Recognized among the top percussionists, songwriters and producers in the world, the Puerto-Rican born Bonilla has achieved multiple solo albums and concert tours, collaborating with such music industry giants as Gloria Estefan, Lenny Kravitz, Madonna, Marc Anthony, Arturo Sandoval, Celia Cruz, Stevie Wonder, Ricky Martin and more. His music is a mix of Afro-percussion and pure salsa dance tracks, defined by powerful horns, strong percussion riffs, crisp wide vocal arrangements and deep live "descargas." Bonilla's latest album Homenaje A Los Rumberos was nominated "Best Tropical Album" at last year's Latin Grammys.  The album pays tribute to the New York salsa explosion of the '70s with vibrant new versions of dance-floor scorchers by the old school salsa masters, with original songs and classics like "Canto Abacua" by Rubén Blades and "Ella Está En Otra Rumba" by Tite Curet Alonso. His previous albums, Edwin y Su Son, Soy La Candela and Pa' La Calle received outstanding reviews and critical acclaim from renowned music critics like Descarga.com, All About Jazz, Allmusic.com and AOL Radio.

The Noches Tropicales 2012-2013 concert season will feature an array of music artists and musical genres. Target will sponsor the Noches Tropicales concerts at Tropical Park on Feb. 8 (artist pending) and April 5 (Tony Swing). The season includes a new "Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights" concert series sponsored by the Knight Foundation, offering an expanded concert line-up at these venues/dates: Country Village Park, Jan. 18 (The Swing Band); and Goulds Park, March 1 (Velvet Rope).   

Tropical Park is located at 7900 SW 40 St., Miami.  Noches Tropicales concert goers are encouraged to bring along a blanket, chairs and snacks to better enjoy the festivities.  In the event of rain concerts may be cancelled. Concert performers are subject to change. For more information on Noches Tropicales/Tropical Nights concerts, call 305-271-0812, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks.

In September Miami-Dade Parks kicked off its free "Noches Tropicales" 2012/2013 concert season with a Latin Jazz gala at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium that featured Grammy award-winning and nominated artists Joan Cartwright, Nicole Yarling, Carlos Averhoff, Kiki Sanchez, Elaine Hernandez, Andy Harlow, Niki Orta, Reinier Guerra, and Daniel Berroa. The gala and the expanded concert line-up was made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Knight Foundation to expand the Noches Tropicales concert series from its home base at Tropical Park to other venues throughout the County. 

The 2012-2013 Noches Tropicales concert series also received a $75,000 grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT).  The grant is part of Target's ongoing efforts to build strong, safe and healthy communities across the country. These efforts include Target's long history of giving 5 percent of its income to communities, which today equals more than $3 million every week. As part of this commitment, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015 to help kids learn, schools teach and parents and caring adults engage. To date Target has provided more than $300,000 in cultural grant funds in support of Noches Tropicales.

Now in its seventh year, Noches Tropicales, inaugurated by Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Sen. Javier D. Souto, has showcased more than 20 evening concerts at Tropical Park that have included traditional Cuban contemporary music and zarzuelas, Argentinean tango, Brazilian Jazz, and a Spanish-language version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  More than 40,000 patrons have attended Noches Tropicales concerts over the years. 

About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award and winner of the 2009 Florida Governor's Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,848 acres of land.  It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world.  Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Ericsson Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more.  For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.

Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County's world-class parks system for residents and visitors.  Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities.  For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.parksfoundationofmiami-dade.com.

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