Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Alexis Claudio was born on July 15th, of 1981, in the town of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. He is exposed to the tropical rhythms at an early age, like every future musician growing up in the island. Starts showing interest in music when seeing his cousins, Felo and Edwin Serrano, perform with the original line-up, back then, of the merengue band, Grupo Mania. This band, nowadays, is known as one of the most popular and successful musical groups from Puerto Rico. He moves to Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of 9, to receive special medical treatment. He starts his musical development by forming part of the church’s choir, where he learns the basics of melody and harmony, tools that would be the template of his musical career later. With the support of his family, Alexis started his tropical music learning phase at the tender age of 13 with “Los Boyz del Merengue” from Cleveland, Ohio. Is in that band that for the first time in his musical journey, he is exposed to the public, and not only shows his vocal abilities, but his choreographic moves as well. As time went by, Alexis started molding his original style by also learning and applying techniques from other musical genres like Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, Rock, and Ballad. At the age of 18, decides to form part of the merengue band, “Grupo K-ñon”, who gave him the opportunity to be a lead vocalist for the first time, and stays with them until the late 90’s. At the beginning of the new millennium, Claudio was ready to go to the next level in his young musical career. In the year 2000, the merengue band, Grupo Fuego, in its early stages, but with a different vision, gave Alexis the opportunity of being one of its lead vocalists. Is in this band where Alexis really shines as a singer, and puts in practice all he learned, making him one of the best vocalists of the Cleveland area. In 2003, one of the highlights of his young career was to make finals in the singing contest, “ Cleveland Idol”, among thousand of participants. Around this time, he also finds interest in musical composition. In 2004, sees one of his biggest dreams become reality when recording the vocals for Grupo Fuego’s debut album. Claudio was also the author of the song "Esos Ojitos", one of the strongest tracks of the production. In 2006, Alexis had the opportunity to sing with Grupo Mania, his favorite band, as an invited artist at a live presentation in Puerto Rico. One of his biggest dream is to become a solo artist later in his career.
Alexis Claudio - Vocals
Isaias "Jeremy" Rodriguez - Vocals
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Jeremy started his musical journey as a kid in Chicago. He is the son of Evaristo Rodriguez who was the lead guitarist, vocalist, and composer for a famous Trio in the 60's called Trio Juventud. One of their LP albums "Otro Weekend Sin Ti", went gold in the 60's. Growing up, Jeremy started picking the music by playing in the family Christian Ministry, "By The Spirit Only", in where he still performs and has participated in 13 of their recordings as a musician, vocalist, and arranger. In the late 80's he started as a percussionist, then went to the bass, guitar and then piano. In 1998, he started singing with a popular Chicago local band called, Merenbanda. The band went on to win the battle of the bands for 4 years in a row making Merenbanda the #1 band in the Midwest. In 2001, Jeremy had the opportunity to move to Puerto Rico to sing with Grupo Karis for a few months. In 2002, he returns to the US and gets together with a few friends to form the merengue group named Bajo Viento. Bajo Viento was another local band from Chicago that got to do big things and make a name for themselves. In 2005, Grupo Fuego was looking for new vocal talent in order to bring a stronger show that represented their energy on stage, and after an audition, decided that Jeremy was a perfect candidate to fill the spot. His first presentation with Grupo Fuego was at the Virginia Beach Latin Festival in June of 2005.
Jeremy started his musical journey as a kid in Chicago. He is the son of Evaristo Rodriguez who was the lead guitarist, vocalist, and composer for a famous Trio in the 60's called Trio Juventud. One of their LP albums "Otro Weekend Sin Ti", went gold in the 60's. Growing up, Jeremy started picking the music by playing in the family Christian Ministry, "By The Spirit Only", in where he still performs and has participated in 13 of their recordings as a musician, vocalist, and arranger. In the late 80's he started as a percussionist, then went to the bass, guitar and then piano. In 1998, he started singing with a popular Chicago local band called, Merenbanda. The band went on to win the battle of the bands for 4 years in a row making Merenbanda the #1 band in the Midwest. In 2001, Jeremy had the opportunity to move to Puerto Rico to sing with Grupo Karis for a few months. In 2002, he returns to the US and gets together with a few friends to form the merengue group named Bajo Viento. Bajo Viento was another local band from Chicago that got to do big things and make a name for themselves. In 2005, Grupo Fuego was looking for new vocal talent in order to bring a stronger show that represented their energy on stage, and after an audition, decided that Jeremy was a perfect candidate to fill the spot. His first presentation with Grupo Fuego was at the Virginia Beach Latin Festival in June of 2005.
Juan "Tito" Esponda - Vocals
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Juan "Tito" Esponda was introduced to the Latin music scene at an early age in Chicago. In the early 80's, his step father was once a singer for a very popular salsa band, Raphy Leavitt y la Selecta. In his high school years, Tito started developing the love for music when he joined the high school salsa band, Son Del Barrio. He recorded a CD with the group, but just like "Menudo", once he graduated, he had to step aside for the new class. From there he joined Angel Melendez' Orquesta 911 as a back up singer where he was then introduced to merengue by Sylvio Sosa, once a singer for La Coco Band and La Banda Loca. Sylvio took Tito under his wing and mentored him until he was ready to move on to Merenbanda in the late 90's. In Merenbanda, was where Tito really shined as an artist and developed as a vocalist, making him one of the key members who made Merenbanda one of the most popular merengue groups in the Midwest. In 2002, along with Jeremy, Tito was one of the founding fathers of the merengue group, Bajo Viento, where he sees more success as a vocalist. In order to further his musical career, he wanted to be part of a band that shared his vision of going into the next level, and, like Jeremy, he became a member of Grupo Fuego in the summer of 2005.
Juan "Tito" Esponda was introduced to the Latin music scene at an early age in Chicago. In the early 80's, his step father was once a singer for a very popular salsa band, Raphy Leavitt y la Selecta. In his high school years, Tito started developing the love for music when he joined the high school salsa band, Son Del Barrio. He recorded a CD with the group, but just like "Menudo", once he graduated, he had to step aside for the new class. From there he joined Angel Melendez' Orquesta 911 as a back up singer where he was then introduced to merengue by Sylvio Sosa, once a singer for La Coco Band and La Banda Loca. Sylvio took Tito under his wing and mentored him until he was ready to move on to Merenbanda in the late 90's. In Merenbanda, was where Tito really shined as an artist and developed as a vocalist, making him one of the key members who made Merenbanda one of the most popular merengue groups in the Midwest. In 2002, along with Jeremy, Tito was one of the founding fathers of the merengue group, Bajo Viento, where he sees more success as a vocalist. In order to further his musical career, he wanted to be part of a band that shared his vision of going into the next level, and, like Jeremy, he became a member of Grupo Fuego in the summer of 2005.
Eduardo "Eddie" Caraballo - Bass, Guitar
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
In late 2004, Grupo Fuego was looking for a new bass player. After a phone call, Eddie accepted the task and has not looked back. Caraballo is also the producer and bass player for the band, Grupo Salvaje, in Detroit, MI. Here is more information abour Eddie:
Instruments: Bass, Guitar * Day Job: Electrical Engineer @ Ford Motor Company * Favorite Artist: Victor Manuelle, Fania All-Stars, Grupo Mania, Toño Rosario, etc. * Musical Experience: Renaissance High School Jazz Band, UofM Mariachi Ensemble, Orquesta Sensacional, Rootchild, Cesar Peña Latin Jazz Quartet, and other local projects. * What do you like best about being in a band? Being able to express myself through the music, making the crazy ideas in my head come to life, watching people dance and enjoy what I do. Working with talented and fun musicians/friends that enjoy what they do, and watching us learn, develop and grow together. * Other Hobbies / Talents: Playing my guitar & singing for family & friends, collecting CDs, & listening to music.
In late 2004, Grupo Fuego was looking for a new bass player. After a phone call, Eddie accepted the task and has not looked back. Caraballo is also the producer and bass player for the band, Grupo Salvaje, in Detroit, MI. Here is more information abour Eddie:
Instruments: Bass, Guitar * Day Job: Electrical Engineer @ Ford Motor Company * Favorite Artist: Victor Manuelle, Fania All-Stars, Grupo Mania, Toño Rosario, etc. * Musical Experience: Renaissance High School Jazz Band, UofM Mariachi Ensemble, Orquesta Sensacional, Rootchild, Cesar Peña Latin Jazz Quartet, and other local projects. * What do you like best about being in a band? Being able to express myself through the music, making the crazy ideas in my head come to life, watching people dance and enjoy what I do. Working with talented and fun musicians/friends that enjoy what they do, and watching us learn, develop and grow together. * Other Hobbies / Talents: Playing my guitar & singing for family & friends, collecting CDs, & listening to music.
