ABOUT ME

PICTURE THIS: I, at the of age 3, was sitting Indian style, “playing drums" on the 4 pairs of folded-up jeans that surrounded me. That was one of the first indications of my inclination to play drums.

After I received my first drum kit at age 4, which was actually a toy drum kit that I quickly demolished, I graduated to a Jr.-Pro model. After the hardware on that kit collapsed, I now play a Professional Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute Nouveau model drum kit that holds up to my rigorous practice schedule; one to three hours a day. My practice sessions include: warm-ups, rudimental studies, coordination studies, practicing with a click, playing along with records and one very important area of study — reading.

My private studies began at age 6 with noted San Jose area drum teacher Dick Carlo, who himself has performed with artists such as Connie Francis and Al Jarreau, and who is associated with the Percussive Arts Society, the National Drum Association and the Arts Council. Mr. Carlo, now retired, taught for over 40 years.

Fortunately for me, my father, Victor Sr., is a professional performer in the San Francisco Bay Area. This allowed me the opportunity to associate, rehearse, perform and record with Bay Area musicians.

In 2004 and 2005, I performed in the Guitar Center Drum Off Competitions in San Jose, CA. that were certainly crowd pleasers. Since 2007, I have been the drummer in the Star of David Church Praise and Worship Band of San Jose.

While in middle school and high school, I played with the Jazz Band and Advanced Concert Band and was chosen to play in the CMEA Honor Band at San Jose State University. I have also played with De Anza College’s Jazz Band and Concert Band.

At the age of 13, I played with legendary Latin recording artist Jorge Santana and his band, and I now play professionally with Santa Cruz Latin Collective. I have also sat in or played with The Mike Torres Band, LAVA, The Bell Bottoms Band, Mystique, The Kool Katz, Tortilla Soup, Puro Bandido, MANZO Rally, Aki Starr, FLO (Funky Latin Orchestra), Masada, Rick Stevens & Love Power, Malo Anthology, Foreign Frontiers, Detroit Legends, BUENO, Momotombo SF, Midtown Soul and LUMBRE.