Jesse Herrero (Leader/Director, Vocals, Cuban Guiro) - Jesse was born in Santiago de Cuba and arrived in the US in 1965. In 1975 he founded and directed Sublime of New York City. He started the band when Pupi Legarreta, with whose group Jesse was then singing, left for Africa with the Fania All-Stars. In 1977 Sublime of NYC recorded the famous hit "Coqueta" under TR Records.

Currently, Jesse Herrero produces all the recordings for SonSublime under the executive production of the LASEMCo. record label. In addition to leading SonSublime, Jesse is a Vice-President at JPMorgan Chase.

Ali Bello (Violin) - Venezuelan born. Ali obtained a degree from New School in New York City and a Masters Degree in Music Education from Colombia University. He is also an accomplished classical musician and enjoys playing violin with SonSublime.

Joe Gonzalez (Congas) - Joe was born in Puerto Rico and arrived in New York City at the age of 10. He began playing the Trombone at the Third Street Settlement Music School in New York City. Later, he pursued his musical talents at the Boys & Girls Harbor Conservatory of Performing Arts, in Spanish Harlem, NYC. Here Joe studied and became an accomplished Percussionist under the prominent musical directors, Luis Bauza, Frankie Malaba, and Ramon Rodriguez. Today he captures all of Cuba's rhythms, especially Charanga music. Joe Gonzalez is one of the original congueros of our Sublime from the 70's. In 1979 he recorded with us on an album entitled Ascendiendo. But, his very first recording was in 1973 with Orquesta Yambu. He also recorded on Saoco's last album. You may have seen Joe perform with Orchestra Broadway, Novel, and Saoco. Some of his idols are Mongo Santa Maria, Tata Guines, Patato Valdez, Daniel Ponce, and Ray Barretto. Joe is an all around percussionist. He also works for Daiwa Securities America, a major investment house in Wall Street. SonSublime is delighted to welcome back Joe Gonzalez.

Manuel Rivera (Timbales, Bongos) - Manny Rivera was born and raised in New York City. He began his musical career-playing Bongo in a Latin workshop band in 1973, which eventually became Orchestra Yambu. Yambu was known for it's Latin Jazz style and Disco Hit "Sunny", Manny's first recording. In 1976, he joined the original Sublime of New York City doubling up on Bongo and Timbales. He recorded on Sublime's first two albums in 1977 and 1979. Since 1975, Manny has studied various folkloric rhythms, Bata Drums and sight-reading at the Harbor's Conservatory of Music in "El Barrio" under the guidance of the Masters' Luis Bauzo and Ram�n Rodriquez. Manny has also performed with Bassist William Millan, of the original Conjunto Saoco, singers Henry Fiol, Ray Ramos and pianist Ray Santiago. Manny is an all round percussionist and we are very happy to have him as part of the SonSublime family.

Connie Grossman (Flute) - Connie Grossman was born in New York. She holds a BFA in Flute Performance and a MAT in Music Education. She has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad and has studied and performed in Cuba. She performs as a Latin jazz and classical soloist, and during her career has played and recorded with Yomo Toro, Charanson, the Latin Jazz Coalition, Companhia das Musicas, and Charanga Pasion, which she co-leads (and of course, look for Connie featured on SonSublime's CD). Connie brings to SonSublime not only a gigantic technical ability but a command of the Latin genre few current flutists possess. She recently received the Bronx Council on the Arts' 2000 BRIO award in the music performance category for one of her original compositions and has been featured in Clave, Latin Beat and Impacto magazines, in which her article, "Charanga: Then and Now," was published. Connie is also currently developing her debut album as a solo artist.

Rolando Arsel de los Reyes Cespedes (vocals) - Born in Holguin, Oriente, Cuba. Rolando, a dancer, musician, singer and sonero from the heart, has enjoyed music throughout his life. His mother Olguita taught him to sing duets with her at a very young age. By the age of 5 he sang in television shows in Holguín and together with his mother sang countless boleros, son and cha-cha-cha. This is how Rolando caught the musical bug and is a natural and gifted singer from his heart and soul.

Rolando went to music school in Cuba. His first experience was as a soloist in a band called Afro Salsa. This group was under the direction of the late great musician, Conrado Quevedo, who was the father of the Maestro Julio Quevedo. At the age of 20, Rolando received a call from trumpet player and musical director Gaston Allen and became the vocalist for Allen's orchestra, Los Hermanos Aviles. Los Hermanos Aviles, the oldest orchestra in Latin America was founded in 1882 by the musical Mambices (fighters for Cuba's independence). It was with this orchestra Rolando took his first musical steps as a professional singer.

Later, Rolando worked with several professional groups in Cuba, like La Gran Salsa, where he had the great honor to share 6 recitals, hand in hand/mano a mano, with many great Cuban singers/artists like Candido Fabre, Arara, NBL, Nueva Ola, Caribe Nibor and La Farandula.

Since the year 2000, Rolando feels very fortunate to be in New York - The Big Apple, where he has placed his knowledge and experience to the test.

Rolando is also the lead vocalist for a New York based band, Son de Madre. His extensive resume covers his accomplishments with the following artists: Mario de Jesus (Marioso) - Grammy winning engineer, Ralphy Irrizarry, Pedro Jesus, La India, Rey Ruiz, Olga Tanon, Lisandro y su Tratado, Marvin Diz, N'Klabe, Yadira Coradin, Mauricio Herrera, The New Swing Sextet and Clodet Sierra. SonSublime is honored to have Mr. Rolando Arsel de los Reyes Cespedes, AKA "El Oso" as part of its vocal section. It is a pleasure to have him as a key vocalist in SonSublime.

Mike Perez (Violin) - Mike was born in Habana, Cuba. Mike studied at the Conservatorio de La Habana and has played on the same bill as such Cuban legends as Orquesta Aragon and Orquesta Sensacion. Once in the United States he studied at the University of Michigan and received his Doctorate in Music at the University of Texas. Once established as a noted music professor, Mike played first violin with Tipica Novel in the 1970's and later formed and directed his own group, Tipica New York (along with SonSublime's Executive Director Jesse Herrero). After recording a solo LP in the early 1970's, Mike joined Charanga '76 and he later left to play with Jesse Herrero's Sublime. When the group disbanded in 1985, he played with Orquesta Broadway and Jose Fajardo before re-joining SonSublime in 1999. One of the great veterans of New York's Latin scene, Mike brings unparalleled experience to SonSublime's sound.

Gil Suarez (Piano) - Gil was born in New York of Puerto Rican parents. Gil, the former former leader of the Hi-Latins and La Tipica Ideal Orchestras rejoins SonSublime. He is a gifted composer and arranger and has recorded with and written for such noted Latin bands as Johnny Pacheco, Ray Baretto, Machito, Orquesta Broadway, as well as SonSublime. He studied piano with the renowned Cuban pianist, the late Luis Varona. In his illustrious career, Gil has traveled and performed in Europe and Africa, and all over the United States.