King Nando Memorial-Hard Salsa Radio

Unknown where he was born, some sources claimed King Nando was born in The Bronx of
NYC others claim the island of Puerto Rico. Regardless of his native birthplace, King Nando and
his Orquesta comprised of young and talented musicians from ages 18 to 22 had risen from
comparative obscurity to the spotlight as a fast-moving and upcoming organization. Born
Fernando Rivera on May 26, 1945, King Nando as he was known in the music industry, rose to
popularity during the 60s and 70s during the boogalu trend.

Members of Nando’s Orquesta hailed from the boroughs of Brooklyn, The Bronx and Manhattan
of NYC. During the peak of his career, Nando’s orquesta made appearances in some of New
York’s top Jazz and Latin Clubs including: Carlos Ortiz’s Tropicoro, Hunt’s Point Palace,
Manhattan Center, Riverside Plaza, The Riviera, The Village Gate, several College Concerts etc.
Nando’s orquesta also appeared on the Myrta Silva’s show on New York’s and New Jersey
popular Spanish TV station Channel 47 (WNJU).

Nando’s big break came from the Castle Key Club, an active night spot in Manhattan which
featured top names in Latin music. Several prominent people in the Latin music industry heard
Nando and his Orquesta was left with a big impression by his different sound including
Symphony Sid a radio disc jockey of WEVD (NY). Sid who recognized the potential of the band
took steps on his own to help Nando’s band gain recognition.

In the 1960’s, Nando recorded for Swinger Records, the Latin division of Roulette Records.
The album “Sing-A-Ling with King Nando and his orquesta-A New King is born” that contained
the hit “Fortuna” was immediately recognized as being something new and different. The genre
Shing-A-Ling was Nando’s specialty is the brilliant fusion of the rhythms of Rock N Roll with
the flavor and flair of Latin American music. The basic nucleus of this 10-piece orquestra is the
traditional rock duet of guitar and bass guitar instead of the conventional piano of most Latin
orquestas. King Nando unlike many other band leaders preferred to face obstacles of using a big
orquesta to get a more powerful sound he craved for.

Sources and those who personally knew King Nando back in the Boogaloo and Shing-A-Ling era
of the 60’s claimed Nando posted promotional flyers of his band in the ladies restroom an hour
before the nightclub doors opened. Nando would show up very early and asked club owners
and managers permission to post flyers in the ladies restroom to promote his band. We are not
certain of the validity of this story but it may have helped in promoting his orquesta and the rise
of Nando’s music career. Andres Padua, broadcaster of Hard Salsa Radio and host of Nick
Aguirre’s Salsa Dura Show stated “Hey, if that marketing strategy worked in promoting his
band, so be it. I would have done the same thing. King Nando was smart and he is one of my
heroes.”

Sadly, not all our Latin heroes will live forever. King Nando passed away at 62 on February 2nd
2008. According to former manager Richard Bonilla, Nando passed away quietly in his sleep.
Nando will be missed but his music will continue forever for generations to generations.