Sue Hadjopoulos is, undoubtably, the only Greek-Puerto Rican percussionist in the industry today!
You may not recognize the face, but you've probably heard her pop-salsa rhythmic sensations which have enlivened TV commercials, music videos, live shows and CD releases by a bewildering array of top artists around the globe.
Sue began her professional career in the field of Latin music as a
founding member and conguera/timbalera of Latin Fever, a 14 piece all female
salsa band produced by Larry Harlow and signed to the Fania label.
Their album "Larry Harlow Presents Latin Fever" rose to the top of the
Latin charts and yielded a No. 1 hit in Puerto Rico. When the group played Madison Square Garden for a sold out Latin All Stars concert, the legendary Tito Puente, after hearing Sue's scorching timbale solo, warned the audience he was going to retire.
Teaming up with Joe Jackson on the classic platinum-selling CD "Night
& Day" and accompanying world tour, established Sue as an innovator
in the field of contemporary music.
As a direct result of her work on "Night & Day", she garnered
lauditory press around the globe and Modern Drummer Magazine Readers
voted Sue one of their favorite top 5 percussionists.
Sue was also a featured player on the Grammy award winning CD, "Symphony No. 1" by Joe Jackson.
Sue's smooth blend of pop/salsa rhythms has since become her trademark. Known
for her versatility, inspired percussion arrangements and strong vocal
harmonies, she has since worked with such diverse artists as: Joe
Jackson, Simple Minds, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias,
Clarence Clemons, Southside Johnny, The B-52s, Basia, Barry Manilow,
Kenny Loggins, Toni Braxton, Laurie Anderson, David Byrne, They Might
Be Giants, Rickie Lee Jones, Davy Jones (Monkees), Mic Jones
(Foreigner), Jane Siberry, Vicki Sue Robinson, Teena Marie and renowned singer songwriter Laura Nyro.
Sue co-wrote, arranged, produced
and performed the song "Breaking Up" for the movie, BAR GIRLS,
an Orion
Pictures release. She also co-wrote the book and music, and originated
the the sound design for "The Rose Slippers", a children's musical,
(inspired by the Jose Marti poem "Los Zapaticos de Rosa") which was
staged at The Looking Glass Theater in NYC, and for which she received a rave
review in the New York Times.
In October of 2008, she played percussion for the first professional revival of Jason Robert Brown's, Songs For A New World staged off-Broadway at the ATA Chernuchin Theater in NYC; directed by Debbie Slevin, featuring a 14-member youth ensemble in addition to the four principal performers. She also played percussion in the off-Broadway production, Vicki Sue Robinson: Behind the Beat (1999) an autobiographical retrospective of the singer's career, song hits and jingles. She has performed in regional theater at the Virginia Stage Company.
Sue also originated the percussion parts
for the innovative theatrical production inspired by Gustave Flaubert's
"The Temptation of St. Anthony" created and directed by Robert Wilson,
with music and libretto by Bernice Johnson Reagon. Sue performed for the show's
premiere at the Rhur Trienalle Festival in Germany in 2003 and
toured with the production in Europe.
Sue has appeared in many music videos and has performed on major
network TV shows all over the world including: The Dave Letterman Show,
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Late Night With Conan
O'Brien, Saturday Night Live, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Vibe Show,
Top of the Pops (UK) and The American Music Awards.
Sue is interviewed in the April 2008 issue of InTune Monthly Magazine.
She has also done past interviews for Modern Drummer, Drum! Magazine, Classic (Vintage)
Drummer, Modern Percussionist, Musico Pro, Rhythm Magazine (UK) and
Slagwerkkrant Magazine (Holland). She has also written feature articles
for RockrGrl Magazine, Drummergirl.com, Modern Drummer and Drum!
Magazine.
Sue is currently working on a
variety of theater and film projects and original bands, and performs regularly with ยกRetumba! A Women's Afro Caribbean Music and Dance Ensemble.
Sue Hadjopoulos endorses REMO World Percussion and Drumheads, Paiste
Cymbals, Vater Sticks, and
Rhythm Tech Percussion.
Sue is a member of SAG, AFM-Local 802, AFTRA and ASCAP.
