Spiritual. Educational. Medicinal.
And Unapologetically Boricua.
BombaYo is a performing arts organization based in New York City which aims to highlight the music, traditions, and stories of Puerto Rican people and their Afro-Caribbean ancestors from the island. With twenty years of musical and educational experience, BombaYo specializes in providing age-accessible, learner-friendly and multicultural:
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live performances and entertainment,
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hands-on drum and rhythm workshops,
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sound therapy sessions,
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community events,
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and lessons on the history of Bomba.
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Founded in 2006 through the collaborative efforts of Jose “Dr. Drum” Ortiz and Melinda Gonzalez, BombaYo has served as a pillar of the Nuyorican community — proudly representing and educating the five boroughs on the African and indigenous Taino roots of traditional Puerto Rican song and dance. Just as Bomba was formed to stand up against the oppressive power of colonizers, BombaYo is proud to rally people across all identities and backgrounds for humanitarian and sociopolitical causes worldwide. That is because Bomba is not solely a celebration of Hispanic heritage, but also the intersectional and intergenerational unification of people during trying times. Whether you encounter BombaYo at a community parranda, a city-wide festival, a rally for solidarity, or just a performance at your local restaurant/cafe, the ultimate message of celebrating and uplifting each other is always promised.
These past two decades would not be possible without the support of the public itself, who make an effort to attend The Annual BomBarBecue for an afternoon of live performances, Puerto Rican cuisine, and an awards program which honors prominent community leaders at our very own headquarters, The Andrew Freedman Home. BombaYo has been featured in a variety of press outlets and historical foundations for its achievements in the fields of music and social justice, including The Library of Congress, The New York Times, The National Puerto Rican Day Parade, CBS News, ABC News, El Diario NY, and BronxNet. For more information on how to book BombaYo for your event in the future, click here:
Co-founder
Born on December 3rd, 1958, at New York City’s St. Vincent Hospital to Puerto Rican parents both from Caguas, Puerto Rico, Dr. Drum is known as one of the Top National Afro Rican Bomba Artists. Bronx native Jose Ortiz, aka: Dr. Drum, is a nationally highly acclaimed professional on-stage performer, educator in Pan-African, Caribbean and Latin culture and is a self-taught percussionist of Afro-Caribbean rhythms. For these past twenty years, he has been an adamant advocate for the cultural arts as well as an adamant activist, organizer and educator of Afro Puerto Rican Bomba, a traditional African derived music and art form, which was brought to the Americas from the African slaves.
Dr. Drum’s unbelievable artistic talent has led him to perform and record with world renown Grammy nominated Afro Rican Jazz artist, WilliamCepeda. Dr. Drum has more over recorded with internationally known entertainer and Broadway actor Corbin Bleu and has as well performed with both on stage!​
Dr. Drum has furthermore been invited to perform at internationally known venues where the greatest world entertainers have performed such as: The Madison Square Garden, The Lincoln Center, The United Nations, The Broadway Theatre, The MInskoff Theatre, ‘El Barrio Museum”, The T.D.Bank Five Borough Bike Tour and many other important similar venues. Dr. Drum has as well taught at numerous after-school programs throughout NYC since 1999, where has developed original curricula for teaching percussion to the youth.
Dr. Drum is presently the co-founder and Musical Director of BombaYo Afro-Puerto Rican Arts’ Project. His work helps members of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, race and ethnicities develop a strong sense of identity and responsibility through actively exploring their cultural roots. Dr. Drum’s engaging style encourages children and adults to explore their own musicality. He sees this art form as a vehicle for self-discipline, cultural affirmation, and healing. In doing this work Dr. Drum most importantly, seeks to bring awareness and appreciation of the contributions of the African Diaspora in the Americas to the entire world.
Dr. Drum has been affiliated through the Brooklyn Arts Council, the Bronx Council On the Arts, the City Lore, the Union Square Award Professional Development Program. Furthermore, he has co-chaired a committee and presented for the Bomba Research Conference. Throughout the years, Dr. Drum has been acknowledged numerously and has received various awards such as: TheProclamation Recognition Award from the Bronx Borough President, the Don Quijote Recognition Award from the Brooklyn college and numerous citation awards from the New York State Assembly Men and Council throughout the years for his immense cultural contributions.
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This is why Bomba is still here; because the rhythms have names!
Jose L. Ortiz, 2017
Meet
Dr. Drum
