“With Julio, people can expect a fun show and that the music will stay hot,” says Ray Rabelo of Julio Bravo and his salsa band. Rabelo is owner of Jazz Caliente Entertainment, which is presenting a ‘Summer Salsa Series’ of salsa events at Oakland’s Veterans Memorial Hall on Lake Merritt. Bravo and his band, Salsabor, launched the series on May 29 with an evening of high energy salsa music and dancing.
Bravo, 41, is a well-known singer and musician in the Bay Area, having performed for many years at nightclubs and community events like Oakland’s Art & Soul festival. Bravo is the main singer of the twelve-piece band he leads. All band members live in the East Bay.
“We’re a very hard working band and we’ve been together for sixteen years,” says Bravo, who lives in San Pablo. “That makes a huge difference in the sound when you’ve been playing with the same people for a long time.”
Born in Lima, Peru, Bravo demonstrated his passion for the arts at a very early age, appearing on children's television programs, school plays and several theatrical productions. He arrived in the United States in 1989 with high musical aspirations and began performing with "Trio Los Chalanes," becoming increasingly popular within the Latin American community, particularly the Peruvian community.
In 1991 Bravo appeared on the television show "Buscando Estrellas" - the Latin version of Star Search - making it to the finals and giving him a tremendous amount of exposure and opportunities. He joined Orquesta Internacional in 1992 and performed regularly throughout Northern California gaining individual notoriety and demand as the featured act.
In 1994, he decided to assemble his own orchestra, Salsabor, and began securing bookings for the band at local nightclubs and private venues.
“Julio is a very professional musician - his band will always be prepared for a performance,” says Rabelo.
Veterans Memorial Hall should be a great venue for salsa music and dancing. “For dancers who are really particular about the floor, this is a dance hall,” adds Rabelo.
Bravo’s band plays popular cover songs and their own original songs. He is currently working on his first salsa CD featuring his original compositions. His unique interpretations and distinctive style are the band's trademarks. “We have our own sound even when we play cover songs – we add our own style,” says Bravo.
Though there will be some very talented salsa dancers at the events, free salsa dancing lessons will be offered for those people still learning the steps and beat.
“Salsa in the Bay Area is getting so popular among other cultures,” says Bravo. “The dance lessons are really helping all cultures to experience salsa. As communities, we are getting together through salsa.”