Julius Melendez

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Julius Meléndez's career reads like a who's who of Latin music royalty. His work with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Carlos Santana on the iconic, multi-Grammy-winning albums Supernatural and Shaman — including celebrated tracks "Smooth" and "Game of Love" — earned him the first of his multiple Grammy Awards.

That foundation opened doors to a remarkable roster of collaborators: percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo, the legendary Tito Puente Sr. & Jr., the incomparable Celia Cruz, trumpet virtuoso Arturo Sandoval, and master timbalero Orestes Vilato.

Meléndez's artistry also shaped the sound of Conjunto Céspedes across four albums, two of which took Album of the Year honors at the NAIRD Indie Awards. His reputation as a world-class performer has brought him to international stages, including a solo spotlight at the Cuban Popular Music Festival alongside luminaries such as pianist Chucho Valdés.