Orlando Marin
Orlando Marin (born 1935, Bronx, New York) is an American band leader and timbales player. He formed his first band, Eddie Palmieri and his Orchestra, in 1951–52 with himself as director and Eddie Palmieri as musical director and later on the piano. He is of Puerto Rican descent. Career. After his first group broke up, Marin got a contract at Sunnyside Garden for almost three years to play every Saturday. This was his first "steady gig". Along with his music, he studied as a commercial artist, or comic book illustrator. He played with several different bands in the  famous Palladium Ballroom. Marin went into the army in 1958 for service in Korea. While on duty, he won first prize in the All Army Talent Competition in the Pacific Command. He then toured Korea and Japan and went to Washington DC for the final competition. This was followed by a performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. When stationed in California, Orlando sat in for Tito Puente on timbales at the Hollywood Palladium. Marin left the army in 1960 and formed a new band with many of his previous members. He returned to New York. He again appeared at the  Palladium Ballroom and other New York dance venues, including the Limbo Lounge, the Bayside Manor, the Hotel Taft, and the Bronx's Hunts Point Palace, among others. Marin was a contemporary of such greats as Tito Puente, Machito, and Tito Rodriguez. He is the only orchestra leader from New York's golden era of mambo who still performs regularly. Recording career. In 1954 he recorded first composition, "My Mambo" on 78 (rpm). His first two albums "Arriba Cha-Cha-Cha", and "Let's Go Latin" were recorded for Fiesta Records. He recorded "Mi Mambo" on the Plus label. He recorded  Se Te Quemó La Casa, and "Que Chévere" for Alegre Records. Marin then returned to Fiesta Records, for whom he recorded "Está en Algo" () which included the hit "Aprende a Querer". In 1970, he recorded "Out of My Mind", for the Brunswick label. Then, he released his album "Saxophobia". In 1961, Marin released his hit charanga record "Se Te Quemó la Casa".