Education
Along with his music, he studied as a commercial artist, or comic book illustrator.
Along with his music, he studied as a commercial artist, or comic book illustrator.
He formed his first band, Eddie Palmieri and his Orchestra, in 1951-1952 with himself as director and Eddie Palmieri as musical director and later on the piano. He is of Puerto Rican descent. After his first group broke up, Orlando got a contract at Sunnyside Garden for almost three years to play every Saturday.
This was his first steady gig.
He played with several different bands in the famous Palladium Ballroom. Orlando went into the army in 1958 for service in of Korea.
He then toured of Korea and Japan and went to Washington District of Columbia for the final competition. This was followed by a performance on The Editor Sullivan Show.
When stationed in California, Orlando sat in for Tito Puente on timbales at the Hollywood Palladium.
Orlando left the army in 1960 and formed a new band with many of his previous members. He returned to New New York He again appeared at the Palladium Ballroom and other New York dance venues, including the Limbo Lounge, the Bayside Manor, the Hotel Taft, and the Bronx"s Hunts Point Palace, among others
Orlando was a contemporary of such greats as Tito Puente, Machito, and Tito Rodriguez.
He is the only orchestra leader from New York’s golden era of mambo who still performs regularly. In 1954 he recorded his first 78 with his first composition, My Mambo.
His first two albums Arriba Cha-Cha-Cha, and Lets Go Latin were recorded with Fiesta records. He recorded Mi Mambo on the Plus label.
He recorded Se Te Quemó Louisiana Casa, and Quebec Chévere for Alegre Records.
Orlando then returned to Fiesta Records, for whom he recorded Está en Algo (English: He"s Up To Something) which included the smash hit Aprende a Querer. In 1970, he recorded Out of My Mind, for the Brunswick label. Then, he released his albumn Saxophobia.
In 1961, Orlando released his hit charanga record Se Te Quemó la Casa.
In 1976, Orlando was invited to represent Hispanic America at the United States. Bicentennial Celebration on Ellis Island. In 1993 in Colombia, Orlando was honored with a lifetime musical achievement award in Calis Plaza de Toros. In 1997, Latin music historiographer Max Salazar presented Orlando a plaque at New York"s at Louisiana Maganette in recognition of nearly five decades of uninterrupted contribution to Latin music In 1999, New York"s governor George E. Pataki presented Orlando with the Bobby Capó Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of nearly a half century of dedication to Latin music In January 2003, Orlando was invited by Latin Jazz station, WPFW, by the Arlington County (Virginia) Cultural Arts Division, and by the Latin American Folk Institute to do a live concert in Washington at The Spectrum Theater. In 2006, Congressman Jose E. Serrano honored Orlando as “The Last Mambo King,” for his continuing to provide Latin American music and his willingness to devote time to helping the less fortunate.
