Memo Acevedo is an active drummer, percussionist, composer and educator in the New York City area. He pioneered Colombia’s Rock music scene during his mid-teens. A self-taught musician, his passion for Jazz, Latin and Brazilian music compelled him to take it as a serious object of study after leaving Colombia. Having lived in Spain, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, Memo has acquired a vast experience in all styles of music.

In early 1996, Memo moved to New York City where he presently lives. Recording and performing credits since, include the late greats Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, Gregory Hines and Joe Cuba; Jazz masters Mark Murphy, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Jackie & Roy, Cuban band Klimax and NYC’s Latin Jazz Coalition and Folklore Cubano among others. Broadway shows include “The Lion King” and “Civil War.”

Currently he directs the Samba Batucadaí, the Latin Jazz and the Afro-Cuban Ensembles at NYU and gives private lessons on drum set and percussion since September of 1997.

He is the co-author of the “Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian Drumming” book produced by New York’s Drummer’s Collective where he taught for 7 years. http://www.thecoll.com

He’s been in charge of the Education Departments at LP & TOCA since 2004.

Memo’s also credited as the pioneer of Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Latin Jazz styles in Canada where he led his own Salsa band, a Brazilian Quintet and his Latin Jazz band.  His self-produced CD “Building Bridges” (Concord/Jazz Alliance) features mentor Tito Puente, flutist, Dave Valentin and pianist, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and his title tune is included in the Real Latin Book (Sher.pub)

As an educator, Memo established the first Latin Jazz, Salsa and Brazilian ensembles in an educational institution in Canada, during his 10 years at Humber College in Toronto.

He produced and hosted his own radio show “The Latin Beat” at CIUT-FM, for ten years as well.

His credits as a session player in Canada include recording and playing with most of the major stars in that country and doing TV work and jingles. As a composer, he has won the National “AD Music Award” for his TV commercial “Unbeatable” in 1989. In 1991 he received the JUNO Award (Canada’s equivalent to the Grammy) in the “World Beat” category. He was also awarded “Percussionist of the Year” twice by ‘The Jazz Report’ Magazine’s Media poll in 1994 and 1995.

Most recently he received the KoSA Lifetime Achievement Awardí for his contribution to the world of Percussion worldwide
He credits as his major drumming influences Gene Krupa, Mitch Mitchell, John Bonham and Tito Puente. Memo proudly endorses PRO-MARK with a stick of his creativity, named Revolution.
Other endorsements are TAYE drums, SABIAN cymbals and EVANS heads.