The trail blazer has been able to build a successful career as an independent artist & band leader organically. Growing up in Puerto Rico, the richness of percussion & dance have shaped every aspect of his expression. Therefore, Tosstones is able to merge salsa, hip hop, reggaeton, Caribbean music, afrobeats, jazz & more. Also, movement is huge part of his range, as dance and choreography spark his educator skills; as well as creative direction.
Tosstones Aponte has made major noise in Hollywood for being a part of the creative team behind Bad Bunny’s 2023 Grammys performance. Mexican Icon Marisela World tour (2021-2022). Elvis Crespo “Suavemente” 25 year anniversary in Univision TV (2020). Best Jazz Album Grammy & Latin Grammy nominations for his collaboration on David Sanchez ’s Carib Album (2019). Other notable collaborations are: Wisin y Yandel, Tego Calderon, Giovanni Hidalgo, Batacumbele, Los Majaderos de Cachete Maldonado, Gilberto Santarosa, Roberto Roena, Don Omar and other greats. Tosstones Aponte is now living in Los Angeles, California where he has performed & DJ on Top Venues like: The Conga Room, Poppy, The Peppermint Club, Soho House L.A., The Britely, El Floridita Hollywood, Hollywood Carnival, Los Globos, The Virgil & more.
Early Life
As a child Tosstones Aponte, born Jhan Lee Aponte in San Juan Puerto Rico, grew up surrounded by music & dance. In his family gatherings there was always live plena music, salsa and everyone sang along and played handrums. This inspired his desire to play with the adults who embraced his natural talent. At the age of 6 his mother gifted him his first set of bongo drum. His Father (Jhesus Aponte), a renowned dancer & choreographer, exposed him to dance & the music industry. At the age of 8, alongside his Father and Sonya Cortez, he got to perform in the iconic “El Show de las doce” local tv show. Also he got to start in many local tv commercials for Mcdonalds, Burger King, Lotus Pineapple juice.
At the age of 12 he went to the performing arts school “Ernesto Ramos Antonini” where he started formal musical education where at the time he was playing drums on punk and metal local bands. At 16 his father and him moved to London where Tosstones worked as a musician and as rapper/producer to local independent Latin Hip Hop artists as well as musical theatre show in The West End (The original Broadway).
In 2005 (after London) he moved to NYC where he studied Sound engineering at the Institute of Audio and Research to further his music production knowledge. In NYC he was working on his Hip Hop & Rap skills which led him to win an amateur rap contest at the iconic S.O.B. 's alongside his colleague & classmate at the time Divine Mental (Dennis Colon). After his 2 year tenure in NYC he decided to go back home to PR. In 2007 the calling to be a dancer arose. While producing a record for Don Omar, as a dancer he had the opportunity to perform with Salsa greats like Gilberto Santarosa, Tito Nieves, N'Klabe, Victor Manuelle and more. Also in 2007 Tosstones Aponte enrolled in the Puerto Rico Music Conservatory where he did a Bachelors in Jazz & Afro-Caribbean Music. At this time Aponte was playing percussion with some of Salsa’s top icons like Roberto Roena, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Ray de la Paz, Manolito Rodriguez, Luisito Carrion to name a few. This was the beginning of his impact as renowned Percussionist and Band Leader.
After years of making a name for himself Aponte decided to start his own projects that started to make waves in PR and internationally. First he started a Jazz trio called “Uda Jazz” that was quickly featured in PR’s Large stage called “Palo en Vivo”. Then he created the band that propelled him called “6 Ballare” which became a popular sensation in PR. 6 Ballare's growth was rapid and the music was heard in PR top venues as well as one of the biggest festivals in the Caribbean called “Fiestas de la calle San Sebastián”. This is the band that recorded his song called "Hit me up". After 3 years of massive exposure, Aponte decided to end the band and follow his dreams to take his talents to Los Angeles, CA and the rest is History. As soon as he arrived he assembled a band he called “La Freetanga” which is also the community that supports him (you). Tosstones Aponte’s name quickly Spreaded in “LA LA Land”.
Finally, Aponte had the vision to create a platform where he and colleagues can expose projects, workshops & creations. The name of this experience is Flowers Rhythm co-founded by Heidy Rodriguez. Flowers Rhythm has been able to present some of L.A.’s top independent artists, comedians, visual artists, poets, dancers & change makers. In addition, Flowers has collaborated with top tier festivals, like Lightning in a Bottle, Afro Music Fest. by Amplify Africa, as well as huge platforms like Songtrust & The Grammys. Tosstones is the embodiment of a Creative powerhouse and his purpose is to build bridges through music, dance & culture.
If you are reading this… Welcome to la Freetanga!!