – Congas (Tipica 78 – Chicago)

Leo Velez – Guitar (La Union)

Jimmy “Jimbo” Cruz – La Union

Samuel “Sammy” Castro – Bongo

Jorge Gonzalez – Timbales (911)

Willie Garcia – Vocalist

Antonio Castro – Piano

Willie Negron – Conga

Edwin Torres – Timbales

Miguel Mendez – Vocalist

Everardo Rey – Trumpet

Raul Ortiz – Timbales

Eliezer "Pepe" Armijos - Piano

Mike Martinez – Piano

Vic Parra – Conga/ Band Leader

Ramon “Chocolate” Moreno - Trumpet
Manny Garcia - Bass/ Band Leader 
Angel Oliver - Trombone
Edwin Rodriguez - Trombone
Santos Pagan - Trumpet
Marcelino Gonzalez - Saxophone
Tony Del Valle - Piano
Ivan Gonzalez - Conga
Jimmy Ortiz - Vocals
Hector Del Valle - Vocalist
David Febles - Timbales 
Freddy Garcia - Vocals
Luis Maldonado - Vocalist (La Poderosa)
Juan Arnau - Trumpet
Victor Flores - Trumpet
Luis "Ralo" Dominguez - Bass
"Wolfie" Dominguez - Piano
Manny Picarro - Guitar
Victor Martinez - Timbales
Wifredo Torres - Vocalist
Johnny Melendez - Vocalist (Cabito Y Su Combo Puertio Rico)
Hector Reyes - Vocals
Angel "Mulato" Maldonado - Bongo
Jesus Enrique - Vocalist
Jorge Dalto - Piano
Juan Carlos "JC" Delgado - Congas
Jorge Millet - Piano
Juan "Cabito" Rivera - Cabito Y Su Combo Puerto Rico
Charlie Burgos - Trombone/ Vocals (La Justicia)
Adalbrto Quinones - Congas (La Justicia)
Albert Martinez - Sax (La Justicia)
Ismael "Jibarito" Rosa - Vocalist (La Justicia)
Jorge Alvarado - Trumpet (La Justicia)
Herman Gonzalez - Trumpet (La Justicia)
Jose Sanchez - Trumpet (La Justicia)
Ramiro Hernandez - Piano (La Justicia)
Antonio Duprey - Timbales (La Justicia)
Joe Diaz - Bongo/ Percussion (La Justicia)
Sureya Perez - Vocalist
Hector Colon - Vocalist
Shorty Ramirez - Conga/ Band Leader
Patricia A. Murray - Guitar (Tipica Leal 79)
Dennis Calito - Timbal/Music Director (Rica Obsesion)
Byron Calito - Congas/Coro (Rica Obsesion)
Harley Figueroa - Saxophone / Coro (Rica Obsesion)
Micah Frazier - Trumpet (Rica Obsesion)
Junior Rivera - Lead Vocal / Coro (Rica Obsesion)
Alex Torres - Lead Vocal / Coro (Rica Obsesion)
Joe Mende - Trombone (Rica Obsesion)
Stuart Mindiman - Piano (Rica Obsesion)
Brian Rivera - Bongo (Rica Obsesion)

Richie Pillot - Bass (Rica Obsesion and others)
Antonio Morales - Trombone (Tipica Leal 79, Projecto 7 - Elgin)
Antonio Vasquez - Trombone (La Union)
Johnny Placeres - Congas (Tipica Leal 79)
Luis Alequin - Timbales (La Solucion)
Hector Rodriguez - Percussion (Tipica Leal)
Joe Frau - Percussion