The Story Behind the Music
Patrick
Lopez
Trumpeter, pianist, vocalist, bandleader, DJ, educator, and entrepreneur Patrick Lopez has built a life around one idea: music should make people feel good. His journey has taken him from playing guitar by ear as a child to international jazz festivals, major recording credits, television, classrooms, weddings, concert stages, and hospitality venues.
A Life in Music
From Playing by Ear to International Stages
Patrick’s career did not follow a single straight line. Each chapter added another instrument, another audience, and another way to create a memorable musical experience.
From Guitar to Trumpet
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, Patrick began his musical journey at seven years old, teaching himself to play guitar by ear. In middle school, he planned to audition on guitar, but no guitars were available. His band director, Mr. Schwartz, offered three choices: trumpet, trombone, or tuba.
Patrick chose the trumpet because he thought it would be easy. Instead, it became the instrument that would shape the rest of his life.
Miami and New World School of the Arts
By age fifteen, trumpet, piano, and singing were becoming part of Patrick’s professional identity. He entered Miami-Dade’s PAVAC gifted music program, which later developed into New World School of the Arts. It was there that he began studying piano and expanding beyond a single instrument.
Immersed in Miami’s multicultural music scene, Patrick absorbed jazz, Latin jazz, pop, and funk. His influences include Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, and Herb Alpert.
Professional Recording and Television
Patrick’s transition into professional music happened gradually through performing, recording, and saying yes to new opportunities. His performance and recording credits include work with Pitbull, Natalie Cole, Richie Ray, and Bobby Cruz, among many other artists and ensembles.
His television experience includes appearing on the internationally recognized Miami production Sábado Gigante.
An Unexpected European Tour
One of Patrick’s biggest career opportunities began on a whim. While visiting his brother at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his brother suggested that Patrick bring his horn and find a practice room at the music school.
That practice session led to meeting jazz director Jim Ketch. The ensemble needed another trumpet player, and Patrick was invited to join them. The opportunity took him to major European festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Jazz à Vienne in France, and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.
The Patrick Lopez Experience
The Patrick Lopez Experience grew naturally from Patrick’s love of many musical styles and his desire to create a flexible, audience-centered live show. Rather than confining the music to one category, the experience draws from jazz, Latin jazz, pop, and funk.
Whether presented as an intimate ensemble or a larger festival production, the goal remains the same: genuine musicianship, feel-good energy, and a real connection with the audience.
The Birth of DJ P-LO
DJ P-LO began out of necessity. After getting married and moving from Miami to Asheville, North Carolina, Patrick found work with local bands, but it was not enough to replace the established career he had built in South Florida. Becoming a DJ offered a practical way to expand his business.
Because Patrick was already a working musician, DJing quickly evolved into something more distinctive. Live trumpet, piano, and vocals became part of the performance, creating the DJ-plus-live-music niche that now defines DJ P-LO.
Teaching and Community
Patrick has also shared his experience through education. During the 1990s, he taught MIDI technology at Miami Dade College. Later, he served as an assistant band director at Charles D. Owen High School in Western North Carolina.
His community work has also included performances connected with LEAF, using live music to bring people together across cultures and generations.
Staying True to the Music
Today, Patrick continues building his entertainment business while remaining true to the music that shaped him. He performs as a live musician, leads the Patrick Lopez Experience, and creates hybrid DJ performances as DJ P-LO.
Across every format, Patrick wants audiences to leave feeling lighter than when they arrived—having enjoyed themselves, connected with one another, and experienced music that simply feels good.
“The goal is simple: feel-good music and a genuinely good time.”
Patrick Lopez