About me

Born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Jose has been performing on percussion instruments since he was five years old. At age 11, he started formal music lessons with Professor Jose “Tito” Rivera at the Escuela Libre De Música de Humacao. At 12 years of age, Jose started performing with the Humacao Symphonic Band under the direction of Professor German Peña Plaza. With the Humacao Symphonic Band, Jose traveled to Venezuela, New York, Costa Rica, Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic. At age 14, Jose received formal percussion lessons from Professor Jose "Pepe" Torres at the Escuela Libre de Música de Caguas. Under Torres direction, Jose performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Puerto Rico State Band and also with a variety of local bands. By the age of 17, Jose was accepted into the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music where he studied percussion with Professor Jose Alicea. Under Alicea's direction, Jose played for the America youth symphony orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1994, Jose moved to Miami, where he attended the University of Miami and Florida International University. Through the course of his life, Jose has had the opportunity to perform with renown artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Marcos Barrientos, Gerson Kelly, Danilo Montero, Mike Orta, Bobby Cruz, Jose "Papo" Rivera, “Steel Pan virtuoso” Liam Teague, Gregg Bissonnette, etc... He had also performed at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom “Tarzan Rocks” and “The Village Beatniks” shows, at the Universal Studios Florida “The I Love Lucy tribute show!”. He also leads his own percussion group called “Los Rumberos de El Nuevo Dia”, his latin jazz band "Jose Rosa and Friends" and also co-leads with Hector "Pocho" Neciosup a fusion Latin-American Jazz band named: "Tinya". In addition, he can also be heard and seen in many radio ads and TV programs like syndicated PBS program “Jazz Then and Now” and also on the Travel channel in the program "The making of Disney's Animal Kingdom". He has also co-written several instructional books with his long time friend Professor Hector ”Pocho” Neciosup some of the titles are: Award winning:"The Book of Contemporary Conga Techniques", "Beyond The Secret Hand / Mas alla de la Mano Secreta" published by Hal Leonard Corporation,"The Contemporary Latin Drummer minus one", "The Contemporary Latin-American Percussionist", Among many others... Jose is an active member of the American Federation of Musicians (Local 389), Percussive Arts Society, ASCAP, MENC, International Associations of Jazz Educators, International Association of Music Educators, Christian Educators Association International. Jose proudly endorses Pearl Drums and Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Paiste Cymbals, Regal Tip Drumsticks, Pintech Electronic Percussion, PhatFoot Accessories, Offworld Percussion Practice Pads, , Cympad Accessories, Cymbag Cymbal Protectors and Beato Bags. Visit Jose Rosa's Official website at: www.joserosa.net For Clinics, Master Classes and Performance Bookings send us an e-mail to: joserosa@clmeducators.com Send us an e-mail or call 1-786-539-6269 USA