San Diego State University
Jazz Studies Program

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Faculty / Staff

Mike Holguin is probably best known for his work with the award winning Jazz group Big Time Operator. Another highlight of his career was being the timbale player for the Grammy award winning queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. Mike was also the drummer and musical director for the legendary Jack Costanzo AKA “Mr. Bongo” As far as the Latin scene, Mike has played with every major salsa group in San Diego including Gilbert Castellano’s Latin Trumpet summit, Orquesta La Nueva, Orquesta Primo, not to mention his own group “La Famila”. He has also played with many of the salsa groups in Los Angeles including the extremely popular Son Mayor, RMM Recording artist Yari More and the incredible flutist Gilberto Torez. Mike has also played with every major Big Band in San Diego including Brad Steinwehe’s Big Band, Bill Green, SDSU (under the direction of Bill Yeager), SD Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Jefferies etc. Mike has also had the pleasure of playing with extraordinary musicians like Mike Bogart (Tower of Power), Gilbert Castellanos (Diana Krall), George Ortiz (Poncho Sanchez), Rene Camacho (Strunz and Farah), Rob and Amber Whitlock, Alan Phillips, Christopher Holiday, Steve Feierabend, Paul Sundfor, John Reckavics, etc. Mike has played with every major Funk, Rock, R&B band in San Diego including: Rockola, The Steely Damned, Soul Persuaders, Dr. Feelgood, Polyester Express, etc..

Born and raised in East Los Angeles California, Mike Holguin went through his adolescence attending a different school every single year from Kindergarten through his senior year of high school. The plus side of that being that he was able to experience every style of music/ instructor imaginable. Jazz, Latin, Funk, Rock, Concert Percussion, Marching Percussion, you name it, he’s played it. After graduating High school in 1988, Mike joined the US Navy and was stationed on board the Aircraft carrier USS Ranger CV-61. It wasn’t till after returning from Operation Desert Storm that he auditioned and attended the US Navy School of Music in Norfolk, VA. In 1991, Mike would begin his world travels with the 7th Fleet Navy band stationed out of Yokosuka, Japan. During his tour of duty, Mike would see 22 countries including Russia, Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, etc. In 1994, Mike was transferred to the Navy Band in San Diego. It was here that he would settle down and begin to study the style of salsa music. With his rudimental/ reading background, Mike caught on very quickly and before long was the timbale player for the salsa group Orquesta La Nueva led by the Gonzales bros. Many of his accomplishments are due to these brothers taking him under their wings and teaching him everything about Latin music. Mike then became a big part of fulfilling the dream of putting together the first ever Navy Salsa Band “Sabor”. Shortly there after, Mike decided to leave the Navy and continue his music career in the San Diego area. As if performing, recording and arranging weren’t enough, Mike currently teaches percussion at San Diego State University, Rancho Bernardo High School and Bernardo Heights Middle School.