Son Venezuela

Music for a Sunday Afternoon

Groove to Caribbean tunes. Salsa from Puerto Rico, Merengue from Dominican Republic, Cumbia from Colombia, Tambora from Venezuela, Afro-Cuban Rhythms, Murga from Panama and Calypso from Antilles.

Son Venezuela has been a Latin music ambassador in America’s heartland for more than 30 years and has been an important force in the development of the Latin Community in Kansas. They were recently inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame (KSMHF).

The Lawrence-based band has continuously brought Latin culture, through music and dance, to clubs, festivals, concert halls and private events all over the Midwest and beyond. Kansas City’s entertainment journal The Pitch Weekly called Son Venezuela “The premier Latin grove ensemble in the area,” and their readers agree. Son Venezuela has been voted best Latin/World music act six times.

Throughout the 30 years Son Venezuela has flourished the band has undergone very few lineup changes. Their original bass player Stanley Sheldon (2012 KSMHF inductee) was a member of Peter Frampton’s band. Current conga player Fernando Reynoso was formerly with pioneer Kansas Latin band Caribe (2017 KSMHF inductee).

In all of their performances, Son Venezuela has always remained true to what they do: playing Caribbean music. Salsa from Puerto Rico, Merengue from the Dominican Republic, Cumbia from Colombia, Tambora from Venezuela, Afro-Cuban Rhythms, Murga from Panama, Calypso from the Antilles and more. Their “repertoire” is all dance-oriented music that compels the listener to dance and enjoy the experience as one, no matter who they are or from where they came.

Son Venezuela has released two CD’s: the self-titled “Son Venezuela” (1994) and “Don’t Stop Me Now” (2005).

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