Fernando Velez

Fernando Velez

Fernando Velez is an Union, NJ-based Percussionist and DJ. He is a founding member of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and a critical part of the band's sound. Fernando was also a founding member of Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra with whom he recorded and toured until 2007. He also can be heard in most Desco records albums and 45's such as The Daktaris, Lee Fields, The Other Side, The Revenge of Mister Mopoji just to name a few.

Fernando has performed in venues all over the world, most notably, The Sydney Opera House, New York City's Apollo Theatre, Beacon Theatre, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Kennedy Center, The Hollywood Bowl amongst other venues. As a member of the Dap-Kings, Fernando has opened for Prince, Earth Wind and Fire, Smokey Robinson, Tonny Bennett and more.

In 2009 he was sought out by Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" producer Mark Ronson for Daniel Merriweather's "War & Love" where he added percussion on 6 songs. As a guest he has also performed in recordings for The Menahan Street Band, Charles Bradley, Lee Fields, Cee-Lo, and Theophilous London, amongst others. As a member of the rhythm section of The Dap-Kings, Fernando has recorded music for Michael Buble, Jay-Z, Bebel Gilberto, Ariana Grande, Skint & Demoralized and many more.

In 2012, Fernando and The Dap-Kings recorded music for Director Martin Scorsese's "The Wolf of Wall Street" starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Jonah Hill. With the Dap-Kings, Fernando has appeared on The Colbert Report, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Jools Holland Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, and served as a member of the house band for Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars, the 2012 edition of VH-1 Divas, and NFL honors 2013.