Percussionist Terry Santiel is a native of Los Angeles, California. He has been performing professionally since the age of seventeen when he started recording at Motown Records on songs for The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Edwin Starr, Undisputed Truth, and Thelma Houston. He’s one of the founding members of the group Rose Royce who had such hits as “Car Wash”, “I Wanna Get Next to You”, “Wishing on a Star”, “Ooh Boy” and “I’m Going Down”. Terry tours with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, and most recently performed with Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Jay Sean, TLC and Ciara at Justin’s Annual Shriner’s Charity Event.
Over the years Terry has traveled extensively and performed worldwide with many artists including: Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Barry White, Soul II Soul, Patrice Rushen, Pointer Sisters, and Sheena Easton. He has made several TV appearances, including performing on Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, Oprah, Ellen Degeneres, Jay Leno, Dave Letterman, Conan O’Brian and Jimmy Kimmel, plus many award shows including The Grammy’s. When he’s not on the road, Terry spends a lot of time in the studio laying tracks for various artists for many of the popular songs you hear on the radio, both old school and contemporary. He has also recorded on several movie soundtracks over the years.
Terry was the first one to use electronic percussion/drums when he recorded “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” with Rose Royce back in the late 70’s. He continues to incorporate electronics in his live performances and recordings.