Jerry Velez joined Jimi Hendrix' band Gypsy Sun and Rainbows in July 1969 and performed at the Woodstock Festival along with
some studio sessions. When Jimi Hendrix took the stage and pointed to the crowd, a young 21-year old first time performer stood
behind him.  Woodstock gave birth to neophyte percussionist Gerardo "Jerry" Velez' career, and he has been a presence in the
music industry ever since.  

Since his first performance at Woodstock, Gerardo enlivens the stage as well as the Billboard charts, becoming a 7-time
Grammy nominated, multi-platinum and gold selling recording artist. He has played percussion on over 200 celebrity recordings.  
They say, "Two-degrees of separation connects Jerry to every corner of the music industry," collaborating with the likes of David
Bowie, Sir Elton John, Duran Duran, Slash, Stevie Wonder, among many others.

In the 40  years since his performing at Woodstock, Jerry's journey includes all genres of music from around the globe; performing
for the entire spectrum of society from Monarchs to Presidents, the glittery stages of massive music halls, mud-soaked
fields like the place of his professional beginning...and everything inbetween.
I Rock N Roll
Gerardo "Jerry" Velez
Woodstock Performer w/Jimi Hendrix & The Band Of Gypsies
& Spyro Gyra's "dancing percussionist"
* Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
*Seven Grammy Nominations
*Six Gold & Seven Platinum Recordings
*Three Amex Gold Reel Awards
*Inducted into Dance Hall of Fame with CHIC
* VH1 Hip Hop Honor Award
*Birth of Hip Hop with the song "Good Times"
(The greatest single seller for Atlantic Records)
Music Memorabilia
Jerry Velez
Then & Now!
MEET & GREET
w/Jerry Velez
in-person -
If you'd like to
meet Jerry, hear
some wonderful
stories about the
instruments
and/or have them
personally signed
- this can be
arranged with the
purchase of any
of his personally
owned items
A Gift From Jimi Hendrix
 Warrior's Collar - American Indian Jewelry
From Jerry Velez:  "Jimi [Hendrix] had many interesting
pieces of jewelry and clothing, especially turquoise and
American Indian silver and gold pieces.  Jimi gave me two
warrior collars (necklaces)...one I wore at the Woodstock
Festival and lost shortly thereafter in a feud with an old
girlfriend.  The other piece Jimi gave me I still own and wear
with pride.  But, at this time,  I am offering to pass it on to
someone else in it's continuing journey through the universe!"
$10,000.00
Warriors Collar
Click to enlarge
Jerry Velez with Timbales Jimi Hendrix Was Jammin' On These Timbales w/Jerry
From Jerry Velez:  "These are my first set of timbales and were a gift
from an old friend in the Bronx and I drove my neighbors crazy with the
loud sound of skin on tin.  Jimi and I would switch off on the timbales and
guitar and play all night until daybreak.  Always trying to come up with a
new sound, we loved to mix-up styles of music and instrumentation.  The
timbales can be very liberating when you play them with reckless
abandon.  The majority of Jimi's shirts had fringe or ruffles and he would
catch a timbale stick in his sleeve and it would really trip him out.  We
would laugh and hardly miss a beat!  My skills in playing the timbales at
that time was limited so I only used congas and shakers at the
Woodstock Festival."
$8,000.00
Timbales
Click to enlarge
Jerry Velez Conga Hand-Played by Jimi Hendrix
 Jerry Plays Conga
From Jerry Velez:  "The first conga I ever owned
is a red sparkle Havana Cuba special that I'm now
offering up for sale.  I learned to perform by playing
this conga until my hands bled.  I carried this drum to
all the great loft parties in NYC and I would sit-in and
jam with Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Kenny
Rankin, Paul Butterfield and countless others.  When
Jimi and I hooked up he would play this drum hurt his
hands and then say 'okay, give me back my guitar,
my fingers are numb'  We switched instruments all
the time for fun, playing to everything from Bach to
Muddy Waters to Afro-Cuban grooves."
$15,000.00
Click to enlarge
For more info contact Bill@irocknroll.com
Serious inquiries only