September 05th
Tina Olivero
Publisher
The Oil and Gas Magazine
Publisher
The Oil and Gas Magazine
St. John’s first live Salsa band came together in the summer of 2008 for their debut performance at DMC Entertainment’s Latin Fiesta.
Salsa Roca Members
| Deneen Connolly - vocals and percussion | |
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Deneen grew up in a musical family and was influenced at a very young age by her father, Basil Connolly, well known in the 60’s for his bass like voice in the popular dance band, the Deltones. Her passion for the music, dance and cultures of the world led her to create a Salsa dance community in St. John's in the Sping of 2005. Today she offers weekly dance classes & events and special events such as World Dinner & Dance Shows and Latin Fiestas. In the Winter of 2008 she began to explore the creation of a Latin dance band for our growing dance community and shortly thereafter, "Salsa Roca" was born. As marketing director of "Salsa Roca," bi-monthly Latin Fiestas are a growing craze gathering steam all over St. John's. |
| Dean Boland - trumpet | |
| Ian Goudie - saxophone/back-up vocals | |
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Ian Goudie grew up in a musical family in St. John’s, and played rock and classical guitar through his teens. Through private instruction and the Prepatory School of music at Memorial University Ian fulfilled his passion for woodwinds, and advanced his saxophone/flute techniques and jazz theory at Humber College in Rexdale, Ontario. Ian is an active musician in Newfoundland and performs a variety of idioms including jazz, blues and world beat. In 1996, Ian released a CD entitled Look To The Sky with established BC Guitarist Brad Prevadoros and distributed by Midsummer Music Ltd. featuring bossa nova compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim. In 2003, he produced an independent CD entitled The Falcon Flies featuring original material on metaphysical and native spirituality in memory of his daughter Terra. Ian explores the crossover of musical genres so evident in our global village, and brings strong musical arrangements and improvisational explorations into original world music. |
| Gareth Griffiths - drums | |
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Gareth is originally from Wales but has been living in Newfoundland since the age of 6, so considers himself a Newfoundlander, but proud of his Welsh heritage. He acquired his first drum set four decades ago at the age of 8 has been drumming ever since. He has played in several bands over the years, primarily in rock genres, however is now also enjoying the challenges and excitement of the latin rhythms. |
| Juhan Leemet - guitar/back-up vocals | |
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Juhan Leemet is an electrical engineer and computer consultant. He enjoyed playing in dance bands in college. Later years didn't afford much time for music. Recently, Juhan has renewed interest in dance, esp. latin rhythms and Argentinian tango. He couldn't pass up the opportunity to take part in St. John's first salsa band: Salsa Roca. Bailamos! |
| Peter McGuire - bass | |
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Peter has been on the music scene in St. John’s for the past ten years as a bass player and harmonica player. Peter was a member of the bluegrass group Five for Silver (formerly Kentucky Tundra) that performed at the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, The Bluegrass and Old-Time Country Music Festival as well as the Niagara Folk Arts Festival in Ontario. Peter has also performed with many of St. John’s best musicians including Scott Goudie, Sherry Ryan, Dennis Parker, Michael Elgohary, Gail Fraser, Andrea Monro, and Amelia Curran. Peter has participated in various instructional workshops including the joint-hosting of an in-depth harmonica workshop with Peter Narvez. Peter is currently a board member with the Bluegrass and Old-time Country Music Association as well as the bass player for the Latin music group Salsa Roca. |
| Len Penton - keyboard/vocals | |
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Len Penton learned piano in Gander - Grade 12, Trinity College - and went on to help start (and is past President of) the St. John's Folk Music Club and the Music Industry Association, MusicNL. He often plays with harpist Deb Clarke and accordian wonder Art Stoyles, as well as Salsa Roca, where he offers whistles and keys to every latin lover out there. |
| Victor Spencer - congas | |
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Victor C. Spencer was born and raised in Marabella, Trinidad. In 1977, he came to Newfoundland with a steel drum band called the Trinidad Trivados. He fell in love with Newfoundland and has lived here ever since. Victor has been involved in the local music scene for the past 30 years. He has played with Scott Goudie, Roger Howse, Dennis Parker and other local musicians as well as playing solo for many years. He has appeared on local TV shows including Coffee Break, The Janeway Childrens Miracle Networt Telethon and his own show "Vic Spencer and Friends" on Cable Atlantic. Victor's talents include the guitar, bass, percussion, steel drums and vocals. |
Salsa Roca Performance - February 2009 Latin Fiesta
Salsa