Ivette was born in the town of Humacao, on the Eastern shores of Puerto Rico – the Jewel of the Caribbean. 

She grew up surrounded by music.  From traditional Bomba and Plena to the sounds of such unforgettable salseros as El Gran Combo, Sonora Ponceña, Roberto Roena, Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentín and Hector Lavoe, to all of whom she attributes her love of salsa.

 Ivette got started as a DJ in the San Francisco Bay Area playing salsa and merengue at Amelia’s, from where she went on to Colors.   Both venues were primarily women’s dance clubs.

Presently, she is one of the resident DJs at Jelly’s at Pier 50, accompanying some of the Bay Area’s finest salsa bands such as Azabache, Mazacote, Charanson, Candela, Orquesta América, to name just a few.

 In addition to being a regular DJ on the San Francisco Salsa scene, Ivette has worked with such well-known artists as Tito Nieves, Larry Harlow, Roberto Roena, Jimmy Bosch, Plena Libre, Sheila E., and Pete Escovedo.

For the past three years she has been the DJ at the annual “Día de San Juan” Festival in San Jose, which draws thousands of visitors each year and which has brought to the stage stars like Tito Nieves, Johnny Polanco, and Plena Libre.

 Ivette is one of the most sought-after salsa DJs in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.  And you understand when you see her in the DJ booth.  Her pride in her Puerto Rican heritage and the way she feels, breathes, lives, loves the music might make your feet move all on their own.  

 “Siempre pa’ lante, Boricua, pa’ atras ni pa’ coger impulso!” - “Keep moving forward, Boricua, don’t go back, not even to pick up speed!”

 WHY IS IVETTE’S DJ NAME “LA COQUI”?

 The Coquí (Ko-Kee) is a tiny tree frog that fills the Puerto Rican nights with its melodious song.  Legend has it that there once was an Indian chief called Coquí – so brave, so good, and so powerful that the gods declared he would never be forgotten.  They decreed the tiny tree frog to proclaim his name for all times.  And so it is, that even now, you can hear the Coquí singing his name through the night.