Nationality: Puerto Rico
JOTAN AFANADOR, born July 14, 1981 (Bronx, New York) is an international celebrity and drummer who began playing drums at the age of two. Inheriting his musical talent from his father (a drummer) and his mother (a gospel singer), Afanador has gone on to hone and craft his talent through a storied career which began at age 7 when he performed at his first paying gig. Subsequently, he began to regularly perform at churches, theaters, schools, clubs and studios and at the age of 16 he participated in the Saint Benedicts Fife & Drum Corps and the Latin Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. Afanador, who is self-taught, did study at the Boy’s Harbor Conservatory of Music in Manhattan, New York, where he was awarded the prestigious Tito Puente scholarship. Shortly thereafter, Afanador appeared in the Broadway show Bring Out the Noise, Bring Out the Funk and he also performed with such artists as Dave Valentin, Nestor Torres, and Norah Jones. At the age of 20 Jotan began a clinic tour throughout the United States.
Subsequenly, Afanador released a drum clinic on DVD entitled Power Speed Dynamics for beginner and advanced students. In 2002, Afanador participated in, and set a world record for, the World’s Fastest Drummer by playing 1,123 single strokes in 60 seconds. Thereafter, Afanador was featured on The Wayne Brady Show (CBS) which was followed by stints on Tom Arnold’s Best Damn Sports Show, and Cold Pizza. In 2004 Afanador performed on the highly popular Spanish/Univision show, Sabado Gigante. In 2005 Afanador once again set a new world record of 1,219 single strokes in 60 seconds before 20,000 viewers in Puerto Rico.
Afanador has also established himself as a marquee performer in some of the largest and most prestigious venues in the world including Madison Square Garden, Staple Center, The Forum, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Jacob Javis Center, Shea Stadium, The Blue Note, the MCI Center and, Met Life Stadium. He has performed for former U.S. President George W. Bush Leonel Fernandez, the President of the Dominican Republic. Also in 2005, Jotan performed at the World Class Athlete and Coaches Conference in Los Angeles before sports world’s most talented athletes and coaches from Major League Baseball, the NFL, and the NHL. In 2006, Afanador was also invited to play for New York Yankees’ All-Star Catcher, Jorge Posada, at The Jorge Posada Foundation.
Afanador has also performed with many well known artists such as J Lo, Peter Cincotti, Roselyn Sanchez, Zap Mama, Sergio Mendes, Frankie Jay, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel, Nina sky, Tito Puente’s Big Band, Victor Manuel, Alexander Pires, Alejandro Montaner, Nelson Ned, Jerry Rivera, Olga Tanon, Yolandita Monge, Ana Barbara and Julio Sabala, among others. More recently, Jotan has performed with the highly acclaimed and popular bachata music group, Aventura. Aventura Latin Grammy winners as well as Billboard record breakers. Following the breakup of Aventura Afanador went on to tour and perform extensively with Sony artist Romeo Santos with whom he is currently touring. Santos just recently made history by selling out Yankees Stadium 2 sold out shows in a row and currently at Met Life Stadium on September 21, 2019.
Afanador is endorsed by Canopus Drums, Sabian, Gon Bops, Vic Firth, Evans, DW Pedals/Hardware, Rim Riser, Kick Port,and Beato Bags.