Today we’d like to introduce you to Israel Maldonado.
Hi Israel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Tijuana, Mexico; my mom got me music lessons when I was eight years old. It turned out that it was a kid’s orchestra, and they taught us how to read music and started playing different events. When I was 10 years old, I learned how to play the Classical guitar. I fell in love with the instrument after I heard my guitar teacher play Recuerdos del Alhambra (Google it; I recommend it!) :-).
We moved to the US when I was in high school, and I joined the Drumline at Carlsbad High School. I went to Palomar College, where I got my AAA, and transferred to San Diego State, where I took a Brazilian drum class with Mark Lamson, where I met so many future accomplished drummers. Mark recommended I take a drum Class at Cafe Sevilla with Josias Dos Santos, and I ended up joining his band playing percussion. I played at Cafe Sevilla for many years during Sunday Brazilian nights, playing many carnaval shows with the group Sambrasil and also performing drums with Sol e Mar during the downtown Street scene years!
I made my own band called Gentefina. It’s when I started to get the courage to start singing. I was studying Portuguese, so I started to sing a lot of Brazilian songs. My first language is Spanish, so Portuguese was a little similar, l learned English in Carlsbad. I joined the group Agua Dulce the Midwest. I had my first kid, so I took a break from touring and started playing gypsy guitar with David de Alba and Oscar Aragon, who taught me how to gig (work as a musician) on my own.
I started doing my own shows and learned how to DJ, and I do mostly events, weddings, clubs’ bars wherever there’s a party! I teach guitar every day at a high school.
I guess this long story short helped me get where I got today 🙂
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think it’s ever a smooth road, no matter what you’re doing. The struggles I guess is that sometimes work is inconsistent; some months are better than others.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am known for being good at background music, weddings and events because of my experience I specialize in Brazilian music, Classical Music, Reggae, Latin, Pop. Rock etc.
Sets me apart is that I am fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and English, I can read music and pretty much adapt to any situation.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think in the next 5 to 10 years everything is going to be virtual reality artificial intelligence most of us will probably want to just stay in the studio and create music, I guess that’s what my goal is… and Tour on occasions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.israelmaldonado.com/
- Instagram: @izzyguitar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelMaldonadoMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@IsraelMaldonadoMusic
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/israel-maldonado-music-san-diego
