Pearl drum profiles - percussionists Bobby Allende, Marc Quiñones, Richie Flores - percussion instruments by Pearl Corp - Entrevista

Latin Beat Magazine, March, 2004 by Rudy Mangual

BOBBY ALLENDE

TRUE PERFORMERS

SIGNATURE CONGAS & BONGOS

A true performer gets the job done, night after night, stage after stage. They've spent years honing their craft and when selecting tools there is no room for compromise, only the absolute finest will do. Bobby Allende is a true performer and his tools of choice are Pearl.

Bobby's Signature Series Congas and Bongos were designed under his watchful eye to meet the grueling demands of a working performer.

Seamless fiberglass shells with an extra wide base provide optimal projection and stability while the 28" height make them perfect for the seated player. The stock Remo Fiberskyn 3 heads compliment our all-new rim design that makes extended jam sessions a pleasure. The exclusive finish is a silky #620 Café Con Leche.

Bobby Allende and Pearl Percussion, true performers, night after night.

MARC QUIÑONES

TRUE PERFORMERS

SIGNATURE TIMBALES

A true performer stands confidently in the spotlight ready to bare their soul through their instrument. This is the time that they have prepared for through endless hours of rehearsal and practice. Marc Quiñones is a true performer and it shows in every aspect of his music. He demands perfection in himself, his tools and will settle for nothing less than the finest, Pearl.

Marc's Signature Series Timbales are unlike any other Timbales available, 14" and 15" polished steel shells featuring two inverse beads with a unique five lug design that allows maximum cascara striking area with less lug interference. The included socket wrench takes advantage of our exclusive top tuning feature that allows fast head changes without the worry of nuts and washers falling off. The included cowbell post features a sympathetic sound dampening sleeve to prevent our bells and blocks from ringing through the stand. By using a one wing bolt design the entire unit mounts in seconds to the included heavy-duty double braced tilting stand.

A PBL-20 Clave Block is included at no charge.

Marc Quiñones and Pearl Percussion, true performers, spotlight after spotlight.

Pearl Drum Profiles

In recent years, Pearl Corporation, the world's leading maker of drums, has expanded and reconfigured their commitment to Latin percussion instruments by bringing aboard some of the stellar players in the business, whose specifications and ideas have resulted in the making of better percussion instruments. The latest addition to their team of master percussionists is the legendary conguero/bandleader Rey Barretto. The following conversations took place with percussionists Ritchie Flores, Bobby Allende and Marc Quiñones during the 2004 Winter NAMM Show held in January at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.

Richie Flores

Rudy Mangual: Where are you from?

Richie Flores: I was born in Brooklyn, New York but was raised in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico since the age of three months, and stayed on the island until my 20th birthday, when I relocated back to the Big Apple.

RM: When did you first become interested in music?

RF: As a young kid, my father was trying to teach my older brother to play the congas but he wasn't interested at all. I wanted to learn but my dad thought that I was too young. Finally one day he asked me to sit in front of the drums and from that day on he became my teacher and I've been playing ever since. I was five years old then. By my seventh birthday I was playing with the popular Puerto Rican ensemble Batacumbele as the special attraction of their show, playing the tumbadoras (congas) on one of the songs. About a year later, I started performing with several other bands around the island, including El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. My dad would take me to all the fiestas patronales (patron saint celebrations) throughout the island and I would sit in with whomever was performing.

RM: At what age did you perform professionally, making money?

RF: I recorded on two successive albums for Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound as a twelve and thirteen-year old conguero. I suppose that was my professional debut in the business. I toured with the band, playing in 17 consecutive concerts throughout the New York and Tri-State Area. The following year or so, I joined the Cano Estremara orchestra and continued doing recordings with many bands and artists in Puerto Rico. I attended the Escuela Libre de Música in Hato Rey, majoring in percussion, and by my 18th birthday was a member of the Eddie Palmieri Band. I stayed with Palmieri for 10 years, recording and touring the entire planet. Then I went on to work with saxophonist David Sánchez for about two years, and now I am solo.

RM: Whom have you been working with lately?

RF: As special invited guest with the McCoy Tyner Band and Steve Turre's band, among others. And I'm working on my own project to be released very soon.

RM: When did you join the Pearl Drum family as an endorser?

RF: Pearl Corporation approached me about three years ago when they were revamping their percussion line of instruments. I became an endorser of their fine products and this year they are releasing my own signature model of congas and bongos. The design and concept for the new drums came from my wife (Jennifer Delgado) and me. The drums are covered with indigenous designs from the Taino alphabet of signs, depicting musicians and other positive primitive signs. Everyone at Pearl is happy and supportive of the new line of drums.