Today we’d like to introduce you to Mario Salomon.
Hi Mario, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Florida, a small town in the Camaguey province of Cuba. I started playing drums with sticks I used to cut from trees and drumming on my mother’s plastic makeup boxes and cookies tins around the house. I am a self-taught musician, and I learned by watching music shows on TV that were very limited (as in government-controlled), so that made it very special because I just had a few minutes 1-2 times a week to pay attention and try to remember what the percussionist was doing. I also learned by going to live performances when possible, standing behind the drummers, and copying their drum rhythms by hitting my hands on my thighs while they were playing. At 18, I started playing cabaret shows in Hotel Puerto Principe in Camaguey. My talent was discovered there, and I was given the opportunity to live and play in Egypt for almost 2 years. After my time in Egypt, I returned to Cuba and played with various bands in Camaguey until 2014, when I moved to the United States. I’ve lived and played in Miami, New York City, SF Bay, and Austin. While living in the Bay Area, I created my band, Timbeko, with a group of talented musicians I met there. We have been playing and recording together since 2018.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not easy when I moved to the United States. Like most immigrants, I had to work hard to make money doing random jobs: washing cars, driving and washing semi trucks, construction, warehouse work, and painting buildings. For years I didn’t have instruments or play music with any bands. It was difficult not to be able to do what I loved. While my music career here was taking off, we welcomed our first son into this world. Learning to care for a baby and not sleeping in the process made it difficult for me to focus on growing my music career. I’ve learned a lot in becoming a parent, and we now have two sons that take up most of our time, though I still find time to focus on the career I love: music.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a singer-songwriter and percussionist. I specialize in Cuban percussion instruments; many people know me as a timbale player, and others as a songwriter and singer. What sets me apart is that I didn’t get to a music school, and I write, arrange and produce music for my band and others, play percussion, and sing lead vocal at the same time. I’m proud of my lovely family.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My parents for always believing in and supporting me. Lisa Michelle, my girlfriend and mother of my two boys, helped me in this journey by being the main income resource in our family so that I could focus and work more on the music. The musicians that are part of Timbeko for sharing their time and talent. And the most important for me, the fans who listen to and share our music come to our shows. Without them, there is no Timbeko.
Pricing:
- Live band available for private parties – rate negotiable
- Drums and percussion instruments lessons for all ages
Contact Info:
- Email: mariosalomon201@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marioysutimbeko/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayitosalomon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrU9Iq9Npp7_1JSP84NaX7w
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mario-salomon-312417808
- Other: https://artists.spotify.com/c/artist/7x131X1m1MsNfWFCmQPBn8/profile/overview
Image Credits
Frederic Aube
