Twenty years old, he just arrived in California from El Salvador. He had escaped the Sandinista’s in his town who captured his older brother and assassinated him in front of him.
—Ronald Wayne
American musician, composer, and songwriter Ronald Wayne presents his newest instrumental contemporary jazz release!
His new release Santiago's Dance is the second song release in a series of year-long nonstop instrumental smooth jazz music releases that will become the album Hotter Than The Sun this November.
You can join Ronald Wayne on this smooth jazz musical journey, subscribe to his email list, and listen to previous releases here.
Santiago's Dance is instrumental contemporary jazz, with a little Latin, and very danceable. This instrumental contemporary jazz piece has leads with soulful sax, trombone and guitar that moves Santiago’s feet and will move yours too. This song is an instrumental glimpse into my relationship with an employee and best friend who has since passed, leaving us with fond memories.
Ronald says, “People always ask ‘Who is Santiago?’ The Readers Digest version is the following: While in the building business in the 80’s, I met Santiago while looking for help. Twenty years old, he just arrived in California from El Salvador. He had escaped the Sandinista’s in his town who captured his older brother and assassinated him in front of him. He was so young, maybe 20, did not have any ID or SSN, he could not read, do math, or read a tape. Hiring him as a laborer, I soon figured out that he was a good hand at almost everything in construction. So, I brought him along, teaching him to read and write English, a little math, and how to read a measuring tape. He was a powerful man and could lift two 12-foot-long sheets of sheetrock over his head. At 5 feet 5 inches tall he was a dynamo. Our weekly ritual involved going to the bar on Friday nights where we did shots and listened to my music. During the day at work, we listened to his music. It was a daily routine for years. Sadly, he passed at an early age, 34 years old, of a brain hemorrhage. My number one man was gone, along with someone I considered my son and was a family member.”
Ronald continues, “He helped me build my own house, and when we had a little housewarming party, of course he came with a new bottle of tequila in hand and a big grin that wouldn’t quit. As I played his music loud on the house system and I accompanied it on the piano, he danced. I mean man….he was dancin’ for several hours, not always with a partner. That little samba moves from south of the border, that huge grin on his face, totally immersed in the moment. I will never forget that night or him. It wasn’t what I taught him, it’s what he taught me about life and family that always comes to mind. So, when this song arrived at my fingertips, it was for Santiago. It was Santiago's Dance! I miss him!”
Besides his musical talents creating and writing contemporary smooth jazz, Ronald plays and records all the music in his Myrtle Beach home studio, RW Studios, just footsteps from the Atlantic Ocean, where much of his inspiration to write his songs begins.
His new release Santiago's Dance is the second song release in a series of year-long nonstop instrumental smooth jazz music releases that will become the album Hotter Than The Sun this November.
You can join Ronald Wayne on this smooth jazz musical journey, subscribe to his email list, and listen to previous releases here.
Santiago's Dance is instrumental contemporary jazz, with a little Latin, and very danceable. This instrumental contemporary jazz piece has leads with soulful sax, trombone and guitar that moves Santiago’s feet and will move yours too. This song is an instrumental glimpse into my relationship with an employee and best friend who has since passed, leaving us with fond memories.
Ronald says, “People always ask ‘Who is Santiago?’ The Readers Digest version is the following: While in the building business in the 80’s, I met Santiago while looking for help. Twenty years old, he just arrived in California from El Salvador. He had escaped the Sandinista’s in his town who captured his older brother and assassinated him in front of him. He was so young, maybe 20, did not have any ID or SSN, he could not read, do math, or read a tape. Hiring him as a laborer, I soon figured out that he was a good hand at almost everything in construction. So, I brought him along, teaching him to read and write English, a little math, and how to read a measuring tape. He was a powerful man and could lift two 12-foot-long sheets of sheetrock over his head. At 5 feet 5 inches tall he was a dynamo. Our weekly ritual involved going to the bar on Friday nights where we did shots and listened to my music. During the day at work, we listened to his music. It was a daily routine for years. Sadly, he passed at an early age, 34 years old, of a brain hemorrhage. My number one man was gone, along with someone I considered my son and was a family member.”
Ronald continues, “He helped me build my own house, and when we had a little housewarming party, of course he came with a new bottle of tequila in hand and a big grin that wouldn’t quit. As I played his music loud on the house system and I accompanied it on the piano, he danced. I mean man….he was dancin’ for several hours, not always with a partner. That little samba moves from south of the border, that huge grin on his face, totally immersed in the moment. I will never forget that night or him. It wasn’t what I taught him, it’s what he taught me about life and family that always comes to mind. So, when this song arrived at my fingertips, it was for Santiago. It was Santiago's Dance! I miss him!”
Besides his musical talents creating and writing contemporary smooth jazz, Ronald plays and records all the music in his Myrtle Beach home studio, RW Studios, just footsteps from the Atlantic Ocean, where much of his inspiration to write his songs begins.
