Born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Jose has been performing on percussion instruments since he was five years old. At age 11, he started formal music lessons with Professor Jose “Tito” Rivera at the Escuela Libre De Música de Humacao. At 12 years of age, Jose started performing with Humacao Symphonic Band under the direction of Professor German Peña Plaza. With the Humacao Symphonic Band, Jose traveled to Venezuela, New York, Costa Rica, Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic. At age 14, Jose received formal percussion lessons from Professor Jose "Pepe" Torres at the Escuela Libre de Música de Caguas. Under Torres direction, Jose performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Puerto Rico State Band and also with a variety of local bands. By the age of 17, Jose was accepted into the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music where he studied percussion with Professor Jose Alicea. Under Alicea's direction, Jose played for the America youth symphony orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1994, Jose moved to Miami, where he attended the University of Miami and Florida International University.
Through the course of his life, Jose has had the opportunity to perform with renown artists such as Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Marcos Barrientos, Gerson Kelly, Danilo Montero, Mike Orta, Bobby Cruz Jose "Papo" Rivera, “Steel Pan virtuoso” Liam Teague, etc... He had also performed at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom “Tarzan Rocks”, and “The Village Beatniks” shows, at the Universal Studios Florida “The I Love Lucy tribute show!” and many others. Jose currently resides in Orlando, Florida where he performs, does recordings and also teaches percussion on a regular basis and also host his percussion festival entitled: “Contemporary Drums & Percussion Camp”.
He also leads his own percussion group called “Los Rumberos de El Nuevo Dia”, his latin jazz band "Jose Rosa and Friends" his latest album “Live From the legendary Blue Wisp Jazz club". In addition, he can also be heard and seen in many radio ads and TV programs like syndicated PBS program “Jazz Then and Now” and also on the Travel channel in the program "The making of Disney's Animal Kingdom".
He has also co-written several instructional books with his long time friend Professor Hector”Pocho” Neciosup some of the titles are: Award winning: "Beyond The Secret Hand / Mas alla de la Mano Secreta", “The Contemporary Hand Drummer” and “The Art of Latin Drumming” published and distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation, the latter nominated for the 2013 Modern Drummer Readers Poll. Jose recently published a music history book with Hal Leonard Corporation entitled: “New World Music Resource Guide” and is already receiving great reviews. His latest Instructional Videos: “The Contemporary Hand Drummer” and “The Art of playing Drums and Percussion” will be release in Winter 2013. Jose is a very accomplished educator, his Drums and Percussion Camp entitled: “Contemporary Drums and Percussion Camp” is held every year at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Hundreds of students come from all over the world to study at the camp with Jose Rosa and Hector “Pocho” Neciosup.
Jose is an active member of the American Federation of Musicians (Local 389), Percussive Arts Society, ASCAP, MENC, International Associations of Jazz Educators, International Association of Music Educators, Christian Educators Association International. Jose endorses Pearl Drums and Percussion, Paiste Cymbals, Pro-Mark Drum Sticks and Mallets, Duallist Bass Drum Pedals, Pintech Electronic Percussion, Lento Drum Gloves, Cymbag, Phat Foot Accessories, Cympad, Offworld Practice Pads and Remo Drum Heads.