Michel DeQuevedo
It all started when…
Michel DeQuevedo arrived to Canada from Mexico City in 2005.
His musical education started at the age of 3 when he began taking early music education classes, he started playing percussion at the age of 8, at 12 he was featured in Mexico City’s cultural TV Channel’s show “Esto es Jazz!” (This is Jazz!) Also at 12 he attended The Centre for Artistic Studies for Children, Mexico’s main TV network’s school. At 16 he attended Mexico City's Escuela Superior de Musica where he studied symphonic percussion and at 23 attended Academia de Musica Fermatta (which was, at the time, affiliated with Berklee College of Music) taking Contemporary Music, singing and music theory
He is a singer-songwriter and plays percussions, drum kit, guitar and bass.
In Mexico, Michel was a recording and/or performing percussionist/drummer for several Mexican bands and artists including multi Grammy Award winner
Julieta Venegas (BMG), multi Grammy Award winner Molotov (Universal), La Lupita (BMG), Pulpo (Sony Music) and more, and participated in many concerts and TV shows as a supporting musician for many artists and singers.
He was part of the band “El Son y la Rumba” where he shared stage with the internationally acclaimed trumpeter Luis Gasca (Count Basie, Woody Herman, Mongo Santamaria, Herbie Hancock, Janis Joplin, Santana, etc) and recorded the soundtrack for the Academy Award winner Gabrielle Salvatore’s movie “Puerto Escondido”
He has toured U.S.A., Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
Since moving to Toronto in July 2005, Michel has played and/or recorded with some of Canada’s best artists, including Juno Award Winner Walk off the Earth, Juno Award Winner Richard Underhill, Juno Award Winner Quique Escamilla, The Eric St-Laurent Trio, Lady Son, The LMT Connection, Random Order and many more.
He has played in some of Canada’s best venues such as Massey Hall, Roy Thompson Hall, The Opera House, The Rex Hotel, Lula Lounge, The Reservoir Lounge, etc. and in some of the world’s best music venues including The House of Blues, Blue Note, JC Fandango, Whisky A-Go-Go, Hollywood Palladium, and many more.
He is part of the drumming-based team-building workshop The Drum Cafe, with whom he has performed for Canada’s largest corporations and universities like Ryerson, McMaster, U of Toronto, U of Waterloo, Mohawk College, Walmart, LCBO, National Bank, RBC, HomeLife Realty, GoEasy, Entertainment One Canada, Ellis Don, etc.
He has participated in The TD Jazz Festival, The Beaches Jazz Festival, LuminaTO, Canadian Music Week, Salsa on St.Clair, Muhtadi's International Drum Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, Calgary Folk Festival, Regina Folk Festival, SummerFest, Northern Lights Festival, Roots and Blues Festival, Victoria Island Folk Festival, Regina Jazz Festival, Victoria Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and many, many more!
He performed for the 2015 Toronto PanAm Games’ torch relay events and for the Athletes’ Welcoming Ceremony for both PanAm and ParaPanAm games.
He has performed in 500+ weddings and corporate events, either as a solo act or with Toronto’s premier wedding bands, he also performs in clubs accompanying the best D.J's in the GTA.
His adaptability and versatility make him one of Canada’s most in demand musicians.