Pete’s Biography

Pete Orlando Salazar was born in Mansfield, Ohio to Cuban and Colombian immigrants. At the age of 10 Pete met Elvis Presley (1972 in Palm Springs, Ca) in a store where Elvis shopped for sunglasses with his two bodyguards. Family received autographs and Pete a blessing by the King himself. Mr. Presley rubbed the top of Pete’s head and said, “God bless you little boy.” This encounter launched Pete’s dream of becoming a rock and roll singer. Listening to Elvis that memorable week on his family’s 8-track tape, while crossing the Mojave Desert in their family’s green camper, started the wheels-a-rollin’ on Pete’s hound-dog-express that carried him forward to singing and performing and writing his own music.

Pete grew up listening to his classically trained mother Nilda play the piano from the day he was in the womb. Movie sound tracks, Latin classics, and western classical compositions filled his music mind throughout his early years.  It wasn’t until Pete snuck a listening to his aunt Bertha’s 60s record collection, spinning full length LPs of many bands including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, from the Standells “Dirty Water”, to the hilariously obsessive replaying of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s “Incents & Peppermints” drove Pete to his first teen garage bands in the early 80s. 

After brewing in classic rock & roll, New Wave spiked long hair and finally towards the end of the Sunset Strip scene Street rock & roll and leathers captured his mind and passions, where he continued to absorb new and interesting sounds like a sponge. Pete went on to perform at the famed Gazzari’s, Whisky A Go-Go and the Roxy Theater on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, CA to sold out crowds. He co-wrote and sang the tune “You Belong” (Fornadley/SalaZar) for the Metal Blade release “Street Survivors” chronicling the up-and-coming bands on the Hollywood Strip during the decadent 80s and early 90s, an album distributed by Geffen Records, internationally. Pete and his co-song writing partner for many years the amazing virtuoso guitarist Curtis Fornadley published many memorable songs during their intense and celebrated Hollywood writing and period (The Lunatic Fringe) collaborations: see more about www.curtisguitar.com, who works closely with Pete to this day). Pete was also the lead singer for the power pop new wave band called The Spectres at Madame Wong’s east and west (during 80s power pop era). More recently, Pete has rediscovered and embraced his family’s musical heritage (Afro-Cuban and Colombian folk music) adding the styles and rhythms to his world music project Paella World Music and continues with this enlightening and exciting adventure. Pete continues his discovery of ethnic music throughout the world and looks forward to sharing with friends and fans his bi-lingual singing and new song-smithing.

In 2012 Pete traveled to the Middle East where he had the opportunity to perform for US military forces and allies in Kabul Afghanistan with his band “Threat Level.” He will always remember the 6 months that he rock and rolled in the land of the Taliban. He appreciates, is fascinated by and continues to discover their cultures, their traditions and their music. He was excited to perform with musicians from various countries including Afghanis, Bosnians, Albanians, Kosovars, Serbians, and from Montenegro that culminated is a free style jam of Balkan-centric ethnic music when he spontaneously began improvising musical lyrics in Spanish to his band’s root music performance. “It was an amazing night under the stars, the night sky, our faces reflecting an Afghan moon..” Pete-Orlando is proud to further broaden his musical pallet and respect for world music.

Pete has been performing and co-writing with various artists including: Jimmy Bain (DIO) and was in the process of recording a new release with Jimmy during his untimely death. Worked with Bobby Blotzer (RATT), co-writer for their release “Live For Today,” performed with Phil Seymour - “Baby it's You” and now gracing the stages and television screen with Eliana Alexander (Actor/Singer/Songwriter), his bilingual Spanish & English co-writer.

Pete feels that Eliana’s and his voice blend very well together, creating beautiful harmonies that capture the joy of musical storytelling and their combined optimistic outlooks on life. Their duet brings out the best in others and as been said to be, “Magically infectious!” Together they look forward to releasing their latest compositions, including the Spanish boleros “La Ultima Vez” and “Todo Es Posible (cuando tienes amor).”

Pete’s Trivia

Married to Liliana Otero Salazar and they have a daughter.

When Pete met Eliana, their voices blended as if they were always a singing duo. The uncanniness of their sound is what excites Pete the most as their sound evolves. He feels that their beautiful harmonies emanate joy and an optimistic outlook on life and that is infectious to those that hear them.

Songwriter singer performer Lunatic Fringe, the Spectres, Tier Garden, Fornadley-SalaZar, E&P Music.   Pete is a published songwriter/publisher with BMI, Spectres Music company.

Pete grew up listening to his classically trained mother Nilda play the piano from the day he was in the womb.

New Wave spiked long hair and finally Street rock & roll and leathers captured his mind and like a sponge he absorbed the experiences, the city angst of the times and everything that came with that lifestyle.

Sold out performances at the Whisky-A-Go-Go and Roxy Theater, in Hollywood, Ca.

As a teen Pete was in the South Bay Battle of the Bands and played city dances, high school dances, and backyard parties that usually were stopped by local police.

Signed with Summa Music Management (Hollywood Ca).

A published music composer (Spectres Music) wrote with glam metal band RATT, and later published music for a Teen Nickelodeon episode.

Co-wrote and sang a tune “You Belong” for the Metal Blade release “Street Survivors” chronicling the up and coming bands on the Hollywood Strip during the decadent 80s and early 90s. The album was distributed by Geffen Records, domestically in the USA and internationally.

Pete was drawn to rediscovering his family musical heritage (Cuban, Afro-Cuban and Colombian) styles and rhythms, writing and performing with Paella World Music as he continued his discovery of ethnic music throughout the world.

Pete had the opportunity to perform for US military forces and allies in Kabul, Afghanistan with his band “Threat Level.”

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