Havana NRG

		Mariela Suarez (Piano, violin, vocals) - Born February 6, 1971 in the city of Havana, Cuba. From the age of four she began to appear in TV, radio, documentaries and theater as part of a musical children's group, "Meñique". She studied at the music academy specializing in piano and violin. In 1987 she won first place in a national contest for violin students. Mariela graduated with a technical and professional title as instrumentalist and violin professor. In 1989 she was selected to participate the Young Musicians World Orchestra as a violinist becoming the first Cuban in history to be accepted for this kind of event. In 1992 she was part of the prestigious orchestra of the Cabaret Tropicana in Havana, Cuba as keyboard player. Along with Ivan Martinez was musical director of the band "Cuestión Seria", which won the 1995 Novel Orchestra award in Cuba. In 1997 she was the producer, musical arranger and piano player of the CD, "Amante Solo Yo", by Dikan and Cuestión Seria. Of which the song "Hice por Ti", reached fourth place in the New York Hit Parade of the Latin Beat magazine. During three years she participated as violinist in the symphonic orchestra of Nuevo Leon and was professor of violin in the Instituto Superior de Musica in Monterey, Mexico. In 1999, Mariela moved to the United States and worked as musical director, arranger, piano and violin player in Dallas. She became a founding member of Havana NRG! in 2002.

		Ivan Martinez (Timbales, vocals) - Born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba March 16, 1967. From 1987 to 1992 Ivan studied university courses at Pedagogico de la Habana, obtaining a bachelors degree in Music Education. While studying he was trombone player and musical director of the band "Son Imagen", which received various award recognitions. Then in 1993, he started as a trombone player with the orchestra "Cuestión Seria", and later shared responsibilities as musical director with Mariela Suarez. This group won the 1995 Novel Orchestra award in Cuba. Two years later he participated as musical arranger and trombone player in the recording production "Amante Solo Yo", by Dikan and "Cuestión Seria". He formed part of the group "Caribe Show" in Mexico sharing the stage with internationally known musicians such as Oscar d'Leon, La Coco Band and Wifrido Vargas. In 1999, Ivan moved to the United States, and has worked as timbal player and vocalist. He became a founding member of Havana NRG! in 2002.

		Maiquel Romero (Trumpet, lead vocalist) - Born in Holguin, Cuba in December, 1973. The son of an actress and a school teacher, Maiquel began to show interest in the arts in his early life. At the age of 5 he was already singing the old "Trova Cubana," which gave the first glimpse of a bright future in the music field. In 1984 he took on the trumpet and studied with Eduardo Pupo. After 8 years of study, he graduated from music school in 1992. He obtained his "real" education while playing with the Holguin Municipal Band, where he sat right next to his teacher. There he developed a tremendous skills in the popular music, which is presently his best form. In the early 1990s, Maiquel had the opportunity to work in Mexico as trumpeter. He spent five years performing in Monterrey with the cuban band Caribe Show. In 1999 he moved to Dallas, where he has worked as lead vocalist and trumpet player. He became a founding member of Havana NRG! in 2002.

		Ramón Rodriguez (Bass, vocals) - Born August 31, 1962 in San Miguel del Padron, Havana, Cuba. At the age of eleven, Ramón began his lifelong passion for music while playing at different amateur bands. In 1978 he began studying percussion at the National School of Art Instructors, in Havana. He graduated as Instructor of Arts in 1982, and that very year he began his professional career doing presentations in Cabaret Caribe in Havana, as a bass player with the orchestra Cubanacán. They accompanied known stars, such as Elena Burke, Juana Bacallao, Moraima Secada, and Rolo Martinez. In 1991 he started as bass player and later as musical director to the band of Mirtha Medina. They toured through some cities in Mexico, until 1993 when they came to the United States. In Miami, he participated in different recording productions such as: "Yo soy solo, solo, solo Amor", collaborated by Roberto Torres, "Chico Chévere", by Albita Rodriguez, and "Contra-danza", by Trio Habanero. Also, in 1994 as musical arranger of the demo recording production from which RMM record label signed the artist Guianko. In 2000, he moved to Dallas and continued working as bass player and percussion instructor. He became a founding member of Havana NRG! in 2002.

		Jeff Fort (Saxophone) - Born May 25, 1971 and grew up in the tropical setting of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He started playing the saxophone at the age of 16. When he finished High School, he briefly attended music school before he was hired to play for Carnival Cruise Lines. After working on the cruise ships for 3years, Jeff moved to Denton, TX to finish school. He graduated from the University of North Texas in 2001 specializing in jazz performance, and started working in the Latin music scene as saxophone and flute player. He became a founding member of Havana NRG! in 2002

		Georber Nodal (Trumpet) - Born in Matanzas, Cuba on July 2, 1976. At the age 9 he took his first steps towards music, getting involved with different bands playing guitar and percussion. He began his musical studies in the Vocational School of the Arts in Matanzas, specializing in trumpet. Four years later, he decided to further his musical studies and successfully completed the entrance requirements at the famed National School of Art in Havana, where he extended his skills. Georber graduated in 1995 with the a degree in Trumpet Performance. As a professional, he had the opportunity to perform with some of the greatest orchestras in Matanzas and also participated in several live performance showcases for the tourist industry in Varadero Beach. In 2000 he moved to Miami , Florida where he performed with many local tropical bands and had the great experience of sharing the stage with the late Celia Cruz and Mickey Taveras. Georber also performed on popular television programs based in Miami, such as "Sabado Gigante", on the Univision Television Network, "Escandalo del Mediodia", "De Mañanita", and others. He has worked for such famous artists as Luis Enrique, Jaci Velazquez, Gisselle, Elvis Crespo, Gilberto Santa Rosa and many more. In 2002, he moved to Dallas and started playing with different bands until June of 2004 he became member of Havana NRG!

		Frank La Rosa (Percussion) - Born August 24 1965 in Havana. At the age of 7 his musical talent awakened with his maternal grandfather who showed him the principles of latin and afro-cuban percussion. His formal musical studies commenced in 1972 at the Alejandro García elementary while at the same time playing bongoes with the Lirio de Oro sextet directed by his gradfather, Antonio Fernández and children’s musical groups performing in various events and festivals. In 1978 joined the Marianao Municipal Band in Havana playing popular and classical works of Cuban and International origin. In 1983 was enrolled at then intermediary level a the prestigious Amadeo Roldán conservatory. He joined various University and Nueva Trova Cubana musical groups including Abril y Caña Brava directed by the flute virtuoso Orlando Valle ( Maraca). During the same period performed with the Marqueses de Atarés in the Carnavales of Havana. After graduating in 1987 started performing at the Varadero resort and the following year took his first international tour with the world famous Tropicana troupe to Panama city under the direction of Lázaro Valdez sharing the stage with such notables asWilfrido Vargas and the Chicas del Can. This was followed by trips to Spain and Canada where for the first time started teaching and sharing his talent for Cuban percussion. Upon his return to Cuban soil continued working with different groups playing at principal dance halls and cabarets in Havana as well as radio and television work. It was at this time that he started recording with EGREM, the Cuban national label playing drums and Cuban percussion with groups as Te con E and solo artists as Manolo del Valle and Hector Tellez. In 1990 toured Cuernavaca, Mexico City, Ciudad del Carmen and others. 1993 saw him join the Tropicana show with Cuestión Seria winning in 1994 Cuban television’s coveted prize to the best new orchestra of the year. The following year returned to Mexico where he recorded with the Fania Label. In 1996 traveled to Monterrey, Mexico playing with high caliber groups as well as teaching at the prestigious Tecnológico de Moterrey. Later in Miami worked the the Viva Miami company playing in the Calle Ocho Carnaval as well as TV appearances in Sábado Gigante, Despierta América and others. In the year 2000 travelled to the Bahamas playing for a tourism convention. During all this time he also spent time teaching percussion in different workshops with Hector Nacosset percusion professor at the University of Miami and Al Gore’s presidential campaign. It was now time in 2004 for a six month tour in a European cruise ship visting Spain, France, Italy, Malta and Tunis. He reunited with old colleagues from Cuba when he joined Havana NRG in 2005.