Bill Ortega Jr. - Timbales/Trumpet/Coro

Born in San Francisco, CA, Bill is a Nica-Rican with a strong musical background in his family. He feels fortunate and proud to be the grandson of the late Carmelito Velez, a pioneer cuatro player on the West Coast.

After many years of inspiration he began his musical journey at the age of 8 playing trumpet in the school jazz band, and taking private lessons from Stan Kenton alumni Mike Vax. His first gigs were playing R&B/Top 40's with the "Xecutive Sweet" band at the age of 15.

He got his first experience playing Salsa when his uncle, Rick Rangel, aproached him to play for Orquesta Radiante. After a few years the band broke up and he began a four year stint with "Pe Pe Y Su Orquesta Peru", where he was able to record a CD and make a couple of appearances on the Univision program "Caliente".

In the late 90's Bill Sr. took the reigns of Orquesta Borinquen and Bill Jr. followed shortly after to begin their latest journey. With the help of many great musicians Borinquen has become a Bay Area favorite. He picked up Timbales along the way and can help the band at either position. He helped arrange some of the songs with piano player Marco Montoya on Borinquen's first full-length CD titled: "El Trombonista".

In addition, he has been able to share the stage with various acts such as: Roberto Roena, Hector Tricoche, Melcochita, Grupo Niche, Grupo Gale', Sonora Carruseles, Oscar D' Leon, Victor Manuelle, and Oro Solido.

Carlos Soto - Lead Vocals

Bio Coming Soon!

Marco Montoya -Piano

Marco started his music career at the young age of 7, with 2 years of piano lessons. After those two years of lessons he was able to play many song by ear. At age 12 he started playing with his dad in a church music group, where he played for the next 6 years.

At age 15 he picked up, and taught himself bass guitar, which he then played for two years in the church choir. Between the ages of 15 & 20 he also started experimenting with the recording side of music.

His main influences at the time were R&B, Freestyle & Smooth Jazz. At age 20 he joined his first latin group, San Sivar. It was there where he learned to play Cumbia, Salsa & Merengue. After a few years, the band broke up and he formed his own band," Grupo Caribe".

While playing with Grupo Caribe for almost 9 years, he began playing with other salsa bands in the Bay Area including: The Franco Brothers, Toni Nieto, Pepe y Su Orquesta, Orq. Kache, Orq. Kalichin, Orq. Sensual, Orq. Humbria, and then Marco finally landed with Orq. Borinquen.

He has been with Orquesta Borinquen for about 9 years now and had assisted with the writing & arrangements of 5 of the songs on Borinquen's new album. Marco continues to work on recording projects with various other latin groups and artists throughout Nothern California.

Freddy Martinez - Tenor Saxophone/Coro

Bio Coming Soon!

Ricky Gomez - Bongo

Ricky Gomez began playing bongo at the age of 12. Ricky’s influences include El Gran Combo, Sonora Poncena, and Willie Rosario, to name just a few. The Puerto Rican bongocero was raised in San Francisco with Bay Area musicians Karl Perazzo, and Carlos & Bizmark Franco.

Ricky is one of San Francisco’s most swingin' campanero’s, which compliments Borinquen’s “old school” salsa style. Ricky has performed with various salsa bands throughout the years in the San Francisco Bay Area, but has been dedicated to Borinquen for the past 7 years.

In addition to music, Ricky served in the United States Air Force, and currently serves in law enforcement today. His 27 year career includes duty in various parts of the US, Germany, and England.

Elliot “Toby” Borrero - Conga

Born in the Bronx, New York, Toby is a Puerto Rican who comes from a family of musicians. As a child Toby was able to see his Uncles play and learn from them.

Toby has been studying since the age of 8, and was inspired to begin his own journey at the age of 14 into the music realm. Along the way Toby has been blessed to be instructed by or sat in with percussion masters such as Luis “Chichito” Cepeda (Bomba, Plena), Roman “Ito” Carillo (Bomba, Plena), Vitor “Vitito” Emanuelli (Bomba, Plena), Eddie Borrero (Congas), Joey Borrero (Bongo, Bell), Cris “Flaco” Walker (Bata, Sacred rhythms), Rafeal “Ray” Martinez (percussion), Louie Ramero (Percussion), Hector Lugo (Bomba, Plena), Café Augusto (Percussion), Adrian Areas (Percussion), Javier Navarette (percussion), Dan Sabanovich (percussion), Ronald Rosario (Shekere), and many others.

Toby has sat in and played with many bands along the way, and continues to create his legacy.

Joe CJoe Camacho - Tenor/Bari Saxophones

Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Joe is an Bay Area native. He started playing the Sax his seventh grade year and never turned back.

He and Bill Ortega Jr. had been friends for many years, but they had not had the opportunity to play together until Joe joined Borinquen in 1999. In 2001 he left school, home, and the band to join the United States Air Force, where he served for five long years.

While he was serving in the military he still played with Borinquen whenever he could, but primarily played lead tenor with the "Londonaires", a classic Big Band Jazz group, and other various bands along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he was stationed at the time. He rejoined Borinquen full time upon seperating from the military and returned home in 2006.

He has had the honor of sharing the stage with many members of Borinquen, past and present, and expects much more for the band with its release of their first album, "El Trombonista", which he helped edit/mix.

Joe has been fortunate to share the stage with: Oscar D' Leon, Johnny Rivera, Oro Solido, Victor Manuelle, and the many outstanding bands and musicians throughout Nothern California.

choJoe Camacho

Boarn in

George "Tato" Rivera - Bass

Born and raised in New York City's Loisaida (Lower East Side) during the 70's and 80's at the hieght of the FANIA movement, George was destined to be influenced by his Puerto Rican heritage, as well as NYC's strong Salsa community.

At any given day there was a concert or a Rumba in the streets. Tato has been playing Bass since the 5th Grade. His influences are Eddie "Gua Gua" Rivera, Sal Cueva, and Marcus Miller, just to name a few. Tato had the opportunity to tour Japan and Korea with smooth Jazz recording artist Pieces of a Dream during the Mid 90's.

He's played for and shared the stage with Herman Olivera, Oscar D' Leon, Roger Smith (Tower of Power), Davey Jones, Eddie M (Prince), The Lemon Heads, Joe Archie (Christine Aguilara), and Living Colour just to name a few.

Kalin Ascasibar - Lead Vocals

Bio Coming Soon!

Eric Mendez - Percussion

BoBio Coming Soon!t

Bill Ortega Sr. - Manager

Bio Coming Soon!

Henry (Martinez) Hung - Trumpet

Henry started his musical career in NY, studying trumpet and music theory first, with Dave Burns. (A member of Dizzy Gillespie’s original Big Bang and saxophonist James Moody’s quintet)

He attended the Manhattan School of Music from 1993-1997 where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Trumpet Performance. From Manhattan, Henry moved to San Francisco where he currently resides, performing and teaching the trumpet throughout the Bay Area.

Henry is a versatile performer, playing with groups that span the musical spectrum from tradition to the avant-garde. He has performed with various jazz ensembles, most notably Stanley Clarke, The Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, Pyeng Threadgill, Mitch Marcus, the BJ Papa Quintet and he also co-leads his own group, Downtown Uproar.

He has experience playing with various world music ensembles such as Anthony Brown’s Grammy nominated Asian American Jazz Orchestra and Asian Crisis, both, which
incorporate Asian influences to modern day jazz.

He is also very active in the vibrant Bay
Area Latin/salsa music scene, performing with numerous bands, such as Orquesta Borinquen, Manicato, Mazacote, Kalichin, Timbalero, Orq. Callao, Eric Rangel Y Orq America, Danilo Y Su Orq Universal, Bolero Y Mas and Surco Nuevo.

Henry Hung is a very active teacher as well, teaching private lessons at the Academy of Language and Music Arts in Orinda, CA. He has taught at Skyline High School in Oakland, CA, the Jazzschool in Berkeley, CA, and with the MUSE Band Program in schools in Hayward and Castro Valley, CA.

Henry also writes and arranges music for many of the groups with whom he performs, arranging for all styles of music and ensembles of all sizes. He has also scored music to three short films, “Seduction”, “Pick Me Up”, and “Look Both Ways” (2006 SF Indie Fest) and one documentary, “Lids”.