Sammy Deleon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Sammy, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Ethical and moral integrity guides me with actions, behavior, and decisions.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My passion and love for Latin music led to a career as a percussionist, bandleader, Salsa and Latin Jazz educator transcending genre, style and class into a musical career spanning (5) decades, with rich influences from the 70s to the present. My band, Sammy Deleon y Orquesta, is celebrating a milestone 30-year anniversary, with no plans of slowing down! With a fearless nature and passion as a leader and percussionist, I have gained popularity with irresistible, high-energy music, and explosive performances for people of all ages. Born into a musical family, I have been driven by an inner rhythm my entire life and consider music to be the purest form of self-expression.
I have received innumerable recognition including congressional, humanitarian, achievement, proclamations, Best Latin Band and many others. I am also a recipient of the prestigious “Tri-C Jazzfest Legends Award” joining the likes of Eddie Baccus, Greg Bandy, Kenny Davis, Bob McKee, Jackie Warren, Mark Mauldin, and Jamie Hadad. Sammy Deleon y Orquesta is the only Latin band to perform for consecutive full houses at The Cleveland Orchestra’s Severance Music Center — to play this stage is equivalent to Carnegie Hall in New York. Other venues include TRI-C Jazz Fest, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Governor’s Mansion, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Akron Museum of Art, Cleveland Music of Art, Rocket Arena, Nightown, Playhouse Square, State Theatre, universities, theaters, festivals. I participated in Cuba at La Guarapachanga in Pinar del Río, an international music festival; as well as in the Musician’s Seminar Orchestra, which would play the opening night at the World Salsa Congress in Los Angelas, CA, In 2023, the band participated in the the State of Ohio’s Ad Campaign Capture the Heart of Ohio’s Tourism.
“Cancion Para Mi Madre” an original composition on the CD “Sammy Deleon Y Orquesta : Con Salsa y Sabor”, won the 2025 InterContinental Music Awards Latin Category, an international competition that recognizes outstanding musical talent from across the globe. Also, the University of Akron is putting the final changes on a oral history project on Deleon’s life, with a projected release on the university website in 2026.
I teach and mentor aspiring percussionists in Latin rhythms; and love bring joy through music.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
At a very young age, my musical mentors, Elmer Arrocho and Rafael Guzman. Both joined my band 20+ years ago, and are still with me.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I was 16, when my mother died from a brain aneurysm. Losing her left a hole in my heart. Her death spurred me to switch from being a young teen to music. To deal with grief, I turned to music and that turned into my life. I became an artist through her absence and I owe her for that. She is with me every second of every day.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely! I’m a positive guy who loves to make everyone happy…well at least I try (LOL).
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Hopefully, I will be remembered for the love of family, music, my musicians, and fanbase and how it touched and shaped their lives.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sammy.s.place.2025
- Youtube: UClyA43xYgmoTrdTWRqdc2KQ
