Mario Ortiz Jr. is a music teacher at Miami Lakes K-8 Center by day, but moonlights as a feisty trumpet player and salsa bandleader whose band, Mario Ortiz All Star Band, has been nominated for "Best Salsa Album" for its 50th Anniversary album in the upcoming 15th Latin Grammy Awards. This is the band's second nomination, the first was in 2010 for the 45th Anniversary album.
Ortiz and his band are celebrating 50 years of musical excellence, which for Ortiz, began at age 10 when he first began piano lessons. At 12, Ortiz was introduced to the trumpet by his late father, Mario Ortiz Sr., and continued to follow in his father's footsteps as bandleader and noted musician.
He was admitted into the Escuela Libre de Musica in San Juan, Puerto Rico where he met Gilberto Santa Rosa. Ortiz played professionally with an all kids band led by well-recognized musician Maximo Torres. Later, he once again reunited with Santa Rosa in Don Perignon's Band.
Ortiz then played for Tito Allen's Band where he gained prestige as a rising trumpet player. In 1978, Ortiz spent the summer at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and then joined Willy Rosario's Orchestra where he recorded five albums.
Ortiz has recorded with various prestigious salsa artists such as Oscar D'Leon, Andy Montanez, Marvin Santiago, and Tommy Olivencia among others. Ortiz then joined his father's band to play with the likes of Julio Iglesias, Iris Chacon, Lissette Alvarez, Danny Rivera and many more.
After recording six albums Ortiz moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami's music school and earned his Master's degree in jazz pedagogy while spending his summers away from school touring with big names in music such as Willy Chirino, Chayanne, Tito Nieves, Celia Cruz, Juan Gabriel, Donna Summers, and Gloria Gaynor.
The fourth and fifth Fiestas Patronales de Puerto Rico, a huge event held in Florida, was directed by Ortiz. The fifth Fiestas Patronales were dedicated to Ortiz's father, Mario Ortiz Sr., a revered composer and arranger in Puerto Rico. The band's previously nominated album, the 45th Anniversary, was also a tribute to Ortiz's father.
While Ortiz still records extensively, he has taken a teaching approach to his talents by becoming a certified music teacher for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Ortiz previously taught at Hialeah Gardens Middle School, Ernest Graham Elementary, and Ben Sheppard Elementary School before finding his current position at Miami Lakes K-8 Center.
Along the winding roads Ortiz's career in music and teaching have taken him, he found his wife, Sailly Hernandez, currently a teacher at Ben Sheppard Elementary School, to join him for the ride. She will be attending the Latin Grammy's alongside Ortiz with crossed fingers for a win.
Ortiz and his band are up against Marc Anthony, Maite Hontele, Tito Nieves, and Aymee Nuviola. The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards is set for Thursday, November 20, at the MGM Grand Garden Area in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from 8-11 p.m.