ABOUT US
About the Orchestra
TSO, Tropical Sound Orchestra is Southwest Florida's leading Latin Music orchestra. Playing Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, and contemporary Latin. The orchestra is made up of highly trained, experienced professional musicians mostly from Cuba.
Our Founder and Members
Jorge Barrios / Piano & Co-Founder
Pedro Barrios / Bass Guitar & Co-Founder
Jorge and Pedro Barrios “The Brothers” were born in Habana, Cuba by Reparto
Playa. Jorge and Pedro come from a musical family. Their father and mother sang
and played guitar in a local band in Cuba during the 60's and 70's. Jorge
and Pedro graduated from Enrique Maza High School in Cuba. They studied music
together and after graduating Jorge began singing and playing percussion
like timbales and congas and Pedro studied guitar and bass. In there
early 20's, they left Cuba to continue their careers in the U.S.A. Jorge picked
up the piano and kept studying music with his brother and in 1995 created their
first band “Union Cubana” playing traditional music from Cuba like Benny More, La
Sonora Matancera, and their own sounds.
They toured all over Florida performing wherever they could like the: Festivales de la Calle Ocho; Cuban nostalgia and many more. They also performed in several cities and states in USA and the Bahamas. In 2000, they decided to break up the “Union Cubana” due to the tragic loss of their main vocalist. In 2001, Jorge and Pedro decided to create a 10-piece band called “Tropical Sound” in Miami. It took off like crazy and became a huge success. But in 2004, Pedro and Jorge decided to move their families to Cape Coral, where they decided to revive Tropical Sound with new members. The family like the new idea and not long after their younger daughter and son, Javier and Patricia Barrios joined the band. They have been successfully performing throughout Southwest Florida and gaining the reputation as the “Best Salsa Band of all of South Florida”.
Sarahi Hernandez
Lead Vocal/Minor Percussion
Javier Barrios
Drum/Timbale
Was born in Cuba, and is the son of Pedro Barrios, brother to Jorge Barrios and co-founder of Tropical Sound. Javier interest in music and percussion began at the age 5. When he was age 10, he began to study and read music professionally. He started playing shows and became a part of a professional band at age 16. He started performing with Tropical Sound in 2006. He has continued to grow and increase his knowledge of music while being a part of various small projects, tours and playing with other bands. He has played with a variety of genres like: funk, rock, and progressive metal. He won a competition for best local band and Artist in 2008, at battle of the bands at Mariner High School with his Rock Band “A Harsh Awakening” and won 3 round's in 2010 at guitar center's drum off in Fort Myers. Javier produces music such as hip hop, rap, salsa, house music, merengue and reggaeton.
Alfredo Prida
Congas/Vocals
Carlos Diaz
Musical Director/Trumpet 1
Osnay was born in Cuba and began music at age of 15. He entered the Cuban National Arts Institution, La AENA and began studying Trumpet. He graduated and entered one of Cuba's most famous salsa band's Paulo Fg y Su Elite. He began touring and playing with the band in 2007 until 2010. He played big gigs and traveled the world to places like France, Italy, Spain and Colombia for a big tour he recorded 2 cd's with the band, one called “Sigo siendo” and “Un Poquito de Todo”. Before he became a part of band, he played local gig's with local artists and band's in Cuba. Osnay left Paulo Fg Y Su Elite during their USA tour. After a year, he became part of Tropical Sound and began playing shows and making music again.
Yasel Sifontes
Saxophone
Patricia Barrios
Saxophone
Born in Miami, Florida. Patricia is the daughter of Jorge Barrios, our director. Patricia began to play saxophone and study music at age 13. She started to play in her school jazz and concert band. She started rehearsing with Tropical Sound at a young age and little by little got in to the group after her father saw she had talent, and wanted to take part of one of the hardest jobs in the band, playing a brass instrument. Patricia is very versatile when it comes to art and music. Not only can she play saxophone, but she is an actress and singer and has performed as main lead in many musical play's at school and event's in Fort Myer's. She has performed in productions like: Shrek, Wizard of Oz, Winnie and many more. She is currently going to school for the art's, to become a professional singer and actor.
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