also known as Felipe Ocampo Ros, Felipe Da Silva, or Philip, somehow manages to be from at least three locations, having been born on a ftbol field in the countryside outside of the municipality of Emiliano Zapata in Morelos, Mxico, in an alley in Recife (Pernambuco, Brasil) while the throng of Carnaval snaked past on the main avenue, and on the back of a hay wagon in a part of Iowa that has, unfortunately, disappeared. 

                As he aged, but failed to mature in a variety of locations around the world, Popocatpetl struggled to find his niche and, seeking any sort of guidance whatsoever, he was visited by an invisible devil who spoke to him and said, “What you need to do is to make a far too hasty decision and pay too much money for a knockoff guitar and then try to imitate some bad popular music.”  Always a very slow, but amiable sort of a person, Popocatpetl took the devil’s advice and did as he was told.  Needless to say he began a downward spiral, but skipping past all of the hardships that he suffered, we arrive at the day when the devil’s archenemy spoke to him and said, “Popocatpetl, this is Stevie Ray Vaughan.  You need to ditch that lousy guitar and get a Fender Stratocaster and put Texas Specials in it.  After learning the blues, you need to live in Latin and South America to get to know your roots again.” 

                No wiser, but fortunately, based on sounder advice, Popocatpetl did as he was told.  In doing so he came to love the music of his family there.  Now with a dream in his heart, he returned to the States determined to put together a group that could share this music with members of his family here.  Hampered by his lack of intelligence and ability, he soon found himself living in a garbage container and was ready to give up his dream.   One day he heard two people outside talking about  playing drums .  He climbed out of the dumpster to follow them to see them play, but as it turned out they just carried (literally, on their backs) this tremendous collection of congas, bongos, timbales, etc. all over the streets of Dubuque.   Finally, he spoke to the two (see Elkin and Jon) who turned out, in fact, to be very talented percussionists  despite their propensity to just cart the drums all over Dubuque.  Sensing an immediate connection they decided to join together to try and actually play some of this music. 

                Around this time Popocatpetl decided to look for other musicians.  He soon found Mike, a very talented musician who thrived on learning the new material. Utilizing his extensive command of the Spanish and Portuguese languages, Mike was able to rely, not only on his excellent musicianship and timing (which he truly does have), but, also his ability to follow the narrative of the song (which, in Spanish or Portuguese, he does not. It should be noted that, given this, it is an even greater testament to his musicianship that Mike is the one who often signals the breaks and stops to the percussion section on new songs).  Popocatpetl then began slowly luring Leo, a constantly in demand keyboard player, away from other, more prestigious, better paying opportunities, a work which is still in progress.  For a short while they played with a super guy and drummer, Kid Rock, who had to give up his local alter-ego, Randy, in order to return to world tours and a throng of women, including a still unidentified blonde girl living in Omaha, Nebraska.   Something was still missing.  That something goes by the name of Bill, a supremely talented drummer and percussionist who unifies the sound of ochOsol, basically because he seeks a vehicle with which to continue his never-ending search to find the ever elusive one beat in the intro to Ozomatli’s Donde Se Fueron.

                More or less that brings you to date on Popocatpetl. But this is just the beginning.  The story will end with ochOsol giving a live concert to 120,000 screaming fans in El Estadio Azteca in Mxico City after Los guilas have just beaten Las Chivas 3-2 in the championship game.    Stay tuned for the details in between,   which will include concerts in the plazuelita in Cuernavaca, in Emiliano Zapata, by Lake Tequesquitengo, and at the beach in Huanchaco.  In addition to the members of the band, Popocatpetl would like to thank the following, as much for the dream, as for the help they have given him in starting toward its fulfillment:

 Mi familia:    Los Quann, Powers, Vega, Cceda,  Ydrac Castaqeda, Gomez Azcrate, Fanjul, Uceda

 Comida:     “Gina,” Artemia, Pilar, Las Ydrac Castaqeda,  Ela, Elva, Pa, Janos de Huanchaco, La Rana Verde, Katia  

 Seguridad:   Sergio “El Caballo,” Rodolfo I “Mi Jefe” and the II “Pinos,” Cesar (at least theoretically.  He always seems to want to assume the role of supervisor of security as opposed to actually providing security itself. We may have to transfer him to publicity) Andrs “La Piedra” (Has never met a fight that he didn‘t like), Miguel (always ready with “golpes”), su amigo Roberto (always ready to receive and return them), David “El Hueso T,” Manoj,  El Jefe Grande “KB,”  Rmulo (with whom I will willingly enter any neighborhood, regardless of its reputation), El Chipo (Different circumstances than Andrs, same disposition), El Peln, Eduardo “El Cumbias,” Enrique, Mario “El Bronco,” Roberto “Bob,” Antoio, y Jaime, Chief of Security, My Personal Security, and the most dangerous person that I actually know.

 Promotion and Publicity:        Mxico: Vicente
                                                                Per: Rolando y Rodrigo
                                                                Brasil: Micheline
                                                               Miami: Tania

 Transportation:                         Mxico: Land: Sergio 
                                                                                   Air: Eliel (Again, theoretically my pilot.
                                                                                             I’m not entirely sure about this yet.)
                                                               Per:      Land: Elvita
                                                                                  Sea:   Chicho Huamanchumo

 Muses:                                              Angelina, Angeline, Carla, Elin, “Gina,”
                                                              Hortensia,   Katerina, Katia, Katrina, Laura,
                                                              Linda, Madelin, Mara, Mara, Mara, Marisol,
                                                              Micheline, Molly, Shannon, Temistocles,
                                                              and 3 others, unnamed, for safety purposes.

At barely 4 years of age, Elkin and his family lived in Santa Marta, Colombia, a city located on the northwest coast of Colombia. It was at this point his affinity and talent for music began. Enamored with the integral role of music in the everyday life and happiness there, it kindled in him a strong passion that has burned ever since.

Immediately interested in percussion, he began by watching and learning from great masters such as Colacho Mendoza, Rafael Escalona, Alfredo Gutierrez. These and many others fostered his interest in a broad array of instruments within the percussive genre: Caja Ballenata, Bongos, Congas, Tambor Leguero, Llamador and just about anything else he could get his hands on. At 10 years of age, he formed his first band with other youngsters who shared his musical interests.

Since then, he has played with a wide variety of bands, playing pieces from an array of musical styles. Despite excellent improvisational skills, he humbly downplays his musical knowledge, attributing any talent as an expression of the love his parents gave him from the moment they gave him his name. Belonging to this band, to Elkin, is a gift to thank God for, having always wanted to play with great musicians such as those in ochOsol. Thanks also go to his wife and children, who are the strength of his will to always continue forward, and, to a growing public so “cool” and supportive.  

Mike Ironside grew up on a farm in Eastern Iowa. His early exposure to music came through his parents’ record collection. His dad listened to Nat King Cole and Glen Miller. His mom liked both country and western.

When he was about five or six, his older brother brought home some Beatles albums. Even at that age, Mike remembers thinking the recordings were incredible. His brother left behind a 45 rpm single of the Beatles’ “Come Together” backed with “Something.” Mike and his little brother put together a drum set out of boxes in the basement and nearly wore out the record playing along with it and some other 45s they had picked up at garage sales.

In fifth grade Mike took up the trombone, playing it in the school band through his senior year in high school. In his junior year, he took up the harmonica with a developing interest in blues music.

He studied art at Loras College, cultivating an interest in a wide variety of music, from the new wave popular at the time (MTV was brand new, kids!) to blues, reggae and the punk underground scenes of nearby university towns. Upon completion of his senior thesis art exhibit, Mike took a break from pencils and paint and bought himself a small folk-acoustic guitar from a classified ad. He paid $50 for it ($49 too much, the action was terrible!) but he was hooked.

He moved to Chicago, worked in various art galleries and an auction house and enjoyed the city’s live music scene as often as he could afford. He practiced his guitar as much as his girlfriend, Julie, could endure. He also began writing songs.

In 1990, a friend who had been teaching English in Japan for two years invited Mike to join him in Amagasaki, where a teaching job had been arranged. Speaking almost no Japanese he boarded a plane to Osaka, where he ended up living and teaching for five years.

After jamming with various players around Osaka, Mike found himself in a band as a blues harp player and part-time singer. It must have been fate that his developing interest in the bass provoked him to buy a Fender P-bass just before the band’s bass player announced he was quitting. In answer to the question, “Well, does anybody else have a bass?” Mike answered to the affirmative. To, “Can you learn all these songs by next practice?” his answer was, “I’ll try.” This seems to be his approach to most music.

Having three singer/song writers, the five-piece band was naturally diverse, playing a mix of original music as well as blues, rock, funk, reggae and ska. After a year of playing clubs in Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, the group recorded a CD at a friend’s studio. A year later the group reformed as a four-piece, performing and recording mostly original material.

Upon returning to the US in 1995, Mike and his wife, Julie, settled in Dubuque. He has played in several bands including Loudmouth (rock) and Uncle Knuckles (hard funk). More recently, he has been working on recordings and writing for the VUE365 newspaper and Dubuque365.com. When not writing or playing bass, Mike enjoys cooking, listening to all kinds of music and taking photographs. .

 

Leonardo Roldan was born and raised in Caseros, province of Buenos Aires, Republic of Argentina. He started studying piano, classical music theory and music dictation at the age of six at the “Constantino Gaito National Private Conservatory” in downtown Buenos Aires. As a first grader he began playing the piano and most specifically tango music. He played his first concert called “tango from the 30s” while in second grade.

Later on when he was ten he participated in a youth contest at the “Colon Theatre” (the most important theatre of its genre in South America), on tango improvisation where he received third place and a package of concerts in Europe. Leo graduated with honors from the conservatory and obtained his degree as a music teacher at the age of fourteen while still a freshman.

He taught music in grades one through seven at an elementary school in Buenos Aires and has been teaching E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) for the Western Dubuque Schools District since 2001.

Leo defines himself as a Tango passionate and Latin rhythm freak. At this time besides ochOsol, Leo is member of bands The Shiz and Centerstage Show band and also performs with groups such as Musica Latina and Betty and The Headlights among others. Although he has been playing, arranging and composing tango music for over 20 years, he is still looking forward to learn how to dance the tango. Tango dancing teachers please apply. Leonardo Roldan is an equal opportunity employer…  

Another phenomenon that indicates that the mind can operate independent of the body is that of ESP projection.

During OBE's (Out-Of-the-Body experiences) occurring during sleep, narcosis or other circumstances, people have actually felt leaving their bodies. From a point in space they saw themselves lying in bed.

Prof.C.G.Jung for instance observed activities in his hospital room whilst he was in coma. Other patients saw incidents in the street, an impossible feat from their beds.

Bill is a native Dubuquer and has been playing drums since 1964, beginning at age 10 in the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.  In high school he played in various jazz and rock bands, and with Sing Out Dubuque, a local offshoot of the Up With People touring casts.  In the mid-70s Bill worked with two especially talented groups.  Margara  was probably Dubuque's first Latin/Brazilian-themed band, playing a complex, authentic   variety of South American selections.  Stamina  played rock and fusion including a number of original compositions by John Shifflett, who also played with Bill in Margara, Sing Out, and many other Tri-State area bands.

Later Bill studied music at the University of Northern Iowa, where he played congas with the UNI Jazz Lab Band, at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and at North Texas State University.

In 1978 Bill met his wife while playing in a show which she choreographed .  This romance prompted Bill's cross-country move from Boston to Texas and he eventually settled into El Paso to complete an engineering degree.   In addition to classes and a part-time drafting job, Bill worked with the Mike Caranda and Eddie Carranza Orchestras playing Latin and Swing charts, and played in the house bands at the El Paso Country Club and the Westin Hotel .

In 1992 Bill, his wife Eileen, and 3-year-old son Richard moved to Dubuque, reuniting with old friends and family.     Prior to joining ochOsol, Bill played jazz  with Dick Sturman,  Dave Richter, Chuck Bregman, The Russ Morgan Orchestra, and the Hunter Fuerste Vintage American Orchestra.