DANIEL DE LOS REYES interview

DANIEL DE LOS REYES

Exclusive Interview 22 February 2000.

JOHN: Daniel, thank you very much for taking the time for this interview. You've been very busy lately. How are you doing?
DANIEL: I am doing really good. There are a lot of things happening right now and it is a very exciting time for me.

JOHN: I think many of my website visitors would be interested in how you began your musical career. How old were you when you when you first started playing?
DANIEL: Well, I was born into a musical family. Both my father and older brother play the drums and my grandfather and uncles were musical as well. My home was always filled with drums of all different types. So I think I had the beat of drums flowing through my veins even when I was in my mother's womb. She tells me I kicked an awful lot so I think I started to play the drums even then!! But seriously, you know how most kids go crazy and bang on pots and pans at a very young age? Well, at my house it was "Here are the drumsticks. You hold them like this." :-) I first picked up the drumsticks and played on my dad's drums and pads at around age two. Then I started to take lessons at about ten years of age.

JOHN: Can you explain to our readers exactly what you play?
DANIEL: I play a variety of percussion instruments as well as the drumset. On my album, SAN RAFAEL 560, I play congas, drums, guiro, maracas, cowbell, clave, timbales, and shekere. However, my favorite percussion to play is the tumbadoras or congas as they are called in the United States. I have a very special love for hand percussion instruments because it is just your hands and the drum making the music. Tumbadoras are a very physical instrument and it takes a special devotion to get through the pain that you go through when you first start playing. What I mean by that is the process and time required to get your hands in shape and to build up your stamina. But what an incredible feeling you experience when you reach that point. On SAN RAFAEL 560, I play the tumbadoras on eight of the ten songs as well as several other percussion instruments. What most people don't realize is that playing a whole night of hand percussion is a serious physical workout. But I LOVE IT!!!

JOHN: You recently toured with the Queen of Rock & Roll, Stevie Nicks. How did you get the honor of playing percussion in her band?
DANIEL: I feel extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to recently perform with Stevie. My very good friend, Carlos Rios (guitar), recommended me. Carlos and I performed together with Lionel Richie in the summer of 1999.

JOHN: I attended two of Stevie's recent shows, Daniel, and I have to tell you, I thought you were the best percussionist Stevie Nicks has ever had on her solo tours! I have gone to twenty-three Nicks shows so I have seen many percussionists come and go. You added an "edge" to her already powerful sound and kicked the concert into over-drive! Any chance you will be recording or touring with her on the upcoming spring/summer 2000 tour?
DANIEL: Wow, twenty-three concerts! That is more than I have performed. First of all, I want to thank you very much for the most wonderful compliment. And of course I would be honored to be asked to record or tour with Stevie in the future. She is great!

JOHN: Can you tell us about the first time you met Stevie?
DANIEL: I knew this question was going to be asked! First I want to clarify that I have been a big fan of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac for a long time. So for me to get the chance to personally meet her and to perform with her has been an absolute dream come true for me. Of course, I was a little nervous meeting her for the first time. But being the warm person that she is, Stevie made me feel very comfortable immediately. She is very gracious and put me at ease right from the start.

JOHN: How was it working with her?
DANIEL: Stevie is very easy to work with. First of all you have to remember that the music you are playing is music that everyone loves. Then add to that Stevie's incredible singing and dancing on the stage. For me to hear and watch Stevie perform is so incredible. Being a big fan of Stevie's, John, imagine how you would feel being that close to such an amazing talent. That is probably the same emotions that I felt when I was on stage performing with her.

JOHN: Did she display her funny sense of humor to you?
DANIEL: Oh yes. Stevie is great. I especially enjoyed getting together with everyone before the concerts. We would all start laughing and dancing backstage. It was a lot of fun.

JOHN: How were the rehearsals?
DANIEL: The rehearsals were just like the concerts. When we all rehearsed the songs prior to Stevie's arrival, it was one thing. But the moment Stevie entered the stage and started to sing, forget it. It was just like the concert. And I mean that in a totally GOOD way!!

JOHN: Did she twirl a lot and make you dizzy?:-) Gotta love those twirls!
DANIEL: :-)

JOHN: Did you get to hear any of the tracks to her upcoming,"Trouble in Shangra-La" CD?
DANIEL: Yes I did! However, I am going to leave you in suspense!!

JOHN: Daniel, you have recently released a solo album entitled SAN RAFAEL 560. It is amazing! How did you come up with the concept for this album?
DANIEL: This album project is something that I have always had in my heart to put together. I love the Cuban music from that era and grew up listening to it everyday. I remember waking up and seeing my mom singing and dancing to this style of music. The record player was always on in my home! So for me, it recaptures some very happy moments in my life.

JOHN: Are you planning any music videos to promote SAN RAFAEL 560 or any touring plans to support it?
DANIEL: At the moment I have no plans for a music video. But you never know! In regards to touring, I am currently making the necessary preparations for the San Rafael 560 group to begin performances in some of the major cities throughout the U.S.

JOHN: Tell us about your recent appearance on "Saturday Night Live."
DANIEL: The opportunity for me to perform recently on "Saturday Night Live" was really great for many reasons. Not only was the music a lot of fun to play and dance to but Jennifer Lopez was truly wonderful. So it was a most memorable experience for me. Many times in those kind of shows you play sequencers and you end up not really playing which, of course, is a let down. But not with Jennifer and her music. We were definately loving every minute and playing our hearts out!

JOHN: Can you share a little about some of the other artists you have worked with? Who was the most fun?
DANIEL: Who was the most fun? Hmmm . . . that is a difficult question. Everyone I have had the privilege of performing with has been a lot of fun and really really great. Ricky Martin is very nice. I have worked with him in the past and also performed with him at the Grammy's this year. Gloria Estefan was wonderful when I performed with Miami Sound Machine. I also had a great time doing an international tour with Yanni that included performing at the Taj Mahal in India. I have been fortunate to have played with some incredible artists over the years in some very interesting places. So the list could just go on and on.

JOHN: What artists do you listen to? What CD's would we find in your personal collection?
DANIEL: Well, I listen to everything I can get my hands on. I am very open-minded and listen to everything from funk to hard rock to jazz to classical to ethnic music from all over the world. What can I say? My goal is to be like a sponge and absorb as much as I can musically. I love it all.

JOHN: What do you do for fun on your time off?
DANIEL: I assume you are asking me what I like to do that doesn't involve music or my career. Well, my free time is priceless to me because my career takes up the majority of my time. But I LOVE my music!! However, when I do get the chance to get away for a while, I like to escape to the quiet of the mountains. I love to be surrounded by nature where I cannot hear the noise of cars or people talking. You know what I mean. I like to just sit and listen to the sound that the wind makes up against a mountain--to "feel" that peace and quiet. I also love to ride horses and would like to ride much more often than I have been able to do. And of course, being Cuban and Puerto Rican, I love to swim in the warm Caribbean waters whenever I can!!

JOHN: Well, thanks very much for this interview, Daniel. It is an honor. I hope to see you perform live again soon. And I urge everyone to buy your CD as it is a wonderful musical achievement!
DANIEL: Thank you so very much, John. I have really enjoyed talking to you too. Please feel free to come and say hello in person any time.

VITAL STATS

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 175
Eye color: Blue/green
Birthdate: July 18, 1962
Birthplace: New York City
Currently residing: Los Angeles area

For Info on the CD