Aquiles Montas, bandleader and founder of Conjunto Alegre, will talk about the 40-year history of his Afro-Caribbean and salsa band. He’ll talk about how the music has built an audience in the Portland area over the years, and how it connects the Latin and Caribbean community. The band will be performing that evening at the Wilsonville Rotary Summer Concerts.
About our club: The Rotary Club of Wilsonville meets weekly Thursdays at noon to carry out its purpose of providing service and fellowship to members and the Wilsonville community. Guests are welcome. Lunch is available off the menu; please arrive and order by 11:45 a.m. if you are ordering lunch. For more information, email president@wilsonvillerotary.com.
About the presenter: Aquiles Montas is a 45-year Portland resident. An immigrant from the Dominican Republic, proud husband and father and now grandfather. He graduated from Grant High School and Portland State University, where he studied marketing and business administration. He also studied small business administration at Portland Community College. He serves as director of a youth enrichment program in the NE Cully Neighborhood for Multnomah County. Aquiles has been a leader in promoting the Latin Caribbean culture in Oregon and Washington since coming to Portland. He has educated Portlanders about the music, dance, food, culture, geography and history, when many only pictured spicy tacos, burritos, tortillas and mariachi music. He started a Latin band, Ritmo Tropical, with his Dominican friend Pedro Beltran and his Puerto Rican friend, Amador Marcano, in January 1984. Then, in September 1987, he started another Latin Caribbean band, Conjunto Alegre, which is still performing today all around Oregon and Washington. He has shared the stage with many local and international artists, such as Tito Puente. He was selected to play for Cirque Du Soleil in 1999 in Portland and 2000 in Seattle. He has performed and spoken at many local events and universities. His passion has always been helping people. He helps new immigrants find housing, jobs and health care. He helps them learn English and the Portland culture. Many meet new friends through a shared Latin music and dancing community. He enjoys Spanish, English, dancing, percussion, cooking, history, geography and politics.
