Luis Guillen - Vocals and Percussion
Lawrence, Kansas via Caracas, Venezuela

One of the original founding members of Son Venezuela, Luis brings his interpretation of the classic sonero style to the band, as well as some ferocious tambora chops.

Luis initiated his musical career with the band in 1994, and hasn't looked back. With the foundation of Venezuelan folk songs and styles, he and bandmate Kelfel Aquí began performing as a smaller ensemble. As the audiences became bigger, Luis and Kelfel realized the potential to expand the group's sound to showcase the rich diversity found within latin music.

A classically-educated musician from his beginnings, Luis became the first 'salsero' in his family, quickly becoming a fan and dedicated disciple of 'Golden Age' salsa groups such as the Fania Allstars, Ruben Blades, and Grupo Niche. Luis brings a devout work ethic to Son Venezuela in addition to his role as a singer and frontman.

Luis is currently the owner and head chef of New City Cafe in Topeka, KS. Aside from spending time with his wife Marisól and his 4 children and following Thoroughbred horse racing, his favorite pastime is entertaining the crowds at Son Venezuela's shows.

Kelfel Aquí - Vocals, Cuatro, and Percussion
Maracaibo, Venezuela

In Son Venezuela Kelfel is vocalist, promoter, agent, logistics, recruiter, sound guy, and fashionista. A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela it comes to no surprise that Kelfel played in a Gaitas group. Kelfel joined a youth gaita band as a vocalist sponsored by the Venezuelan Youth Council.

In the early 1980's he came to the University of Kansas, where he was involved in several latin American folk music ensembles. By the late 1980's he co-founded a folk music ensemble named Folklore Venezuela. Kelfel had a vision to make the leap from concert halls into dance floors so he started to recruit more band members. By 1994 Folklore Venezuela had morphed into Son Venezuela.

Kelfel's instrument talents include the Venezuelan cuatro, charango, and guitar. His favorite bands: Guaco, The Police, Ruben Blades, Charanga Habanera, and Isaac Delgado.

"I always wanted to be in a Latin Dance band. Since there were no bands to join I formed one. My only regret is that we let someone who we don't even know his name choose the name for our band."

Marc Marcano - Piano and Vocals
Caracas, Venezuela

Marc's bio coming soon!

Fernando Reynoso - Congas, Percussion, and Vocals
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Fernando's bio coming soon!

Andrés Ramirez - Timbales and Percussion
Guadalajara, Mexico

Andrés's bio coming soon!

Glen Gray - Bass
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Glen's bio coming soon!

Rich Wheeler - Tenor Saxophone
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

Tenor Saxophonist Rich Wheeler has been a staple musician of the progressive Kansas City jazz scene for the past five years. A consumate musician, Rich brings a combination of technical fluidity and hefty improvisation to the group.

Rich has toured extensively throughout the world as a saxophonist in groups of all sizes and genres. From the Carribean to Europe, he has made a career out of great section playing as well as solo endeavors. His devotion to the art and instrument have made him a top-call player for a wide array of styles of music, and has appeared on scores of studio and live recordings for many artists.

Rich is currently a freelance performer and teacher in Kansas City. In addition to his performances with Son Venezuela, he appears regularly in several working bands throughout Kansas City, as well as heading a group under his own name.

Byron Jones - Trumpet and Vocals
Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA

Known to Son Venezuela's fans as 'El Viejito', Byron has been performing with the band for over 10 years. His tenure with both Son Venezuela as well as other regional groups has made him a recognizable trumpet player in the diverse Kansas City music scene.

Since the late 1980's, Byron has performed with a diverse array of Kansas City groups, including the New Vintage Big Band, Mambo X, and the Atlantic Express. As a dance band musician and sometime session player, he has collaborated with local and national notables such as Johnny Isom, Sherry Lawson, and the Red Dogs.

Byron currently splits his time between Kansas City and Manhattan, Kansas. His primary hobby is playing with different bands whenever he can, supplemented by renovation and home improvement projects.

Tom Johnson - Trombone and Vocals
Lawrence, Kansas, USA

Now in his third year as a part of Son Venezuela's horn section, Tom brings a blend of jazz and carribbean flavor to the trombone and the band.

A performing and touring musician for 15 years, Tom began as a jazz player and quickly fell in love with the sounds of island music; whether salsa, ska, reggae, or calypso, he became an avid fan and follower of the carribbean.

Tom has toured throughout the United States, Canada, and the Carribbean as a trombonist, bassist, and engineer. He has worked alongside groups such as the Secondhands, Brent Berry and the Roots Crew, and Dan Bern and the I.J.B.C. prior to joining Son Venezuela. He has also received recognition as an up and coming composer, arranger, and producer, having been on over 60 albums to date, and has most recently served as a ghost writer for a Grammy-winning artist.

Tom currently resides in Lawrence, Kansas, as the General Manager for radio station KJHK 90.7 FM. Aside from music, he and his wife Corey (and their two dogs) enjoy hobbies such as home improvement, gardening, and cooking.

Chris Leopold - Trumpet and Trombone
The Dirty South, USA

Truly the utility player in Son Venezuela, Chris is the newest member of the group, showcasing not only his talent as both a high and low brass technician, but also his ability to marry musical styles together, ranging from the grit of New Orleans jazz trumpet to the smooth sonority of modern latin trombone.

An open mind and a highly developed ear have played a major part in Chris's musical journey, and have paid off with performing credits on albums of all genres and frequent invitations to appear with a wide variety of musical groups.

Chris is a well-traveled musician, performing across North and South America, the Carribean, Europe, and Japan. He has cultivated long-standing musical relationships with Tom Johnson and Rich Wheeler, leading the horn sections in their shared musical history with the Secondhands, Brent Berry and the Roots Crew, and The Band That Saved the World.

More recently Chris has been a featured player in the Lawrence and Kansas City scenes as both a stage and studio musician, with credits with acts ranging from [name here] to reggae act the Yuca Roots, as well as recording with the bluegrass trio Truckstop Honeymoon. He is an avid music fan in his limited spare time, going to shows and listening to new music as much as he can.