Raised in the traditions of Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican music, Orlando Cotto learned to play hand drums when he was just five years old. Since that time he has developed a successful career as a marimbist and percussionist. As a solo marimbist, Orlando combines his training in classical music with his Latin American background to create mesmerizing rhythms and melodies previously uncharted in the marimba world. According to the San Juan Star, Orlando is "an artist of musical sensitivity and accomplished technique." He has performed at numerous international festivals, including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and conducted workshops and master classes in colleges and universities throughout the United States. He has also been invited to perform as guest artist in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America, and South American.

As a virtuoso on the conga drums, Latin Beat magazine calls Orlando's "solid conga drumming . . . a percussive pillar." He has been the lead conguero of the Rumba Club, one of East Coast's popular Latin Jazz ensembles. The band has performed at major venues including the Blue Room in Kansas City, Blue Note and Birdland in New York City, Blues Ally and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Orlando was one of the Semifinalists at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Hand Drum Competition, performing in front of an impressive panel of judges including Candido, Ray Barretto, Milton Cardona, Big Black, and Babatunde Olatunji.

As a recording artist, Orlando has collaborated with music legends of his generation, including Andy Gonzalez, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Edwin Colon Zayas. His first solo marimba recording "Caribenos" - Latin American Music for the Marimba received critical and popular acclaim. Percussive Notes praised it: "The immediacy and vitality of the music on this disc [Caribenos] impresses the listener from the very first selection." Orlando's second marimba recording "A Little Prayer" establishes his credibility as an accomplished marimbist and interpretative musician. Orlando's third recording "Wild Hands", featuring chamber music for the marimba was released spring 2005.

Orlando graduated cum laude from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico with a bachelor's degree in percussion performance. He was the first marimbist to receive the Artist Diploma from Peabody Conservatory of Music and that same year, he appeared with Peabody Symphony Orchestra as the Winner of the Yale Gordon Concerto Competition. For his outstanding achievement in music, the Mayor of Cayey, Puerto Rico, has honored Orlando as a distinguished resident. Orlando is exclusively performing artist endorsed by Yamaha, ProMark, Latin Percussion and Remo. Mr. Cotto is a faculty member at University of Delaware, Newark and Howard Community College in Columbia, MD.