Valerie Naranjo, percussion (1995-present) Now in her thirteenth season with SNL

Valerie Dee Naranjo joined the SNL Band on the 1995-1996 season premiere. She is the first-ever regular percussion player in the band.

Holder of a Master's degree in Performance and Ethnomusicology, Valerie has devoted much of her career to studying the relationships between the indigenous music of Africa and the Americas. She has studied extensively in a number of different African nations including Ghana.

Valerie has had over a decade of recording and concert experience, featured on albums by such artists as Selena and David Byrne. Her own recordings include "Orenda - Native American Music To Heal The Spirit" and "West African Music For The Marimba Soloist". She has also performed and arranged percussion for the Broadway production of The Lion King. She uses and endorses Latin Percussion and Vic Firth products.

More information on her background can be found at her page at Mandara Music.

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