President Dr. Contreras with Poncho Sanchez
Poncho Sanchez playing the congas
A band opening for Poncho Sanchez
President Dr. Contreras introducing Poncho Sanchez

The vibrant sounds of Latin jazz filled the air at San Bernardino Valley College’s Greek Theatre on October 12, as Grammy-winning musician Poncho Sanchez performed before a crowd of several hundred.

The concert was part of SBVC’s Centennial Celebration and Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, marking a joyful
convergence of culture, music, and community.

“Valley College President Dr. Gilbert Contreras has been best friends with my son, Xavier Mongo Sanchez, for many years, so this performance has been a long time coming,” Sanchez shared before taking the stage.

Sanchez’s connection to SBVC runs even deeper—his band member, Giancarlo Anderson, serves as a music instructor at the college, bridging the world of professional performance and student learning.

For more than three decades, Sanchez has captivated audiences worldwide with what his biography describes as “a fiery stew of straight-ahead jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from across Latin and South America.” A self-taught musician from Norwalk, California, Sanchez first explored the guitar, flute, and drums before finding his signature sound on the conga drums.

His career includes more than 20 albums, six Grammy nominations, and four Latin Grammy nominations, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. His 1999 album Latin Soul earned him a Grammy Award for Best Latin Album, cementing his legacy as one of the genre’s most influential artists.