HECTOR CONTRERAS - radio vinilemania web-radio Latin - Jazz



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PIANIST, COMPOSER

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Pietro, thank you for your interest in my music endeavor!

Since the age of 3 years, I have had tunes in my head! Being from a poor family, an uncle gave my parents a piano to “watch” while he was away. At 5 years of age I was already attracted and attached to the piano. When my uncle returned, he saw that I had made more use of the instrument then the whole family. Upon hearing my melodies, he left the piano with us!

There were musicians on both my mother and father’s side. On my mother’s side, I had an uncle who had a band that sounded like Guy Lombardo. On my father’s side, I had an uncle who was 1^st violinist for the Chaguagua Mexico City Orchestra. He was also a professor of music at the university.

At 10 years old I started played playing piano recitals at the school I attended. I continued my lessons for two or three years after with Professor James Crisafulli. At that time my plans were to become a concert pianist. However, my dyslexia made it difficult to play other composer’s music.

I later studied composition at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles and did advance at Dick Grove Conservatory of Music with Dr. Albert Harris.

Going back to my high school years, I joined a rock n’ roll band and later a Latin jazz quartet. All of this paid my way through college. During that time the night life of the musician exposed me to all the “wrong things”. I did graduate from the university and became a teacher. I continued to play in the evenings and weekends for many years after. However, the life style was not conducive to my creativity. Even though I was always writing music, teaching was my primary focus for financial reasons.

When I left teaching in February of 2006 I was in earnest in my writing and arrangements. I went into my studio at home and within three months, I composed ten of the Latin Jazz songs on my CD which I recorded in June. The rest is history.

Currently I am working on my 2^nd New Age project. It should be finished by summer of this year. Again, it is all original music. My first “Soundscape” has been reaching success already.

I am also beginning the first of two projects, one with Brazilian music featuring Elisete Ritter as singer (who is also writing the lyrics). The other project will be an all out Latin Jazz with strong “East Coast” flavor.

I will begin performing live with my band beginning later this year. I will keep you posted. My plans include making a DVD on the streets of Pasadena, CA, “Pasadena Cha-Cha”.

My wife, Emilie has been the cornerstone that has assisted me in the financing of my projects. Without her help all this could not have happened. She has given her love, belief in my work and emotional support throughout our life together.

I am also at the point of trying to secure additional funds for my projects. If you know anyone that might be able to help, please let me know.

God Bless you always, Pietro, Hector R. Contreras

HECTOR R. CONTRERAS - NEW AGE CD II (2007)

This Project is in the Pop/Classical/Ambient Genre and is focused more on exposing this mucis to the television, film industry and of course those who like this kind of music

EMILIE'S GARDEN MUSIC PRODUCTIONS