Jerry Medina

cantante y trompetista

Jerry Medina is one of the leading vocalists and instrumentalists in the Latin Music industry. His background and education is as diverse and colorful as his music. He grew up in New York City listening to his mother, Lydia Ortega play the trumpet; while at the same time, listening to gospel singers in church. His education is equally as diverse. Besides studying music with both his mother and Luis Gonzales Peña, Jerry has a degree in agricultural arts and sciences from the University of Puerto Rico and has completed a special program in Business at Northwestern University. Along with his friend Néstor Torres, Jerry entered the Latin music scene and began playing with Torres’ father’s band. This was a stepping stone that opened the doors for Medina into the Latin music circuit. After this initial experience, Jerry joined the orchestra of the legendary Ismael Miranda. Then, in 1980, he joined Batacumbele, a group founded by Angel “Cachete” Maldonado, Eric Figueroa and Eddie Rivera with the assistance of the multi-talented, Fran Ferrer. This group grew to include the talents of Giovanni Hidalgo and Pablito Rosario. With Batacumbele Jerry embarked on a musical experiment that would yield a fusion of afro-caribbean rhythms. Throughout his career, Medina has worked with many of Latin music’s best exponents. He participated as a singer in Eddie Palmieri’s Grammy Award winner album The Truth. He also participated as a singer and composer in Tito Puente & Eddie Palmieri Grammy Award winner album Masterpiece. Along with composer/director Raymond Torres, Jerry worked with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra on a symphonic salsa project that was very successful. This creative musical endeavor was showcased at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Puerto Rico. In addition, he has done background vocals for such stars as: Yomo Toro (lead singer), Cheo Feliciano, Lucecita Benitez, Jose Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Larry Harlow, Herp Alpert, Tony Vega, Manny Manuel. Luis Enrique and Descarga Boricua (lead singer). Jerry Medina has two solo albums; Feeling Alright and De Parranda con Jerry Medina. These albums have been acclaimed for the interesting fusion of Latin Jazz and other Caribbean rhythms like the guagancó, bomba, plena, songo and rumba beats. His most recent recording was commissioned by the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña commemorating 50 years of the music of the great composer Rafael Hernandez. In this recording he made a special musical arrangement of Capullito de Alelí , blending the blues, flamenco and son in a very original and unique atmosphere. Jerry Medina also participated as an actor, singing in the movie “Havana Nights” and composes the music and lyrics of an upcoming movie, “Casi Casi”. Just prior to recording these albums, Jerry Medina participated in two spectacular events: The Fania All Stars tour and The North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland. Through these events, Jerry visited countries such as Spain, Italy, France, Africa and Colombia (in addition to playing in his native Puerto Rico), and played alongside such icons as: Miles Davis, Ray Charles, Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Horace Silver, Mel Lewis and Airto Moreira.

Record Label - Type

-