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KENNETH MELENDEZ

A MUSICAL DIRECTOR, ARTISIAN,AND A PERCUSIONIST. BORN IN 1969, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. OF PUERTORICAN PARENTS,MRS. FLOR DE MARIA PADILLA AND MR. DANIEL RODRIGUEZ MELENDEZ, PROFESIONAL JOCKEY AUTHOR OF THE VICTORY OVER THE GREAT HORSE CALLED CAMARERO.

AT THE AGE OF SEVEN HE MOVED TO PONCE PUERTO RICO, WHERE HE STUDIED HIS FIRST AND SECOUND GRADES IN THE CITY OF PONCE, AND LATER FINISH HIS OTHER STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES.A GRADUATED OF SOUTHVIEW HIGH IN 1988 AND EX-STUDENT OF LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLEGE FROM 1989-1992.MAJOR IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN. HE INICIATED AS A PERCUSIONIST WITH THE TEACHERS JOSE ORTIZ, NOEL QUINTANA AND RAFA GUZMAN AND OTHERS. HE HAS ALSO FORM PARTS OF DIFERENTS FOKLORIC AND POPULAR MUSIC GROUP SUCH AS BAMBALUE, YORUBA, PEDRO GUZMAN AND SU CUATRO RUMBERO, IRVING CANCEL AND HIS JAZZ BAND, CONJUNTO LA PERLA AND OTHERS.

IN THE AREA OF ARTS KENNETH LIKES TO CREATE TRADICIONAL MASKS WITH DIFERENTS MATERIAL SUCH AS: SACK, COCONUT, WOOD, PAPER MACHE,GOURD, FOAM, PLASTIC, AND WIRE MASH. REID WOOD, LEONARDO PAGAN AND MIGUEL PEREZ WERE HIS ART TEACHERS. HE HAS HAD EXIBITION IN THE MUSEUM OF EL BARRIO IN NEW YORK ,MC DNOUGH IN YOUNGSTOWN OHIO, ESQUELETO GALLERY OBERLIN OHIO,IN THE LORAIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE GALLERY IN LORAIN OHIO,THE JAZZ GALLERY IN CALIFORNIA, IN THE AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM IN THE SMITHSONIAM IN WASHINGTON D.C.,IN THE MUSEUM OF PUERTORICAN CULTURE TO NAME A FEW. HIS ENFASIS IS SPECIALLY DIRECTED TOWARS ART AND MUSIC. HE DEDICATED TO TRAVELS OUT OF PUERTO RICO TO DEMOSTRATE HIS WORK IN DIFERENTS ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. HE ALSO SPEND HIS TIME SHOWING PUERTORICAN KIDS THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR HERITAGES IN MUSIC AND ART , THROUGOUT DIFERENTS WORK SHOPS.

HE ALSO CAME OUT IN A VIDEO CALLED AMERICAN CULTURES FOR CHILDRENS HOSTED BY PHYLICIA RASHAD ABOUT THE PUERTO RICAN HERITAGE. THE MOVIE UNDER SUSPICION ,AND A DOCUMENTARY FOR FRANCE. previous....