Alex Acuña

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Alex Acuña
Acuña in 2010
Acuña in 2010
Background information
Birth nameAlejandro Neciosup Acuña
Born (1944-12-12) December 12, 1944 (age 79)
Pativilca, Barranca, Peru
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban jazz, pop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion
Formerly of

Alejandro Neciosup Acuña (born December 12, 1944), known professionally as Alex Acuña, is a Peruvian–American jazz drummer and percussionist.[1]

Background

Born in

Las Vegas, working with artists such as Elvis Presley, The Temptations, and Diana Ross, and the following year he joined the jazz-fusion group Weather Report, appearing on the albums Black Market and Heavy Weather. While in New York City, Acuña recorded several songs under RCA records. Acuña decided to leave because of the genre limitations placed on him, in which RCA records
only had him play Latin music.

Acuña left Weather Report in 1978, and became a session musician in California, recording and playing live with (amongst many others)

Paquito d'Rivera, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Brad Mehldau, BoDeans, Paco de Lucia, John Patitucci, Sadao Watanabe, Lyle Mays, Diana Ross, Sérgio Mendes, Robbie Robertson, Jackson Browne, Bette Midler, Jennifer Nettles, Christina Aguilera, Seal and Chris Botti.[3]

In the 1980s Acuña also recorded and toured with the Christian jazz band

A Black and White Night". He played percussion on Blondie's number one hit "The Tide Is High" and also recorded more than 300 movies under the direction of Lalo Schifrin, Dave Grusin, Michel Legrand, Bill Conti, James Horner, James Newton Howard, John Williams, Alan Silvestri, Michael Giacchino, Christopher Beck, Maurice Jarre, Steve Jablonsky, John Powell and Heitor Pereira
. In 1987, Acuña was summoned back to Perú by producer Ricardo Ghibellini to be the musical producer of Los Hijos del Sol, a supergroup of Peruvian prodigies designed to promote Peruvian music worldwide. Acuña remains dedicated to promoting the musical culture of his homeland with the group, blending traditional and modern sounds.

He has also worked as an educator at University of California, Los Angeles, and Berklee College of Music. LAMA, Musicians Institute, USC, CSUN.

Appears on

Equipment and instruments

Gon Bops Percussion:[4]

  • Alex Acuña Special Edition Congas
  • Alex Acuña Signature Timbales
  • Alex Acuña Special Edition Cajon
  • Alex Acuña Signature Cajon
  • Alex Acuña Special Edition Bongos
  • Alex Acuña Bells

Acuña is known to have played drums,

darbuka.[5]

Awards

  • Best Latin/Brazilian Percussionist, Modern Drummer's Readers Poll.

References

  1. ISBN 1561592846
    .
  2. OCLC 974992156.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link
    )
  3. JSTOR 10.1525/j.ctt1trkkk3
    .
  4. ^ "Alex Acuna - Gon Bops".
  5. ^ "Alex Acuña - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.

External links

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