Quick Facts
Biography
Pedro Arraiza (born May 2, 1973 in Santurce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican musician most known for being the drummer of the Rock en Español band Fiel a la Vega.
Biography and Career
Pedro Arraiza is the youngest of the five children of Manuel Arraiza and Eneida González. Since he was 8 years old, he pressed by his brothers Jorge and José to learn to play the drums in order to fill the vacant spot they had in their band.
Arraiza then developed interest in bands like The Beatles and The Who. In 1989, after some practicing the brothers formed a band called Los Arraiza Voladores, with cousin Milo Arraiza. At this time, he also developed an interest in Led Zeppelin, which would become his biggest influence.
In 1994, when childhood friends Tito Auger and Ricky Laureano returned from the United States, Pedro and his brother Jorge joined them and formed Fiel a la Vega. The band quickly achieved great success in the island releasing several radio hits and winning several awards. As of 2007, the band has released four studio albums.
Personal life
- Arraiza is currently finishing his Master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico where he has been a professor and tutor.
- He is currently married.
- He practices fencing.
Influences
Aside of the above mentioned The Who, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin, Pedro mentions drummers Carter Beauford (from Dave Matthews Band), Neil Peart (from Rush), Simon Phillips (from Toto) and Dave Weckl among some of his American influences. He also credits Silvio Rodríguez, Rubén Blades, Haciendo Punto en Otro Son, Ismael Rivera and El Gran Combo among his influences in the tropical and Caribbean music genre.
Other Collaborations
Aside of his work with Fiel a la Vega, Pedro occasionally collaborates with his brother José Arraiza in a blues and rocknroll project.