Music News aka Houston Music News aka Texas Music News

DECEMBER 2022

Hi Folks, Hello Music News readers. I hope everybody had a great November. If you look carefully at the cover of this issue, you can see that we have now started our 41st year of production. That’s right, as of this issue, we have brought you four solid decades of Music News. It’s certainly been a wild ride. We would have never guessed that we would have lasted so long, but we did. We’ve undergone a few changes along the way. We started out in print and utilized that form for 38 years until the pandemic hit. Now we are totally online. When we first went online in 1993, I never thought that it was the wave of the future, but it certainly is. Everything is online right now and unfortunately free print magazines seem to be falling by the wayside. We are certainly happy that we were among the first to utilize this new technology and we implore all of you to continue reading Music News at http://www.houstonmusicnews.net. Thanks everybody for you’re support and here’s to another 40 years of Music News aka Houston Music News.

Now, on to the new issue. In this issue, as usual, we have some great stories and information to pass on to you. Check out stories in this month’s issue on OneRepublic, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jason Bonham, Josh Turner, Donovan Melero, Aquihayaquihay, Kameron Marlowe and another installment of the original story, THE BIKER along with a lot more! Also in this issue are a ton of great pictures of bands performing around the Houston area. I’m sure you’re going to be familiar with a lot of these bands. If you have pictures of local bands performing, please email them to us. I would really appreciate it and I know the bands do as well. Keep it up... We would like to see more pictures from you.

We’d also like to invite you to check out our Spanish music section. Not only does it support the Spanish music community, it does so in Spanish. It would appear that Music News has now become the only bilingual music publication in Houston. Check out great stories in it this month on Natalia Jimenez, Jay Perez and Grupo Solido. We hope you like them.

I sincerely hope that everybody reading this new publication finds something here that they like and I would like to encourage you to let your friends and colleagues know about us. Just look for us every month at http://www.houstonmusicnews.net. I would also like to encourage you to email us for a free subscription to Rock And Blues International as well. Just email us at musicnew@airmail.net and in the subject line simply put “Sign Me Up” and we’ll email you a copy each month when it is published. For your convenience, Music News is also now downloadable. You can download the issue into your computer or storage device and save it and read it at your convenience without having to get logged on to the internet every time. Try it now and save every issue. It will make things a lot easier for you.

Kevin Wildman

Wildman Editor and Publisher

Kevin Wildman

Editor and Publisher

Web Address http://www.houstonmusicnews.net Mailing Address Box 1162, League City, TX 77573

Phone 281-650-1953

For Advertising email us at musicnew@airmail.net or call 281-650-1953

For A Free Subscription email us at musicnew@airmail.net and in the subject line put “Sign Me Up Now”

Kevin

by Matt Collar

Bringing together a savvy blend of alternative rock, contemporary pop, and classic singer/songwriter influences, OneRepublic have enjoyed commercial success since breaking through with their late-2000s hit “Apologize.” They are bolstered by the anthemic songwriting of frontman Ryan Tedder, who has earned Grammys writing for an extensive roster of high-profile talent, including Leona Lewis, Beyoncé, Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, and Adele. Following the success of the Timbaland remix of “Apologize” from their 2006 debut, Dreaming Out Loud, OneRepublic continued to rack up radio hits. They reached a peak with 2013’s Native, which was home to the hit singles “Counting Stars” and “Love Runs Out.” While Tedder has continued to push the band’s sound, embracing electronic dance and pop flourishes, OneRepublic have retained their chart influence, hitting number three on the Billboard 200 with 2016’s Oh My My and number 11 with 2021’s Human.

Drawing inspiration from artists like the Beatles, Peter Gabriel, and U2, Tedder and Zach Filkins formed the group in 2002 in Colorado, later relocating to Los Angeles. Shortly thereafter, they incorporated keyboardist Drew Brown, bassist/cellist Brent Kutzle, and drummer Eddie Fisher in the lineup. OneRepublic then signed with Sony BMG’s Columbia label in 2003; three years later, however, the bandmates returned from a performance at Coachella to find themselves dropped from Columbia’s roster. Nevertheless, OneRepublic’s popularity continued to soar on social media, and Tedder helped raise the group’s profile by penning songs for artists like Hilary Duff and Blake Lewis. Hip-hop producer Timbaland (with whom Tedder had already worked for several years) took notice of the band’s audience and signed OneRepublic to his own Mosley Music Group, a joint venture with Interscope Records. Timbaland also remixed one of the group’s most promising tracks, “Apologize,” and included it on his own album, 2007’s Timbaland Presents Shock Value. The song quickly became a platinum-selling single in many countries, breaking airplay records in the U.K. and selling an unprecedented 4.3 million digital downloads in America alone.

Later that year, OneRepublic stepped out on their own with Dreaming Out Loud, a debut album filled with piano-fueled songwriting and pop/rock melodies. The album quickly went gold, and “Apologize” continued to top the

singles charts in multiple countries. Another Tedder-penned track, Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love,” experienced similar success at the same time, thus making Tedder one of the year’s most celebrated songwriters. OneRepublic began writing songs for a second album in 2008, and the band later decamped to Colorado Springs to avoid outside distractions. Although initially planned for a summer release, Waking Up wasn’t completed until September 2009. The album’s lead single, “All the Right Moves,” was released to radio that same month, and the album followed in November, charting in the U.S. and Europe.

In 2013, OneRepublic returned with their platinum-certified third studio album, Native, featuring the singles “Feel Again,” “If I Lose Myself,” and their biggest hit to date, “Counting Stars,” a U.S. number two. During the band’s subsequent extensive world tour, a deluxe version of Native was released, featuring the hit “Love Runs Out,” which reached number 15 on the Hot 100 and was a Top Ten hit in several other countries. They also landed on the Billboard 200 with their 2014 iTunes Session. As touring continued, the group began recording their follow-up album. Written in 16 cities across 12 countries,

Oh My My captured the sound and flavor of locales like Turkey, Brazil, Spain, and Russia, and was released in late 2016. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.

The following year, while on tour with Fitz & the Tantrums and James Arthur, OneRepublic released the standalone single “No Vacancy,” a tropicaltinged track that featured Sebastian Yatra and Amir on a pair of remixes. After several more stand-alone singles were scattered throughout 2017 and 2018, the band began an extended roll-out of tracks that would eventually lead up to their fifth full-length.

Arriving in August 2021, Human featured tracks released as early as 2019, including the platinum-certified “Rescue Me” and the Kygo collaboration “Lose Somebody” (found on the album’s deluxe edition). The LP, which hit number 11 on the Billboard 200, also featured “Somebody to Love,” penned by Songland season one winner JT Roach and Tedder’s fellow co-hosts on the show Ester Dean and Shane McAnally. A concert album, One Night in Malibu, appeared in February 2022. Around the same time, OneRepublic released “West Coast” as the first track off their sixth album.

Artist Photography Why Is It So Important?

By Ron Fontenot

First of all, not having a respectable photography portfolio is like winking in the dark – no one sees your depth. The point of separation between the ultra-successful artist and the hobbyist is their visual presence. Decision makers within the industry notice it right away plus the impressions you make on the fan base you are building and wish to

hold onto depend on creative presence. Artists have a choice if they know it exists. This paper serves to illustrate meaningful differences between mediocre images and those that stand out.

Not all shots are the same… In the early days of building presence, an artist begins the journey of creating what is known as their “brand”. Your photography portfolio

Publicity Photography

Publicity images are photos that are distributed for use by the media and circulated for publicity purposes by promotional agencies in the articles of advertisement, booking, and electronic press kits. These photos are used by explicit permissions only. The purpose of publicity photography is that it draws attention to the artist, to their face, many times a very tight shot (closeup photo) taken in a common environment such as on stage or in the photo studio. It is important for the photograph to evoke an emotional connection with the viewer so that they want to see more of this artist.

During an industry networking conference, an attendee reflected to another member of the team this comment…

“When the panel was talking about the photos I almost stood up

is the most critical visual medium that clearly illustrates your feel, genre, and style. It’s a form of messaging and this form of messaging is extremely effective simply because professional photography evokes raw emotions relative to the artist’s presence, more than just simply reading a bio. Here are my top four points:

Project Images

Project images are those photos that are associated with an artist’s project e.g. recordings of singles, EP, or albums. This may also include any video creations, advertising, touring, or promotional campaigns. Project images are more of a creative visual element in that they are used on album covers, posters, shirts, and additional promotional items. Visual content of music products will vary from project to project, and the photography or illustrations used should reflect a blending with the music contained in each.

and made a comment. Not only was what they were saying correct I was going to go a step further. I was going to tell the audience that I have been doing what I do for a living for forty years and a number of times I have run lesser-known artists on the

front cover than better known ones because their photos were much better.” ~ Kevin Wildman (Music News, and Rock And Blues International Magazines)

Photo credit: Gil Lesage

Live Photography

Live performance photography is the visual form that audiences relate to the most, and artists circulate most frequently. These images are truly the heroes that get the desired traction in an artist’s road to fame. The photographer must capture the split-second action that reveals and communicates the artist’s absolute pinnacle of performance passion and emotion. Not every photographer can capture these images correctly. They must have an impeccable sense of timing, be laser-

Behind the Scenes

Behind the scenes photography is exactly what it sounds like, and it applies to sessions in recording studios, video productions, pod-cast recordings, and interviews on TV and radio. On the go shots taken during the creative processes are more valuable than many expect. I’ve never come across an artist saying that they wish they didn’t have these images, it’s always “I wish we had done that!” Images taken during these times humanize the artist and their entire creative team. For a viewer to be able to be that “fly on the wall” capturing your process, your journey, is simply amazing. The opportunity to record these incredible creative events is one that I never take for granted. As the photogra-

pher, I always come away with deep feelings of gratitude for being invited to such an immersive, personal, and

About The Author

A professional music industry photographer based in Houston, Texas since 2012.

Specializing in photographing artists live on stage. Has consulted on and conducted several photographic mini-seminars in studio lighting, concert photography, composition techniques, and even artist performance quality. Recently his contribu-

tions to his local music community have been awarded with Congressional and Senatorial Certificates of Recognition.

Photographed many performances, concerts, and events like the Blues Music Award and the International Blues Challenge Week in Memphis (many of those images can

focused on the artist’s performance, know the artists expressive attributes, and keen knowledge of the music being performed. These special action shots can only be achieved if the photographer has mastered the points just described. You want them frozen in time in such a way that the viewer will feel as if they were standing right where the photographer was, on the edge of the stage! You want the viewer to feel the emotional connection.

vulnerable moment.

be seen on his social media & website gallery pages).

Past Board Member & Photographer of the Houston Blues Society

Is a current member of, and photographic contributor for:

The Blues Foundation, Memphis

The Houston Blues Museum

Gulf Coast Blues Association & Jazz Society

The Professional Photographers of America

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (GRAMMY’S)

Chris Duarte Performs At Dosey Doe Breakfast, BBQ & Whiskey Bar

by Richard Skelly

Austin-based guitarist, songwriter, and singer Chris Duarte will be performing at the Dosey Doe Breakfast, BBQ & Whiskey Bar on Friday, December 16. Duarte has often been compared with the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. It’s heady stuff for the musician, who plays a rhythmic style of Texas blues-rock that is at times reminiscent of Vaughan’s sound, and at other times reminiscent of Johnny Winter. The truth is, Duarte has his own sound that draws on elements of jazz, blues, and rock & roll. Although he is humbled by the comparisons with the late Vaughan, the San Antonio-raised musician began playing out in clubs

there when he was 15 years old. After Duarte moved to Austin when he was 16, he began taking his guitar playing much more seriously, and at that time, Vaughan was still around playing in Austin-area clubs. Duarte was one of those lucky few thousand who got to see Vaughan at the Continental Club before the late guitarist got his first break with David Bowie. After a short stint in an Austin jazz band, Duarte joined Bobby Mack & Night Train and began getting heavily into blues at that point. He traveled all over Texas with that band before a big break came his way in 1994, when New York-based Silvertone Records released his critically praised debut album, Texas Sugar/Strat Magik.

Tailspin Headwhack followed in 1997 and Love Is Greater Than Me appeared three years later. Romp from 2003 featured a cover version of Bob Dylan’s “One More Cup” and was followed by the 2007 album Blue Velocity, 2008’s Vantage Point, 2009’s 396, and 2010’s Infinite Energy. My Soul Alone showed up early in 2013, with Lucky 13 arriving in 2014. His thirteenth album, Lucky 13, is billed as a Chris Duarte Group release, featuring Dustin Sargent on the bass, and John McKnight on the drums, while Duarte plays the guitar and provides vocals. Following its release in 2014, it received positive reviews for its blend of slow, loping blues with psychedelic, rock and jazz overtones.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Return To Houston’s Toyota For Two Great Performances

December 29th At 3:00 and 7:30 PM

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is hitting the road with the ‘Ghosts Of Christmas Eve’ Tour with shows across the U.S. and they will be rockin’ Houston’s Toyota Center on Thursday, December 29 with two shows at 3:00PM and at 7:30PM.

“It’s hard to believe that over 20 years ago, we had just seven shows,” Al Pitrelli, TSO’s music director and lead guitarist, told USA TODAY. “We were so happy that 10 to 11 thousand people came out to those shows and fell in love with Paul’s creation. Last year, with Paul’s family steering the ship, we realized that his dream will live beyond him, and that makes us all very proud, happy and thankful.”

“There are a lot of people who come back year after year, and they expect to see the stories they’ve

grown so attached to, and, not to disappoint them, we keep the familiarity intact,” Pitrelli said. “But, those same people in the audience know that there are always going to be a lot of surprises. This year is no different. ... We as a band and production are forever pushing the envelope both musically and visually, (and) this tour is going to be epic.”

When Paul O’Neill first conceived Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his goal was as straightforward as it was incredibly ambitious. “The whole idea,” the late Paul O’Neill explained, “was to create a progressive rock band that would push the boundaries (of the genre) further than any group before... Way, way further.”

With more than 10 million albums sold, TSO has inspired

generations of fans to rediscover the multi-dimensional art form of the rock opera. Meanwhile, on the road, they have become one of the world’s top acts, with Billboard magazine naming TSO as one of the top touring artists of the past decade — a $20 million-plus production that has played to over 100 million people in 80+ cities, selling more than $280 million worth of tickets and presenting $11 million to charity.

O’Neill, a New York City native grew up, “with a wide-ranging world of (rock) musical influences.” But, O’Neill also soaked up sources such as Broadway musicals, Motown and singer-songwriters such as Jim Croce and Harry Chapin, while authors such as Oscar Wilde and

Robert Graves fueled his literary tastes. He began his career playing guitar for touring productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair, then went to work in the late ’70s for Leber-Krebs Inc., the Manhattan management company whose clients included Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Def Leppard, the Scorpions, the New York Dolls, and scores of others. In the ’80s, O’Neill became a major concert promoter in Japan as well, but returned to the States to start writing and producing full-time.

O’Neill helmed Aerosmith’s Classics Live I and Classics Live II albums before beginning a fortuitous relationship with the band Savatage that led to conceptual pieces such as Hall Of The Mountain King, Gutter Ballet, Streets: A Rock Opera and Dead Winter Dead. Producing introduced O’Neill to Jon Oliva, Bob Kinkel and Al Pitrelli, as well as reconnecting him with legendary studio engineer Dave Wittman, who all became key original collaborators in O’Neill’s grand vision - TransSiberian Orchestra.

“I wanted to take the very best of all the forms of music I grew up on and merge them into a new style,” O’Neill says. “Basically I was building on the work of everybody I worshipped: the rock opera parts from bands like the Who; the marriage of classical and rock from bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Queen; the over-the-top light show from bands like Pink Floyd... I always wanted to do a full rock opera with a full progressive band and at least 18 lead singers.”

O’Neill took the idea to Atlantic Records which, to his surprise, went for it and financed the creation of Romanov, which was initially to be TSO’s first release. “We were very fortunate,” he says. “It was one of the only labels left that still did an ‘old school’ kind of artist development. My original concept was that we were going to do six rock operas, a trilogy about Christmas and maybe one or two regular albums.”

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Return

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However, when Romanov got temporarily put on the back burner, the first installment of the Christmas trilogy, Christmas Eve and Other Stories became TSO’s debut album. Fueled by the socially conscious single “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/ 24,” the album was certified double platinum. More platinum certifications followed with 1998’s The Christmas Attic, and the final installment of the Christmas trilogy, The Lost Christmas Eve in 2004. In the midst of completing the trilogy, TSO released their first non-holiday rock opera, the gold certified Beethoven’s Last Night.

But TSO really cemented its following in concert. The group hit the road in 1999, beginning an annual November-December extravaganza that O’Neill takes pride in being, “as over the top as we can make it. We have, two stages —with pyro, light and lasers— on both sides of the arena, as well as in the crowd and the best sound we can find... There’s no second-class seats at a Trans-Siberian Orchestra show. I want people to walk out of our shows speechless and still not believing what they have seen was possible.”

“I’ve always believed that music has the power to transport and transform,” O’Neill explained. “The original concept of Trans-Siberian Orchestra was how to make music have the most emotional impact. We always try to write melodies that are so infectious they don’t need lyrics and lyrics so poetic that they don’t need a melody, but when you combine the two together they create an alloy where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole. Once those songs are woven together into a tapestry they create a story which gives each song a third dimension.”

“That was so much in the spirit of Trans-Siberian Orchestra,” O’Neill explains. “This is a group — a constantly morphing group— of extremely creative and talented individuals who are always trying to raise the bar of where a band can take its audience sonically, visually and emotionally. With that as our core ideal, the possibilities are endless.”

Friday, December 2, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am

Scotty’s Saloon 114 Agnes Rd - Richmond ,TX 77469

Saturday, December 3, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am

Nashville Hot Chicken Shack 3825 I-10 S - Beaumont, TX 77705

Saturday, December 10, 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

3 Doors Down 102 20th St - Galveston, TX 77550

Friday, December 16, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

Texas Thunder Stubby’s Bar&Grill 29460 FM 1488 - Waller,TX 77484

Saturday, December 17, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

Jack’s Bar 11720 S Wilcrest - Houston, TX 77099

Saturday, December 24, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

Aspens Bar & Grill

817 Clear Lake Rd - Kemah, TX 77565

Friday, December 30, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

No Label Brewing 5351 1st Street - Katy, TX 77493

Saturday, January 21, 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

3 Doors Down

102 20th St - Galveston, TX 77550

Friday, January 27, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

The Abbey Pub

2002 N Fry Rd - Houston, TX 77084

Saturday, January 28, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

Aspens Bar & Grill

817 Clear Lake Rd - Kemah, TX 77565

Saturday, February 4, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am

Sharky’s Tavern

504 25th St - Galveston, TX 77550

Saturday, March 4, 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

3 Doors Down 102 20th St - Galveston, TX 77550

Friday, March 17, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am

The Abbey Pub

Bayou Music Center Presents Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening On December 5th

Jason Bonham, son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, returns to Bayou Music Center in Houston on December 5th with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening. The night encompasses hits from the iconic band’s entire career, including the albums Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin IV and Physical Graffiti. Hear Zeppelin classics “Stairway to Heaven,” “Whole Lotta Love,” “Dazed and Confused,” “Rock and Roll” and many, many more! This concert event celebrates the life and music of Jason’s father, the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, by recreating “Led Zeppelin’s music to such a degree that one can’t help but close their eyes and simply listen…”

A lot of talented children have probably been asked by a parent to entertain family and friends, maybe in the living room, maybe sing a little, play an instrument. No big deal and a good way to get used to performing for others. But when Jason Bonham was a small child and got called in to entertain, the family friends he played his drums for could be anyone from Jimmy Page to some of the guys from the group Bad Company. That’s what happens when your father is drummer John Bonham, one of the original members of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin.

At the age of only five, Jason could play the drums, at least a scaleddown set of them, with skill. When he was 17 he was a member of the band Air

Race. The group signed a record contract with Atlantic Records, recorded one album, and opened for big names like Queen, Meat Loaf, Ted Nugent, and AC/ DC. John Bonham died in 1980, but Jason, who has marked a few places in music history himself, has stepped in from time to time to help keep his father’s memory alive.

In 1988, Jason took his father’s spot in the televised, first-ever Led Zeppelin reunion at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert, which included Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones. Later than year. he went on to tour with Page and recorded the album Outrider with him.

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening

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By 1989, he completed the album The Disregard of Timekeeping, in his new band called “Bonham”. One of the tracks from this first effort, “Wait for You,” earned him a gold record. By 1992, with partners like Canadian vocalist Daniel MacMaster, guitarist Ian Hatton, and bassist and keyboardist John Smithson, Bonham finished another album: Mad Hatter.

Jason teamed up with greats like Paul Rodgers, Slash, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck and others in 1993 to work on a Tribute to Muddy Waters album. The record’s success brought a nomination for a Grammy Award. A year later, Jason, along with Rodgers and Slash, appeared at the memorable Woodstock II. That same year, he recorded a new album, Peace 4 Me, in his group now known as Motherland with Marti Frederksen on vocals.

In May 1990, Jason married Jan Charteris, in Stone, Kidderminster in a wedding reception that included a jam with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones.

Jason represented his father when Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January 1995, with his sister Zoe by his side. He soon put together another solo project which culminated in “In the Name of My Father - The Zepset” cd, which featured the songs of Led Zeppelin. Proceeds from the album went to charity. The album followed up with When You See the Sun.

The Healing Sixes soon caught his attention and decided to tour and record them the Indiana-based band, from 1999—2003. In 2001, Jason appeared in the film Rock Star which starred Mark Wahlberg. The band in the movie, Steel Dragon recorded the songs featured in the movie and the soundtrack.

Following an album with Debbie Bonham, the younger sister of John Bonham, Jason was invited to drum for hard rock group UFO. In 2006, he also recorded with Joe Bonamassa.

Jason starred with Ted Nugent, Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard), Sebastian

Bach (Skid Row) and Scott Ian (Anthrax) on the VH1 reality tv show, “SuperGroup”, in May 2006. The musicians formed a band called Damnocracy for the show, during which they lived in a mansion in Las Vegas for twelve days and created music. Most recently, Jason has performed and recorded with Foreigner.

On December 10th, 2007, Jason played drums in the most anticipated concert of all time - the Led Zeppelin reunion at London’s O2 arena with surviving members Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant.

It was in February of 2009 when Bonham and James Dylan began working together in what would become Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, a live homage to his late father’s band. During the autumn of 2010, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening embarked on their first North American tour and toured worldwide throughout 2011.

Josh Turner’s most treasured childhood holiday memories are of listening to Randy Travis’ “An Old Time Christmas,” as it was the soundtrack to the holiday season in his Hannah, SC home. When Turner set out to record his first Christmas album “King Size Manger,” Travis’ country Christmas collection was his guidepost.

Turner didn’t want a Frank Sinatra horn section or a 100-piece orchestra. He planned to create a timeless country Christmas album he could imagine his family’s neighbors listening to in South Carolina.

“I just had it ingrained in my mind that you got all this other Christmas music out there in the world, but when it comes to growing up in the country and the lifestyle that comes with a country upbringing ‘Randy’s record, that’s it, you know?’” Turner admitted. “I had just kind of tricked myself into thinking that I need to make volume two.”

Turner’s “King Size Manger” is his dream realized – and then some. “King Size Manger” is a collection of traditional country versions of classic Christmas songs with some original tunes as well as some Hawaiian, bluegrass and swing sprinkled into the mix. Turner wrote three of the four original songs and arranged five tracks on the 11-song album.

His rich, distinct baritone wraps around each song like a cozy blanket on a snowy morning. Holiday classics including “The First Nowell” (featuring the song’s traditional spelling) and “Silent Night, Holy Night” become even more nostalgic and the originals “King Size Manger,” “What He’s Given Me,” “Soldier’s Gift” and “Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana” adopt the feel of timehonored Christmas traditions.

“I allowed my heart to come out,” Turner said. “Every single one of them, I had a hand in reshaping and recreating because a lot of these songs had been done so many times. Making a Christmas record can be a mighty daunting task for an artist. There are so many songs to choose from and there’ve been so many versions of those songs throughout history. It can be intimidating to know whether you’ll be able to measure up to what’s already been done and when I get to that point, I step back and remind myself that I have to do what I hear in my heart. You may be surprised to hear my arrangement on some of these songs

Josh Turner Brings His King Size Manger Tour To The Arena Theatre December

16th

that you know so well. We had a lot of fun throwing out all the preconceived notions of what a Christmas record should sound like. In my opinion, it’s about the words and the heart and soul of how a song sounds. You don’t need jingle bells on a song to make it a Christmas song.”

For two decades, Turner’s deep, velvet voice has been the most recognizable on country radio. His unwavering dedication to the tenets of the country genre inspired a generation of country singers and bolstered an underserved segment of the fanbase.

For just as long, Turner has been upfront about his dedication to his Christian faith. He released his gospel album “I Serve a Savior” in 2018, after

waiting for what felt like the right time between mainstream projects. He was just as intentional with the release of his first full-length Christmas album, which fans have asked for since the beginning of his career. To prepare, he wrote Christmas songs for one year leading up to recording. If planning “King Size Manger” was intimidating because of the volume of Christmas albums available and the number of times many holiday favorites have been recorded, then trying to come up with fresh ideas for an original Christmas song was downright scary.

“You’ve got Santa Claus, and you got Jesus, and most of those songs have been written,” he laughed. “You’re kind

of up the creek on creative ideas, so I really had to dig down deep and try to find little turns of phrases and clever twists.”

When the idea for the song “King Size Manger” popped in his head, Turner said that was intimidating, too. He knew the concept was strong and didn’t want to mess it up. Turner took the plot to longtime friend and co-writer Mark Narmore. The men have written hundreds of songs together, yet when Turner shared the idea – Narmore was speechless.

“He was like, ‘What a title!’” Turner recalled. “He and I have such a rapport and are comfortable enough with each other to allow the heart and soul to come out of a song that we’re trying to write. We sat down and knew we needed to just tell the story of what is a king size manger and why is it a king size manger. So, that’s what we did.”

“King Size Manger,” the album’s title track, tells the prophecy and story of Jesus’ birth powerfully delivered through simple words and amplified by Turner’s ardent and honest delivery. The lyrics include: There in the hills of Bethlehem No one had any room for them They knew that child was a reallife changer

Lying there in a king size manger “I was so proud of it when we finished the song,” Turner said. “I was kind of surprised and shocked that we could pull that off.”

Turner and Nashville-based singer/ songwriter Pat McLaughlin were inspired by Ralph Stanley’s version of “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” when they wrote the banjo-fronted bluegrass

(continued from previous page)

midtempo “What He’s Given Me.” Turner is the lone writer on the Hawaiian-influenced “Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana” (featuring Jake Shimabukuro and Ho’okena), inspired by an anniversary trip taken to the island with Turner’s wife, Jennifer. Affirmed by its unique harmonies, ukulele and strum patterns, its sound makes “Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana” a standout on “King Size Manger.”

Songwriters Travis Hill and Tom Douglas penned “Soldier’s Gift,” the album’s lead single.

“I loved what the song says and musically, it’s laid back enough to where it grabs your attention, where you really focus on the words. At first, I thought “Where’s the song going?” But I just felt there are so many families and so many of our members of our military that could relate to this song. And it fit with all the other songs and added to the variety and subject matter on this record.”

Turner dressed up a couple of Christmas favorites with some special guests. Rhonda Vincent joined him on the swinging, twin fiddle-driven “Joy to the World” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the first classic Turner knew had to be on the record because it was always his favorite song, features his wife and four sons.

“I’m sitting in my living room one night just kind of messing around with the song. And all of a sudden, I hear this background vocal part

and I thought this is what Jennifer and the boys need to be singing on. So, I called a couple of the boys in and I asked them to sing the part and they did. We went through it and I thought ‘yeah, this is it,’ so I made a little recording of it on my phone. Then we went into the studio and they did such a great job on all of it,” he said of his family. “I’m pretty proud of that one.”

The singer wanted to keep his version of “Go Tell It On The Mountain” as primitive as possible and relied only on piano, Hammond B3 organ and a three-person choir for support.

Christmas looks a bit different for Turner these days than it did when he was a child. He’s focused on building traditions with his own family, and this year he’s excited to add his album “King Size Manger” into their Christmas music mix.

He won’t be the only one. Turner created an album of instant Christmas classics for country music fans who will undoubtedly spin his collection along with the genre’s most beloved holiday tracks. It will be a toe-tapping Merry Christmas, indeed.

Donovan Melero Performs at White Oak Music Hall December 13

Donovan Melero is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and booking agent from Ventura, California. He is currently the lead singer of Hail the Sun and Nova Charisma while also maintaining a solo career. He was previously in a progressive rock supergroup Sianvar. Melero is known for his distinctive, high vocal timbre, which has been often compared to that of recording artist Anthony Green of Circa Survive and Saosin.

Donovan is currently touring in support of his new Album “Chelsea Park After Dark. He will be appearing this month at White Oak Music Hall on December 13th.

Donovan Melero was born on March 5, 1989, in Ventura, California to parents Aurelio and Nanette. Melero has two sisters, Nika and Risa, and brother Adam.

Melero graduated from Buena High School in 2007, and from California State University, Chico, where he studied Music Industry, in 2011.

In 2011, Melero released his first solo single All Fruit Eventually Rots (Angelina), followed by Come Over in 2020.

In September 2020, Melero recruited Joe Occhiuti (Ice Nine Kills bass player) and Allen Casillas (touring Hail The Sun drummer) to record his solo full length album at Vudu Studios with producer Mike Watts. The album titled Chelsea Park After Dark was released on April 22, 2022, via Equal Vision Records. To promote the album, music videos for “Better for the Next” and “Hated Seeing You Cry” were released.

Hail the Sun was formed in Chico, California in 2009 by Melero, Shane Gann, Aric Garcia, and John Stirrat whilst studying music industry in college. Using the campus recording studio, they wrote and recorded their debut full-length studio album, POW! Right In the Kisser!, over the course of three months, which was released on May 21, 2010.

The band since has released 5 studio

albums, 2 EPs and has toured with such acts like Dance Gavin Dance, I the Mighty, Circa Survive, and Silverstein, among others. They have also performed at numerous music festivals such as Chain Fest at the Chain Reaction, South By So What?!, Horns Up Festival, and Swanfest.

Sianvar announced their formation on July 23, 2013. The group’s first iteration consisted of Melero, Dance Gavin Dance guitarist Will Swan, Stolas guitarist Sergio Medina, and A Lot Like Birds bassist Michael Littlefield and drummer Joseph Arrington. They signed with Swan’s independent record label Blue Swan Records.

The band released a self-titled EP in 2014, and a full-length album Stay Lost in 2016.

On April 8, 2019, the band revealed that they were going on an indefinite hiatus from touring and releasing music.

In 2019, Melero and his Sianvar bandmate Sergio Medina formed the posthardcore duo Nova Charisma and signed to Equal Vision Records. The duo started working with Hail The Sun’s touring drummer Allen Casillas and Medina’s Stolas bandmate, Carlo Marquez. They recorded a series of songs eventually released as EPs Exposition I, Exposition II and Exposition III, which were released in 2019-2020 to positive reviews. The band’s debut, Exposition I, sold out of the vinyl release at pre-order.

In support of the Exposition EP trilogy, Nova Charisma released music videos for “Gemini” and “The Greater Cause”, and played a number of live shows with Joe Occhiuti (of Ice Nine Kills), Carlo Marquez (of Stolas) and Aric Garcia (of Hail the Sun) as touring members.

On April 7, 2022, Nova Charisma announced they would be joining RX Bandits for their May-June 2022 shows.

On May 25, 2022, after a two-year period of inactivity, the band released a single, Hollow People.

From 2011 to 2014, Donovan Melero worked at his own booking company Melero Group. He booked shows for Hail the Sun, Stolas and Sianvar among others.

In 2014, Melero became a booking agent for Dynamic Talent International and was the chief operating officer for Blue Swan Records in 2018.

In 2021, Melero founded the brand Kill Iconic - first, as a music magazine, which later expanded into a record label, Kill Iconic Records. The label roster includes such acts as Gold Necklace, Ahh-Ceh, Satyr and VIS.

The world’s first anti-boyband, AQUIHAYAQUIHAY, releases two new EPs today, entitled :) and :( via Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak En Fuego. The group also releases the video for “</3” (Pico Diagonal Tres). As the forerunners of the Mexican pop movement, the group will undoubtedly establish a new era of music, not only in Mexico but across the globe. From the get-go AQUIHAYAQUIHAY has made embracing differences one of their pillars - emphasizing the importance of coexisting in harmony and respecting one another’s beliefs, while also remaining true to their own. Both EPs and the video are now available on all music platforms.

(feat. Abhir Hathi)

Aquihayaquihay Perform

Cendejas)

“I have an immense admiration for how AQUIHAYAQUIHAY is breaking barriers through their artistry. I see a young version of myself in each of them and it excites me to watch their growth as a group of friends, creating their own community. Their movement mirrors the rebellious spirit of punk, they reject the norms of their surroundings and mainstream culture, and are channeling their energy into building something new and unique from the ground up,” said Steve Aoki.

With the new releases, the group further asserts and proves their yin and yang approach to life and work. A blend of novel sounds and the group’s soothing voices, the EPs seek to serve as an

At White Oak Music Hall On December 15

emotional guide helping fans not only understand distinct emotions, but also learn the importance of embracing them. Aside from the innovative sounds and lyrics, the visuals that complement the music promise to be thought provoking imagery that represents the story AQUIHAYAQUIHAY is telling.

AQUIHAYAQUIHAY was the first to sign to Steve Aoki’s new Dim Mak En Fuego. Dim Mak En Fuego is a Latin imprint dedicated to releasing hybrid sounds from the global underground alongside contemporary hitmakers. Since launching DIM MAK in 1996 out of his college dorm room, Aoki has become a renowned lifestyle influencer, curating trendsetting music through his iconic brand.

Dim Mak En Fuego (DMEF) is the new home for the global Latin underground. Founded in July 2020, the imprint spotlights the genre-defying sounds burning up dance floors worldwide and fosters the boundless voices who are originating hybrid sounds in their own vision. As a breeding ground for the innovative artists pushing the scene forward, the label fuses music, visuals, fashion and internet culture to discover and develop the singular art and artists defining the sounds of tomorrow. Dim Mak En Fuego is the next evolution of Dim Mak, the iconic independent record label founded by two-time Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Steve Aoki in 1996. For more than two decades, the brand has stood at the epicenter of emerging youth culture and has shaped definitive movements across punk, indie and dance music, launching the careers of Bloc Party, The Kills, The Chainsmokers, The Bloody Beetroots, Deorro, Keys N Krates, MSTRKRFT and many others. Evolving from the eclectic vision and DIY spirit of Dim Mak, DMEF transcends genres, languages and borders, all while channeling la gente’s unique music, culture and identity through the Latin experience and challenging the old ways of traditional Latin music.

Rehab Perform At Warehouse Live On December 12th

The Southern hip-hop group Rehab were literally a product of their namesake. Original members Danny Boone and Brooks Buford, both recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, met at a local rehab facility and connected over their love of music. Mashing rap with rock, the two teamed with Steaknife (aka Denny Campbell), who had previously worked with Boone in the group Prime Suspect, and they released their debut album, Southern Discomfort, in 2000 on the Sony label. Cee-Lo, Goodie Mob, and Cody ChesnuTT were some of the guests on the album, which would spawn the Top 15 modern rock hit “It Don’t Matter.” Two years were spent on the road supporting the album, including a stint on the Vans Warped Tour, and then the duo splintered.

Boone retained the name and recruited four veteran musicians for a

new Rehab. Now a quintet with Boone as the lone singer/rapper — and also using his birth name, Danny Alexander — Rehab signed with Arshid Entertainment and released the ambitious Graffiti the World in 2005. Over the next few years, a cut from their debut album, “Sittin’ at a Bar,” would turn into a jukebox favorite. The Epic label got wise, re-releasing their debut album and renaming it Sittin’ at a Bar, all without the band’s permission. To fight this unauthorized reissue, the band rerecorded its now famous drinking song and renamed it “Bartender Song.” This version would end up on a 2008 version of Graffiti the World released by the major label Universal. Rehab stuck with Universal for their 2010 album, Welcome Home.

In 2012, Rehab struck a deal with Average Joe’s Entertainment, which soon

released their fourth album, Gullible’s Travels. The group toured in support, but after the release of the single “Whore” in 2013, things went quiet in the Rehab camp, and in 2014 the band announced that it was breaking up, staging a final tour for its fans. The members of the group announced they would focus on their solo careers, but in 2015 Steaknife dropped hints on social media that he and Danny Boone were planning to record new Rehab material. While new music didn’t immediately surface, in 2017 Rehab brought out Million Dollar Mugshot, a collection of previously unreleased studio material from the original group, featuring guest appearances from Bubba Sparxxx, Ritzz, and Uncle Mike.

Danny Boone Alexander planted

Rehab

from previous page)

the seeds for the band Rehab in Warner Robins, GA in the 1970’s. Danny Boone Alexander was raised in a home where music was always played. Whether he was listening to his very first album, a present from his Poppa, featuring Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It,” or sitting on the hood of a car on Dunbar Road at the Crazy 8 Race Track and hearing “Sky Rockets in Flight” during the Bicentennial celebration, most of Danny’s earliest memories revolve around music. Although he listened primarily to rock and southern rock for much of his childhood, almost failing fourth grade in his obsession with Kiss, the arrival of the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, and NWA birthed and cemented his love for hip hop. He first rapped at age 15 in the Northside High School gym during a pep rally. Since that first performance, Danny has always worked, in some capacity, to create music.

In Danny’s late teens, he first worked professionally with one of his still close friends, Denny “Steaknife” Campbell. They called their partnership “Prime Suspect.” When they later met Jason Brooks, Rehab was officially born. Steaknife found himself in the legal system and Rehab, as Danny Boone and Jason Brooks, was signed to Epic Records and released “Southern Discomfort” in 2000 which featured Goodie Mob’s Cee-Lo and Big Gipp as well as

Cody Chesnutt. The band sold over 140,000 units of the cd and hit the top 15 of the Modern Rock charts with “It Don’t Matter.” They toured nationally in support of the Vans Warped Tour and bands like Linkin Park and the Kottonmouth Kings.

After Danny Boone and Brooks parted ways due to creative differences, the band was reborn and Graffiti the

World was recorded with the participation of the band members and A-Listers like Bonecrusher, Phil Tan and Billy Hume. The cd was released independently before Danny signed with Universal Records in 2008. Collaboration with Hank Williams Jr. on a remake of Graffiti’s “Sittin at the Bar” resulted in a CMT nomination for the Wide Open Country Video of the year in 2009. Rehab was also featured on Rolling Stone Hot List; for that renamed single, “The Bartender Song.” Danny Boone continued to make music as Rehab , working with DavidJones and signed to Average Joes, and later released music, again independently, with Jericho.

Rehab has continued to tour since 2005, save a 5 year hiatus beginning in 2013, and looks forward to the post pandemic work that awaits.

Danny Boone works every day creating FIRE! Rehab has once again been rehabbed! From now on, “Rehab” is Danny Boone.

Jack Ingram Performs At The Heights Theatre On December 17th

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Jack Ingram is a Texas-born country singer whose records have earned both critical and peer adoration, and spawned massive hit singles. Emerging in the 1990s with a slew of well-received but commercially inert outings, the modern-day honky tonker didn’t find major success until 2005 with the release of the single “Wherever You Are,” which climbed to number one on the Billboard Country charts. “Love You,” “Lips of an Angel,” “Measure of a Man,” and “That’s a Man” kept Ingram in the Country Top 40 over the next five years, with “Barefoot and Crazy” giving him a second Country Top Ten in 2009. From that point forward, Ingram pursued an independent route, re-emerging in 2016 with Midnight Motel on Rounder Records, but a collaborative album with Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall called The Marfa Tapes brought him back to the top of the Country charts in 2021.

Ingram first carved out a niche for himself in the bars and roadhouses

between Dallas and Houston. By the mid-’90s, after extensive touring with his Beat Up Ford Band, he had released two well-received independent albums and had opened for artists like Merle Haggard and Mark Chesnutt. The end of 1996 brought about a deal with Warner, which reissued his first two indie albums, and in 1997 issued his majorlabel debut, Livin’ or Dyin’. Moving to Sony’s Lucky Dog label in 1999, Ingram released his fifth roots rock album, Hey You. Three years later, he hooked up with Lee Ann Womack’s producer Frank Liddell for Electric. Young Man, a compilation of recordings of many of his earliest songs, and Live at Gruene Hall: Happy Happy both arrived in 2004.

Live: Wherever You Are, a live recording featuring two studio singles, was released in 2006 and was his first for Big Machine Records, a label operated by record executive Scott Borchetta and fellow country crooner Toby Keith — the title cut would go on to become both Ingram’s and Big Machine’s first number one hit. A second release from Big

Machine, This Is It, followed in 2007 and included the hits “Love You” and “Lips of an Angel.” Big Dreams & High Hopes, his eighth studio LP, appeared in 2009. The album produced two modest hits — “That’s a Man,” which preceded the set’s release, and “Barefoot and Crazy,” which went to ten on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart — but the record stalled at 21 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.

Ingram left Big Machine in 2011 and spent the following five years slowly working on the folk-rock material that became Midnight Motel, the album he issued on Rounder in 2016. After its August release, it debuted at 24 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. In 2019, he released his tenth full-length effort and second outing for Rounder, the swaggering Ridin’ High...Again, which marked a return to the dusty outlaw honky tonk of his earlier works. In 2021, he teamed up with Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall for the spare, intimate The Marfa Tapes.

Open 6 Days A Week

Tuesday thru Sunday

Thursday, December 1 - Blues Survivors

Friday, December 2 - Jordan Applebee Saturday, December 3 - The Proctor Brothers Sunday, December 4 - Katie’s Blues Jam featuring guest host Paul Ramirez Thursday, December 8 - Hugo Jamz Trio Friday, December 9 - Lightning Rob Saturday, December 10 - James Wilhite Sunday, December 11 - Katie’s Blues Jam featuring guest host Hugo Jamz Thursday, December 15 - Static Blues Friday, December 16 - Peewee Bowen Saturday, December 17 - John Richardson Sunday, December 18 - Katie’s Blues Jam featuring guest host Mark May Thursday, December 22 - Pierce and the Purple Moon Friday, December 23 - Lightnin Rob Saturday, December 24 - Free Jukebox 4-10pm Sunday, December 25 - Closed Merry Christmas Thursday, December 29 - Chad Ware Friday, December 30 - Eric Demmer Saturday, December 31 - Chris Castaneda Project

Måneskin Perform At The 713 Music Hall On December 12th

Italian rock band Måneskin play with style and flair, utilizing tight musicianship and solid vocals to craft catchy pop/rock tunes. Enormously popular in their home country, their two full-lengths, Il ballo della vita (2018) and Teatro d’Ira, Vol. 1 (2021), have both topped the charts and earned quadrupleplatinum certifications.

Based in Rome, the group — consisting of Damiano David (vocals), Victoria De Angelis (bass), Thomas Raggi (guitar), and Ethan Torchio (drums) — met at high school, where they formed Måneskin in 2016. They started out as buskers, but they quickly became much more after an appearance on the Italian X Factor in 2017, where they finished in second place by performing a cover of the Killers’ “Somebody Told Me.” Hot on the heels of their newfound recognition, they set to work on their debut album, Il ballo della vita, which saw release in 2018. The band had a massive breakthrough in 2021, as just after they had released their second album, Teatro d’Ira, Vol. 1, they entered the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest,

winning with the track “Zitti e buoni.” The single “Supermodel” followed in 2022.

The band have released two studio albums, Il ballo della vita (2018) and Teatro d’ira: Vol. I (2021). They have also released one extended play, Chosen (2017), and ten singles, which have topped the Italian and European music charts. They have collected 34 platinum and 7 gold certifications from FIMI, and have sold over one million records in Italy before their post-Eurovision breakthrough. Up to that point in their career, their most successful Italian single was “Torna a casa”. Both the album, titled Il ballo della vita, and the single “Torna a casa” topped the charts in Italy. To promote the album, the band theatrically released a documentary film, titled This Is Måneskin. The film premiered in Italy on 26 October 2018.

In January 2019, the band released their fourth single “Fear for Nobody”, while in April 2019 their fifth single “L’altra dimensione” rose to fourth on the FIMI Singles Chart. Their sixth

single “Le parole lontane”, which was released in September 2019, reached top 5 of the FIMI Singles Chart and was certified platinum. During their first tour, held between 2018 and 2019, they soldout over 70 dates along with selling more than 140,000 tickets, a figure that also included their first European tour with eleven sold-out dates in Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

From late 2019 until spring 2020, the band lived in London where they worked on their music style and new material. In October 2020, their seventh single “Vent’anni” was released. On 6 March 2021, the band won the Sanremo Music Festival 2021 with the song “Zitti e buoni”, ahead of runners-up Francesca Michielin and Fedez, and Ermal Meta. Their win was viewed by many to be a surprise, as rock is considered an atypical contesting music genre in the history of the Festival. Prior to Sanremo, the band announced their second studio album Teatro d’ira Vol. I, which was

Måneskin

released on 19 March 2021

In 2021, Måneskin became the first Italian rock band to reach the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, with their songs “Zitti e buoni”, “I Wanna Be Your Slave” and their cover of The Four Seasons’ “Beggin’” reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, collecting multiple international certifications for sales of over three million copies internationally, and four million in total.

On 22 January 2022, Måneskin were the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. The band’s eleventh single “Supermodel” was released on 13 May, and was performed at the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, held in Turin the following day. They also performed a short rendition of “If I Can Dream” which was later included in the soundtrack of the film Elvis. “Supermodel” was additionally performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 20 May, and at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards (where the band won the Best Alternative category for “I Wanna Be Your Slave”)

on 28 August. Their twelfth single “The Loneliest” was released on 7 October. The band’s third studio album, Rush!, is set for release on 20 January 2023. The album will include the track “Kool Kids”, which the band debuted in October 2022 during their tour. They were nominated for the Best New Artist category for the upcoming 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

According to Damiano David, the group is “a translation of the music of the past into modernity”. Måneskin’s music has been classified as pop rock, alternative rock, glam rock and hard rock. Their music style changed from a pop rock sound with funk influences in their first studio album, to hard rock in their second studio album, as seen in “Zitti e buoni”. Their look and sound have been compared to ’70s rock music. The band members have cited various musical and fashion influences, including Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, Perry Farrell, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Gentle Giant, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Arctic Monkeys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Harry Styles, Bruno Mars, R.E.M. and Italian rock bands Marlene Kuntz, Verdena and Afterhours.

Kameron Marlowe Performs at Warehouse Live December 15th

Three chords and the truth.

It’s country music’s famous, straight-to-the-bone foundation, and the core of countess iconic hits. But as a new generation of artists emerge, it can sometimes feel like a relic. … Then there’s Columbia Nashville’s Kameron Marlowe.

For him, three chords and the truth isn’t just a motto, it’s the only way he knows to make music. Fusing steel-toed toughness with a visceral approach to songwriting, it’s the truth itself that guides his hard-to-pin-down mix. And with his debut album, We Were Cowboys, he confronts it head on.

“This is me and this is what I wanna show the world,” Marlowe explains. “I’ve really tried to fight for this record in a way that it doesn’t sound like everybody else. … Basically, I tried

to make it my own.”

About two years in the making, the project marks a creative arrival for the Kannapolis, North Carolina native. Wielding a high-voltage vocal and a country style to match, Marlowe’s sound is built around edgy electric twang, shades of gritty rock and a touch of bluesy tenderness, living comfortably in the darker corners of the honky tonk.

With a self-made background, Marlowe grew up singing and started a high-school band, inspired by everything from ‘70s and ‘80s country to Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ray Charles and Kings of Leon. A family-first kind of guy with a strong connection to his grandparents, the youngster grew to appreciate things that last, and by soaking up the music of his elders along with current hits, created a unique vocal mix that evident early on: Classic sincerity and modern swagger.

He carried on singing for fun in college, but he left school after one semester to help support his family after his mother was injured. The young talent took a desk job selling car parts for General Motors instead but still shared performance videos via social media. This is where he was discovered by a producer for The Voice – singing “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton - and landed a coveted spot directly in the show’s live auditions.

Though his stint on The Voice was short-lived, Marlowe returned to his love of songwriting and jumped into his music headfirst after the end of a longterm relationship.

“I was 19 years old and head over heels for this girl,” he explains. “So I got a ring, I had a house I was looking at,

Kameron Marlowe

(continued from page 36)

and I was just super pumped. It was like, ‘This is where life starts for me.’”

As it turns out, he was right about that. Two weeks before Marlowe was planning to propose, his girlfriend abruptly broke off the relationship, and in frustration Marlowe turned back to his first love. Writing the first pieces of what became “Giving You Up” – a raw, razor sharp ballad whose deep wounds were overcome by a powerful sense of selfrespect – the track laid Marlowe’s broken heart bare for the first time and sent him down a new path.

Soon the young singer-songwriter was making the seven-hour drive to Nashville three times a week, joining random co-writes and always sharing his solo-penned “Giving You Up” with the group. He was told over and over it needed work, yet Marlowe stuck to his guns. He knew above all, the song was true.

“A lot of writers were like, ‘Man, it’s good – but it’s not great,’” he recalls. “That took the wind outta my sails a little bit, but then I ended up putting it out, and it became my first Gold single.”

“Giving You Up” was released independently in 2019, racking up millions of streams. Meanwhile Marlowe continued traveling back and forth between Nashville and North Carolina –booking Broadway gigs at Ole Red and once he didn’t even have gas money to make it to, unless the venue could give him an advance. They knew his voice was more than worth the investment, and the up-and-comer usually left with a pocket full of tips. “Giving You Up” ultimately landed him an artist deal with Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Nashville and a publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing.

Marlowe kept writing and released a self-titled EP in 2020, sending the torchy “Burn ‘Em All” into Billboard’s Hot Country Top 40 and opening massive shows for Brad Paisley, Riley Green, Morgan Wallen and more. Now the story continues, with his full-length album debut putting him fully in the

spotlight – and this time he’s not looking for anyone’s approval.

Produced by ACM/CMA winner Dann Huff and GRAMMY-nominated Brad Hill (“Giving You Up,” “Burn ‘Em All”), We Were Cowboys features a massive, 16-song track list and a bold, take-me-as-I-come spirit. Marlowe had a hand in writing 10 of those tracks, and says he was committed to holding nothing back.

“It’s not in a cocky way,” he cautions. “It’s more like I want to be true to myself.”

Right from the top, his approach hits home. “We Were Cowboys” was cowritten with Tyler Farr and Wyatt McCubbin on a last-minute trip to Wyoming and ended up capturing Marlowe’s artistic essence. A nostalgic tribute to childhood with a Western, epic feel, rough-riding vocals and vivid, lived-in details, the track became the jumping off point of the whole album.

“It felt special when we wrote it, and I haven’t really had a song that’s been that special to me since ‘Giving You Up,’” he says. “It really is my story. The ‘93 Silverado, the corduroy couch and John Wayne movies. It’s all a part of me.”

The same is true of tracks like “Country Boy’s Prayer,” which turns the bench seat of that Silverado into a church pew. And with the gravel-road rocker “This Old Town,” Marlowe finds the

Meanwhile, romantic anthems like the soul-stinging “Ain’t Enough Whiskey” rekindle the pain of “Giving You Up,” and the hot-blooded “Girl On Fire” finds love flaming up in a summer fling. The blues rocker “Money Ain’t $hit” knows the value of straight talk and a strong character – values with playfully potency on “Grandma’s Got a Garden (for G’maw Jan)” – and the angelic “Steady Heart” kneels before a woman’s amazing grace.

It’s all true to Marlowe’s world, and in typical fashion, it was even recorded with blunt honesty. Cutting vocals in live takes, Marlowe would simply sing the whole song a few times through, and then pick his favorite version. Grabbing quick, in-the-moment takes, the approach highlighted the best of Marlowe’s talent and kept all the allnatural character of his voice intact, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

It’s a music-making style that offers no place to hide – and as a result, almost no one does it anymore, especially on a debut album. But then again, Kameron Marlowe is no typical artist.

“We wanted to keep it organic and real and a little bit looser,” he explains. “What it came down to is not wanting to sound like any other record, and I hope people get to know me out of this.”

blink-and-you’ll-miss-it beauty of his rural upbringing – rootsy and refreshing with an upbeat accordion-and-fiddle melody.

This December at Leon’s Lounge

Thursday, December 1 - Grinchmas Party! Friday, December 2 - Super Pop Saturday, December 3 - Jingle All The Way Saturday!

Sunday, December 4 - The Lab with Arlo - Comedy Open Mic Night Monday, December 5 - Karaoke, Sports, and Industry Night Tuesday, December 6 - Tackle Poetry Tuesday

Wednesday, December 7 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap and Open Mic @ 8:00 pm

Thursday, December 8 - Bombs Over Leon’s Comedy Night @ 7 - 10 pm Friday, December 9 - Color Noise, Pet Raven, Primaries Saturday, December 10 - Kim Foushee & The Alliance Sunday, December 11 - The Lab with Arlo - Comedy Open Mic Night Monday, December 12 - Christmas Caroloke Tuesday, December 13 - Tackle Poetry Tuesday

Wednesday, December 14 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap and Open Mic @ 8:00 pm Thursday, December 15 - Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! Friday, December 16 - Shotgun Sally Saturday, December 17 - Yuletime Winter Solstice Saturday!! Sunday, December 18 - The Lab with Arlo - Comedy Open Mic Night Monday, December 19 - Christmas Caroloke Tuesday, December 20 - Tackle Poetry Tuesday

Wednesday, December 21 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap and Open Mic @ 8:00 pm

Thursday, December 22 - Bombs Over Leon’s Comedy Night @ 7 - 10 pm

Friday, December 23 - Mark Zeus Xmas Saturday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Caroloke Sunday, December 25 - Closed For Christmas Monday, December 26 - Karaoke, Sports, and Industry Night Tuesday, December 27 - Tackle Poetry Tuesday

Wednesday, December 28 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap and Open Mic @ 8:00 pm Thursday, December 29 - Honeycutt Southern Friday, December 30 - Rearview Mirror and More Bands TBA Saturday, December 31 - NYE CELEBRATION and BAR CRAWL

The Biker, The Blues & Spicy Holiday Music

Alligator Records (Chicago Illinois) is known worldwide for their extensive collection of blues recordings by the greats. Among them Shemika Copeland who does a superb kick ass job of delivering “Stay A Little Longer Santa”. The tune swings and Shemika’s delivery is captivating to say the least. You gotta hear this one. That tune and others can heard on Alligator’s Genuine Houserockin’ Christmas album. The holidays in general present all sorts of genres but if you are into the blues and R&B then here’s a list that you will probably like a lot. Just be careful some are a bit colorful and shall we say not perfect for any visiting priests. Moving away from sexy deliveries and onto remakes of famous holiday songs with suggestive lyrics take a listen to anything that Bob Rivers & Twister Radio have on the market. “Walkin’ Around In Women’s Underwear” is about as descriptive as a songwriter can be about being a bit perverted and enjoying the holidays in your own special way. Very humorous indeed. Moving on to romantics for a moment Mariah Carey’s original “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is about as cool as it gets within the genre. Obviously the girl’s got it working big time. Next up is Joan Osborne whose “What Do Bad Girls Get” will set you free with desire. Looking for a more traditional holiday treat then look no further than Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” nobody but nobody can put a person into the festive mood than his holiday favorite. You say you would like some of that R&B music like you heard in “Home Alone”? Well look no further because you can hear The Drifter’s perform their classic rendition of “White Christmas” on Rhino Record’s R&B Christmas Vol.1. The same EP also presents Booker T. & The M.G.s delivery of “Silver Bells” which is way cool. Of course who could forget The Jackson Five performing “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” on The Jackson Five

Ultimate Christmas Collection album. Back on the humorous side The Christmas Jug Band presents “Santa Lost A Ho” which if you haven’t heard it well it’s a rather creative take on Santa’s helpers. Now over on the country side of Christmas releases nothing beats Marty Stuart’s “Even Santa Claus Gets The Blues” which resides on the album named A Very Special Acoustic Christmas. When it comes to a tradi-

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The Biker, The Blues & Spicy Holiday Music

tional country release check out George Strait’s “Christmas Cookies” number which can be found on the album by the same name. An up tempo tasteful romp in which George paints a mental picture of things going on in the kitchen as the family gets ready for the holiday. Next a blast from the past as the noted record producer Phil Spector built a wall of sound around The Ronettes and their rendition of “Sleigh Ride” which sets the scene for the upcoming holidays. The song was released with a host of additional Phil Spector artists and their songs with the compilation being available on the “A Christmas Gift For You” album. Now if you are looking for way cool funk beat for the holidays Rhino Records has it. On their Volume 3 R&B Christmas album the one and only Bootsy Collins performs an up tempo version of “Merry Christmas Baby” and it delivers all the flare you would expect from Bootsy Collins. On the other hand if you want to get into some really cool boogie woogie holiday tunes check out The Brian Setzer Orchestra and their “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” As for me yours truly is going to put on about five pounds after taking in all the festive get togethers which includes nailing some fourteen year old scotch, a fresh Macanudo, taking in some of the best live blues the world has ever known and maybe, just maybe standing under the mistletoe with Miss Nude Arizona. Well a guy has to have his priorities right? This has been a year of great riding, meeting new people and visiting some of the top blues venues and festivals in America. Not to leave out renewing some long term friendships as well. Time to go over the scooter from stem to stern and get it ready for hitting the road in January. Riding in the south in the wintertime is way cool and southerners treat their guests right. So what’s not to like about getting your motor running and getting out on the highway? Special thanks to the good folks at Rock And Blues International Magazine and Houston Music News for putting up with me in 2022. Wait until they see what’s coming!

Natalia Jiménez Performs At The Arena Theatre December 11th

The Spanish singer Natalia Jiménez, who in 2001 led the band La Quinta Estación and later went solo, will celebrate her 20-year musical career with an international tour.

The artist is planning a tour that will begin on August 20 in Puerto Rico, and will then go through Mexico, the United States, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela and her native Spain. As she confirmed, her repertoire will combine the pop songs of La Quinta Estación with her most current compositions as a soloist, where she has explored regional Mexican music. She will be performing in Houston at The Arena Theatre on December 11.

The next season in the career of Natalia Jiménez is the one most desired in her life. Because now, as soloist, the Spanish singer is lowered into the most exciting to unleash all the creativity it houses, as powerful and versatile as her de ella famous voice de ella stop de ella.

A voice that became known in recent years as a leading interpreter of one of the groups most important Spanish music: La Quinta Estacion.

She was the lead singer in the Spanish pop band La Quinta Estación, until their official split in early 2010. Jiménez was born to a Spanish father who was a singer; and her mother was from Portugal. In 2007, Natalia had a participation (featuring) in the album “Real” of the Puerto Rican singer Ednita Nazario, performed a duet song “No”, (composed by Armando Avila and self Natalia). This song only appears on the album Ednita Nazario. In 2009 she recorded a duet with singer Marc Anthony called Recuérdame and in 2010 she joined Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin in his single Lo Mejor De Mi Vida Eres Tú.

The journey was not easy and took time. The teenager tried her luck as a

singer on the subway in her hometown, Madrid, and in various musical groups. She then joins La Quinta Estacion to undertake the daring adventure of looking for luck in Mexico, like many other Spanish artists have done and began an adventure that would take her far.

And so, Mexico become their home for almost 10 years, in which the group released four successful studio albums ( Primer tiro , Alquiler de Flores , El Mundo Está Mal ,and Sin frenos ), traveled the world, won prizes as The Grammy, Latin Grammy, Premios Ondas and many more, making their mark with songs like “El Sol No Vuelve,” “Me Muero,” and “Recuerda” (with Marc Anthony). These last two songs, along with Algo Mas , were rewarded by ASCAP, recognizing Natalia for her talent as a songwriter. Natalie, meanwhile, stands out both for its malleability

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to sing different genres and for its style and elegance.

As lead singer of the Latin pop group La Quinta Estación, Natalia Jiménez scored hit after hit during the early 2000s, sending three songs to the top of the Spanish charts while racking up nine Top 40 hits in Mexico. She cowrote most of the songs with her partner, guitarist Ángel Reyero, and toured the world heavily in support of the duo’s platinum-selling albums. When La 5ª Estación decided to take a break in November 2010, Jiménez took the opportunity to focus on her solo career.

After living in Mexico for more than ten years, Natalia moved to Miami to devote time to an album on which she debuted as a soloist, Natalia Jiménez, released on 21 June 2011. The album debuted at the number one position on the iTunes Latin Pop list and with it, the singer received the “Female artist of the year” nomination for the Billboard Latin Music Awards. In early 2012 she won the Premio Lo Nuestro for “Revelation of the year”.

Her second solo album, Creo en Mi, was released on 17 March 2015 and reached the number one position in Puerto Rico and number two on the Billboard Latin Albums chart. In addition, she received two Latin Grammy nominations in the categories Album of the Year (“Creo en mí”) and Song of the year (“Quédate con ella”).

In 2016, Jiménez celebrated the work of the Mexican-American diva, Jenni Rivera, in her third solo album: Tributo a la gran señora.

In 2019, she released the single “Nunca Es Tarde”, which she recorded with Jesús Navarro, vocalist of Reik, and composed with Claudia Brant and Jayson DeZuzio. The same theme became the main song of the second season of the Televisa and Univision serie, Amar Sin Ley.

In August 2019, Jiménez released an album of rancheras entitled México de mi corazón, produced by Armando Ávila. In seven months, the material

reached the top positions in the lists of musical successes in Mexico and the United States, and it has earned it a Gold Record and more than 55 million reproductions worldwide.

México de mi corazón is an album that honors the Mexican song and features duets with voices such as Carlos Rivera, Pedro Fernández, Paquita la del Barrio, Lila Downs, El Bebeto and Banda MS. Mariachi Gama Mil provides musical accompaniment, and Natalia was granted permission to incorporate choirs with Juan Gabriel.

Jiménez served as coach for three seasons of La Voz Kids USA, where she won twice and also as coach of La Voz...Mexico. In 2020, Natalia returned to Spain where she served as judge of the reality show Operación Triunfo. In 2021, she was on the Colombian Kids and Senior version of La Voz, winning both of the series. She is currently tied with the 2nd most wins female coach on The Voice, same as Sarah Geronimo, Kelly Clarkson and Pelageya on Philippine, American and Russian series.

Jay Perez Performs At The Arena Theatre December 11 For The Tejano Jingle Jam

Award-winning Tejano singer Jay Perez is known by his fans as “The Voice,” the purveyor of a warm, honeyed, multi-octave baritone. His recordings exist in a slipstream between vintage Tejano and conjunto, country music, and smooth soul. (His readings of Billy Paul’s “Me & Mrs. Jones” and a lovers rock reggae read of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” set a standard by which other singers are still judged.) After stints with the Latin Breed and David Lee Garza during the late ’80s and early ’90s, he hit the charts in 1994 as a solo artist with Steel Rain, his second album for Sony Discos. In Tejano, Perez owned the final decade of the last century. Between 1994 and 1996 he hit the Top Latin Songs charts five times with his singles including “Ven a Mi,” and “Lo Que Yo Tengo.” His albums from the era, including 1995’s The Voice and 1998’s Toda Mi Vida traveled to the upper rungs of the Latin and Mexican Regional charts. Perez’s success continued in the aughts: he won Male Vocalist of the Year seven times between 2000 and 2008. He won again in 2010, and that year took home the coveted Male

Vocalist of the Decade Award. Perez continues to tour and record, always remaining accessible to fans. In 2016 his Un Amigo Tendras placed inside the Top 20 and was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award — his third nomination.

Born in San Antonio in 1963, Perez grew up poor. He and his three siblings, were raised by his divorced mother in a housing project on St. Christopher Street. She worked two jobs. Perez was the oldest; he learned familial responsibility early. As a child his first real musical love was soul. He sang Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder songs around the house; his mother noticed the quality of his high-pitched voice and supported him.

She enrolled him in city-wide after-school creative arts program funded by Bexar County that was designed to keep poor kids off the street. Almost right away, the young Perez approached the teen leader of a well known local band and told him he wanted to be their singer. When the teenager asked for proof, he auditioned a capella on the

spot. He got the gig. Perez sang so loudly the band didn’t need a PA system. The youngster took first place in his public debut at a talent contest while in elementary school. The older teen exposed him to the music and arrangements of Quincy Jones and Earth Wind & Fire, taught him to harmonize and sing lead in a group setting. Along the way he learned to play drums and joined Mysterio Band with Albert Castaneda at 15 behind the kit.

Confident in his singing abilities, his bandmates promoted him. Saxophonist Oscar Montemayor (of David Lee Garza y los Musicales) asked him to sing a song for him. Impressed by what he heard, the musician got Perez an audition with the Latin Breed. Perez showed up expecting to sit behind a drum set. That made Latin Breed drummer Richard Soliz laugh, there was only a microphone on the stage. He stayed with group for about a year, and freelanced for a time before auditioning for David Lee Garza y los Musicales. He got the job and

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fronted the band for two-and-a- half years He made his recorded debut with the group on 1991’s Con El Tiempo. Perez won a solo deal with Sony Discos in 1993 while still a member of Garza’s outfit. His freshman solo outing album Te Llevo En Mi ?made the charts, but his followup 1994’s Steel Rain, wit hits three charting singles was a stone cold hit. Perez was suddenly able to hire the best musicians in Tejano to back him, and did. He hit the road, playing the American Southwest club and festival circuits relentlessly. He appeared on television and radio, and worked in the studio. The remainder of his albums during the decade— The Voice (1995), No Limits (1996), Toda Ma Vida (1998) and Siempre Contigo (1999), all charted; they sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

As successful as the 1990s had been, the new century offered more opportunities and Perez and his group— whom he unabashedly called “the Band”— and did award-winning work, while remaining a major presence on regional radio. 2000’s kick-off set Mi Estrella, won him the first of his Tejano

Awards as Male Vocalist of the Year. 2001’s De Mi Cora-Soul, a brave experiment in jazzy R&B and light funk confused fans and radio. (It was one of only two annual cycles that decade where Perez didn’t win the Male Vocalist prize.) But the release did exposed him to a new generation of listeners at African American stations in Texas and Arizona. Eventually critics embraced this work as innovative as it broke down genre barriers and changed the direction of Perez’s career. Though it didn’t chart, his last album for Sony Discos, 2002’s Hombre En La Luna, peaked at 27 on Top Latin Albums list, restored his place at the Tejano Awards, and won him a Grammy nomination.

Perez started his own La Voice label to release Mi Destino. While it didn’t make the national charts, it got plenty of airplay regionally and was greeted warmly by critics. He followed it with a Christmas set the next year. 2006’s All of Me, was released by Chris Leick’s Tejas Records, a scappy independent with excellent distribution. The record won Best Album Of The Year at the Tejano Awards, with Perez again the

recipient of the prize as the year’s best male vocalist. In 2008 Perez issued La Voz 2008. It didn’t chart either, but his version of the New Orleans soul classic “Tell It Like It Is,” made radio playlists on both sides of the border. 2011’s Voice of Authority though favorably reviewed, didn’t chart. New Horizons issued in 2012 rebounded to land well inside the Top 20 at Top Latin Albums. It was the last studio album from Perez for several years. In 2014, Anthology: Back In The Day, an excellent compendium of singles and rarities, peaked at 41 on the Top Latin Albums list.

Perez spent the next several years performing in Texas, northern Mexico, and across the American Southwest. Several compilations and live albums were released on various labels in his absence. In the spring of 2019, returned with the single in “Contigo,” the title track from Contigo: 25th Anniversary. Released in July, it was a deliberate attempt to recapture the production style and innocent feel of his vintage recordings such as Steel Rain. According to critics and fans, it worked; the set was his best reviewed record that decade.

Grupo Solido Perform At The Arena Theatre December 11 For The Tejano Jingle Jam

Grupo Solido is a charting, award-winning norteño group from El Paso, Texas. Comprised of three brothers (Ben, Marty, and Chikis Garza) and three family friends (Amado Garza, drums; Fernando Trevino, electric bass; Elijio Salinas accordion). They formed during the first decade of the 21st century in the aftermath of a tragedy: After an accident in which Ben’s house burned down, he moved back home with his family, his brothers, whom he had made music with throughout his life, inquired about starting a band since they all shared mutual influences that included Ramon Ayala, Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel, and George Strait. After playing together for only a short time at

weddings, parties, and in talent competitions, they were signed by Freddie Records (owned and run by five-time Grammy-winning artist and producer Freddie Martinez). They won a Latin Grammy in 2001 for their debut album, Nadie Como Tu, followed by a Latin Grammy nomination in 2003 for Vuelve.

Widely known for their romantic take on the norteño style, Solido has a unique touch that makes them easily distinguishable among the many groups that perform in this popular regional Mexican style.

Despite the early award, their later recordings have charted

higher and most consistently. Starting with 2009’s Que Importa, they have landed on the Top Latin Albums Chart six times. 2013’s Inolvidable and 2016’s Sentimientos both landed well within the Top 10, and four other albums have landed on the Mexican Regional albums charts, including the 2016 recording that reached the top spot. That same year, No Me Vuelvas a Besar Asi peaked at number five on the Mexican Regional Albums list and it single “Animate” landed inside the Top 40 on the airplay list. A hits collection entitled Los Tres Grandes: 20 Super Hits was issued in 2017 while the band toured and prepared to record its next album.

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Jay Perez

Natalia Jiménez Se Presenta En The Arena Theatre El 11 De Diciembre

La cantante española Natalia Jiménez, quien en 2001 lideró la banda La Quinta Estación y luego se lanzó como solista, celebrará sus 20 años de carrera musical con una gira internacional.

La artista tiene prevista una gira que comenzará el 20 de agosto en Puerto Rico, y luego pasará por México, Estados Unidos, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela y su natal España. Según confirmó, su repertorio combinará las canciones pop de La Quinta Estación con sus composiciones más actuales como solista, donde ha explorado la música regional mexicana. Se presentará en Houston en The Arena Theatre el 11 de diciembre.

La próxima temporada en la carrera de Natalia Jiménez es la más deseada en su vida. Porque ahora, como solista, la cantante española se baja a lo más emocionante para dar rienda suelta a toda la creatividad que alberga, tan potente y versátil como su famosa voz de ella stop de ella. Una voz que se dio a conocer en

los últimos años como la principal intérprete de uno de los grupos musicales españoles más importantes: La Quinta Estación.

Fue la cantante principal de la banda pop española La Quinta Estación, hasta su separación oficial a principios de 2010. Jiménez nació de un padre español que era cantante; y su madre era de Portugal. En 2007, Natalia tuvo una participación (featuring) en el disco “Real” de la cantante puertorriqueña Ednita Nazario, interpretó a dúo el tema “No”, (compuesto por Armando Ávila y la propia Natalia). Esta canción solo aparece en el disco de Ednita Nazario. En 2009 grabó un dueto con el cantante Marc Anthony llamado Recuérdame y en 2010 se unió a la superestrella puertorriqueña Ricky Martin en su sencillo Lo Mejor De Mi Vida Eres Tú.

El viaje no fue fácil y tomó tiempo. La adolescente probó suerte como cantante en el metro de su ciudad natal,

Madrid, y en diversas agrupaciones musicales. Se une entonces a La Quinta Estación para emprender la atrevida aventura de buscar suerte en México, como han hecho muchos otros artistas españoles y comienza una aventura que la llevará lejos.

Y así, México se convirtió en su hogar durante casi 10 años, en los que el grupo lanzó cuatro exitosos álbumes de estudio (Primer tiro, Alquiler de Flores, El Mundo Está Mal y Sin frenos), viajó por el mundo, ganó premios como El Grammy, Latin Grammy, Premios Ondas y muchos más, dejando su huella con temas como “El Sol No Vuelve”, “Me Muero” y “Recuerda” (con Marc Anthony). Estas dos últimas canciones, junto con Algo Más, fueron premiadas por ASCAP, reconociendo a Natalia por su talento como compositora. Natalie, por su parte, destaca tanto por su maleabilidad para cantar distintos géneros como por su

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estilo y elegancia.

Como cantante principal del grupo de pop latino La Quinta Estación, Natalia Jiménez obtuvo éxito tras éxito a principios de la década de 2000, enviando tres canciones a la cima de las listas españolas y acumulando nueve éxitos Top 40 en México. Ella coescribió la mayoría de las canciones con su compañero, el guitarrista Ángel Reyero, y recorrió el mundo en apoyo de los álbumes del dúo que obtuvieron discos de platino. Cuando La 5ª Estación decidió tomarse un descanso en noviembre de 2010, Jiménez aprovechó para centrarse en su carrera en solitario.

Después de vivir en México durante más de diez años, Natalia se mudó a Miami para dedicar tiempo a un álbum en el que debutó como solista, Natalia Jiménez, lanzado el 21 de junio de 2011. El álbum debutó en la posición número uno en iTunes Latin Pop. lista y con ella, la cantante recibió la nominación a “Artista Femenina del Año” en los Premios Billboard de la Música Latina. A principios de 2012 ganó el Premio Lo Nuestro por “Revelación del año”.

Su segundo álbum en solitario, Creo en Mi, fue lanzado el 17 de marzo

de 2015 y alcanzó la posición número uno en Puerto Rico y el número dos en la lista Billboard Latin Albums. Además, recibió dos nominaciones al Latin Grammy en las categorías Álbum del año (“Creo en mí”) y Canción del año (“Quédate con ella”).

En 2016, Jiménez celebró el trabajo de la diva mexicano-estadounidense, Jenni Rivera, en su tercer álbum en solitario: Tributo a la gran señora.

En 2019 lanzó el sencillo “Nunca Es Tarde”, que grabó con Jesús Navarro, vocalista de Reik, y compuso con Claudia Brant y Jayson DeZuzio. El mismo tema se convirtió en la canción principal de la segunda temporada de la serie de Televisa y Univision, Amar Sin Ley.

In August 2019, Jiménez released an album of rancheras entitled México de mi corazón, produced by Armando Ávila. In seven months, the material reached the top positions in the lists of musical successes in Mexico and the United States, and it has earned it a Gold Record and more than 55 million reproductions worldwide.

En agosto de 2019, Jiménez lanzó un disco de rancheras titulado México de mi corazón, producido por Armando

Ávila. En siete meses, el material alcanzó los primeros puestos en las listas de éxitos musicales de México y Estados Unidos, y le ha valido un Disco de Oro y más de 55 millones de reproducciones en todo el mundo.

México de mi corazón es un álbum que hace honor a la canción mexicana y cuenta con duetos con voces como Carlos Rivera, Pedro Fernández, Paquita la del Barrio, Lila Downs, El Bebeto y Banda MS. Mariachi Gama Mil brinda acompañamiento musical, y Natalia obtuvo permiso para incorporar coros con Juan Gabriel.

Jiménez se desempeñó como entrenadora durante tres temporadas de La Voz Kids USA, donde ganó dos veces y también como entrenadora de La Voz...México. En 2020, Natalia regresó a España donde se desempeñó como juez del reality show Operación Triunfo. En el 2021, estuvo en la versión colombiana Kids y Senior de La Voz, y ganó ambas series. Actualmente está empatada con la segunda entrenadora femenina con más victorias en The Voice, al igual que Sarah Geronimo, Kelly Clarkson y Pelageya en series filipinas, estadounidenses y rusas.

Grupo Solido Se Presenta En El Teatro Arena El 11 De Diciembre Para The Tejano Jingle Jam

Grupo Sólido es un grupo norteño ganador de premios de El Paso, Texas. Compuesto por tres hermanos (Ben, Marty y Chikis Garza) y tres amigos de la familia (Amado Garza, batería; Fernando Treviño, bajo eléctrico; Elijio Salinas acordeón). Se formaron durante la primera década del siglo XXI a raíz de una tragedia: tras un accidente en el que se incendió la casa de Ben, este se mudó de vuelta a casa con su familia, sus hermanos, con los que había hecho música a lo largo de su vida, preguntaron por comenzando una banda ya que todos compartían influencias mutuas que incluían a Ramón Ayala, Luis Miguel, Juan Gabriel y George Strait. Después de tocar juntos por poco tiempo en bodas,

fiestas y concursos de talentos, firmaron con Freddie Records (propiedad y dirección del artista y productor cinco veces ganador del Grammy, Freddie Martinez). Ganaron un Grammy Latino en 2001 por su álbum debut, Nadie Como Tu, seguido de una nominación al Grammy Latino en 2003 por Vuelve.

Ampliamente conocidos por su versión romántica del estilo norteño, Solido tiene un toque único que los hace fácilmente distinguibles entre los muchos grupos que actúan en este popular estilo regional mexicano.

A pesar del premio inicial, sus grabaciones posteriores se han clasificado más alto y de manera

más consistente. Comenzando con Que Importa de 2009, han llegado seis veces a la lista Top Latin Albums. Inolvidable de 2013 y Sentimientos de 2016 aterrizaron bien dentro del Top 10, y otros cuatro álbumes han aterrizado en las listas de álbumes regionales mexicanos, incluida la grabación de 2016 que alcanzó el primer puesto. Ese mismo año, No Me Vuelvas a Besar Así alcanzó el puesto número cinco en la lista de Álbumes Regionales Mexicanos y su sencillo “Animate” aterrizó dentro del Top 40 en la lista airplay. Una colección de éxitos titulada Los Tres Grandes: 20 Super Hits se publicó en 2017 mientras la banda estaba de gira y se preparaba para grabar su próximo álbum.

Jay Perez Se Presenta En El Teatro Arena El 11 De Diciembre Para The Tejano Jingle Jam

El galardonado cantante tejano Jay Perez es conocido por sus admiradores como “La Voz”, el proveedor de un barítono cálido, meloso y de varias octavas. Sus grabaciones existen en una estela entre la música tejana clásica y el conjunto, la música country y el soul suave. (Sus lecturas de “Me & Mrs. Jones” de Billy Paul y una lectura de reggae de amantes del rock de “Let’s Get It On” de Marvin Gaye establecieron un estándar por el cual todavía se juzga a otros cantantes). Después de temporadas con Latin Breed y David Lee Garza a finales de los 80 y principios de los 90, llegó a las listas de éxitos en 1994 como solista con Steel Rain, su segundo álbum para Sony Discos. En tejano, Pérez poseía la década final del siglo pasado. Entre 1994 y 1996 llegó cinco veces a las listas Top Latin Songs con sus sencillos, incluidos “Ven a Mi” y “Lo Que Yo Tengo”. Sus álbumes de la época, incluidos The Voice de 1995 y Toda Mi Vida de 1998, viajaron a los peldaños superiores de las listas regionales mexicanas y latinas. El éxito de Pérez continuó en los años: ganó el premio al Vocalista Masculino del Año siete veces entre 2000 y 2008. Volvió a ganar en 2010, y ese año se llevó a casa el codiciado Premio al Vocalista

Masculino de la Década. Pérez continúa de gira y grabando, permaneciendo siempre accesible para los fanáticos. En 2016, su Un Amigo Tendras se colocó dentro del Top 20 y fue nominado a un premio Grammy Latino, su tercera nominación.

Nacido en San Antonio en 1963, Pérez creció en la pobreza. Él y sus tres hermanos fueron criados por su madre divorciada en un proyecto de vivienda en St. Christopher Street. Ella trabajaba en dos trabajos. Pérez era el mayor; aprendió temprano la responsabilidad familiar. De niño, su primer amor musical real fue el soul. Cantó canciones de Jackson 5 y Stevie Wonder en la casa; su madre notó la calidad de su voz aguda y lo apoyó.

Ella lo inscribió en un programa extracurricular de artes creativas de toda la ciudad financiado por el condado de Bexar que fue diseñado para mantener a los niños pobres fuera de la calle. Casi de inmediato, el joven Pérez se acercó al líder adolescente de una conocida banda local y le dijo que quería ser su cantante. Cuando el adolescente pidió pruebas, audicionó a capella en el acto. Consiguió el concierto. Pérez cantó tan alto que la

banda no necesitó un sistema de megafonía. El joven obtuvo el primer lugar en su debut público en un concurso de talentos mientras estaba en la escuela primaria. El adolescente mayor lo expuso a la música y los arreglos de Quincy Jones y Earth Wind & Fire, le enseñó a armonizar y cantar en grupo. En el camino aprendió a tocar la batería y se unió a Mysterio Band con Albert Castaneda a los 15 años detrás del kit.

Confiado en sus habilidades para el canto, sus compañeros de banda lo ascendieron. El saxofonista Oscar Montemayor (de David Lee Garza y ??los Musicales) le pidió que le cantara una canción. Impresionado por lo que escuchó, el músico consiguió una audición para Pérez con Latin Breed. Pérez apareció esperando sentarse detrás de una batería. Eso hizo reír al baterista de Latin Breed, Richard Soliz, solo había un micrófono en el escenario. Se quedó con el grupo durante aproximadamente un año y trabajó como autónomo durante un tiempo antes de hacer una audición para David Lee Garza y ??los Musicales. Consiguió el trabajo y estuvo al frente de la banda durante dos años y medio. Hizo

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Jay Perez

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su debut discográfico con el grupo en Con El Tiempo de 1991. Pérez ganó un contrato en solitario con Sony Discos en 1993 cuando aún era miembro del equipo de Garza. Su primer álbum de salida en solitario, Te Llevo En Mi, llegó a las listas de éxitos, pero su continuación, Steel Rain de 1994, con tres sencillos en las listas de éxitos, fue un éxito rotundo. Pérez de repente pudo contratar a los mejores músicos tejanos para que lo respaldaran, y lo hizo. Salió a la carretera, tocando en los circuitos de clubes y festivales del suroeste de Estados Unidos sin descanso. Apareció en televisión y radio, y trabajó en el estudio. El resto de sus álbumes durante la década: The Voice (1995), No Limits (1996), Toda Ma Vida (1998) y Siempre Contigo (1999), todos en las listas; vendieron cientos de miles de copias.

Tan exitoso como había sido la década de 1990, el nuevo siglo ofreció más oportunidades y Pérez y su grupo, a quienes llamó descaradamente “la Banda”, hicieron un trabajo premiado, sin dejar de ser una presencia importante en la radio regional. El set de lanzamiento de 2000, Mi Estrella, le valió el primero de sus Premios Tejanos como Vocalista Masculino del Año. De Mi Cora-Soul de 2001, un valiente experimento de jazz, R&B y funk ligero,

confundió a los fanáticos y la radio. (Fue uno de los dos únicos ciclos anuales de esa década en los que Pérez no ganó el premio de Vocalista Masculino). Pero el lanzamiento lo expuso a una nueva generación de oyentes en estaciones afroamericanas en Texas y Arizona. Eventualmente, los críticos aceptaron este trabajo como innovador, ya que rompió las barreras de género y cambió la dirección de la carrera de Pérez. Aunque no llegó a las listas, su último álbum para Sony Discos, Hombre en la luna de 2002, alcanzó el puesto 27 en la lista de los mejores álbumes latinos, recuperó su lugar en los premios Tejano y le valió una nominación al Grammy.

Pérez comenzó su propio sello La Voice para lanzar Mi Destino. Si bien no llegó a las listas nacionales, tuvo mucha difusión a nivel regional y fue recibido calurosamente por los críticos. Lo siguió con un set de Navidad al año siguiente. All of Me de 2006, fue lanzado por Tejas Records de Chris Leick, un disco independiente con excelente distribución. El disco ganó el premio al Mejor Álbum del Año en los Premios Tejano, y Pérez nuevamente recibió el premio como el mejor vocalista masculino del año. En 2008, Pérez emitió La Voz 2008. Tampoco entró en las listas de éxitos, pero su versión del

clásico del soul de Nueva Orleans “Tell It Like It Is” llegó a las listas de reproducción de radio en ambos lados de la frontera. Voice of Authority de 2011, aunque recibió una revisión favorable, no se ubicó en las listas. New Horizons, emitido en 2012, se recuperó para ubicarse dentro del Top 20 en Top Latin Albums. Fue el último álbum de estudio de Pérez durante varios años. En 2014, Anthology: Back In The Day, un excelente compendio de sencillos y rarezas, alcanzó el puesto 41 en la lista Top Latin Albums.

Pérez pasó los siguientes años actuando en Texas, el norte de México y en todo el suroeste de Estados Unidos. En su ausencia, se lanzaron varias recopilaciones y álbumes en vivo en varios sellos. En la primavera de 2019, regresó con el sencillo “Contigo”, la canción principal de Contigo: 25th Anniversary. Lanzado en julio, fue un intento deliberado de recuperar el estilo de producción y la sensación inocente de sus grabaciones antiguas como Steel Rain. Según críticos y fanáticos, funcionó; el conjunto fue su mejor registro revisado esa década.

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Tweed Smith Performs At The Big Easy In Houston

The amazing Tweed Smith brought her extraordinary singing skills to The Big Easy stage tonight with a super-fantastic performance. For those of you who don’t know who Tweed Smith is, she is the only female to be a member of the band War. You can hear her sing on some their most famous hits including “The World Is A Ghetto,” “Low Rider,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” and “Cisco Kid.” She has been part of the Houston Music Community for over 40 years. In addition to that, she has recorded and performed with musicians such as Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, Sarah Vaughn, Bobby Womack and Sly Stone just to name a few. She is without a doubt, one of the Houston Music Scene’s prized possesions. Her show tonight was wonderful. Next time you hear that she is going to be at The Big Easy, be sure to catch her show.

Photos By Kevin Wildman

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A New Level Perform At Rise Rooftop

Since you can’t see the original Pantera in concert anymore, this is the next best thing, A New Level. This is probably the best Pantera Tribute Band out there on the scene today and this night they were rockin’ Rise Rooftop to it’s rafters. Everybody tells us that this is the closest thing to Pantera that you can find right now. Reports from this show tell us they put on a fantastic concert.

Photos by Brian Lambert

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The White Oak Bayou Band Perform At Leon’s Lounge

This night, The White Oak Bayou Band performed at Leon’s Lounge in Midtown. If you didn’t know, Leon’s Lounge has been proclaimed the oldest working club in Houston and is owned by the delightful Scarlet Yarborough. The club has belonged to her family since the very beginning over 50 years ago and Scarlet celebrates the legacy of Leon’s Lounge to this day. This night The White Oak Bayou Band put on a fine show here much to the delight of the crowd. The White Oak Bayou Band plays a mixture of rock classics from the 60s to the present along with some original songs as well. The band often jams to the progressive rock tunes of yesteryear from the likes of The Grteful Dead, Allman Brothers, and The Band. Check ‘em out sometime.

Photos By Kevin Wildman

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Hindsight Perform At The Wildcatter Saloon

This night Hindsight brought their slick combination of Hard Rock, Grunge, and Alternative Rock to The Wildcatter Saloon as part of the Tribute to John Janatsch. These guys were really jazzed to be part of this event and put on one of the best shows we’ve ever seen them perform.

(Photos By Greg Holleman)

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The Gino V Band Perform At Katie’s Bar In Bacliff

The Gino V band rocked Katie’s Bar hard this night. They were on fire and putting on an incredible performance. From one song to another they seamlessly cranked out tunes from Tommy Tucker (“High-Heeled Sneakers”),

(“Cross Road Blues”). The Black Crowes (“Hard To Handle”), Chris Stapleton (“You Should Probably Leave”),

Coochie Man”) and a host of more. Their variation of musical styles really made for a diversified and fun evening.

Gino V Band hail from Laayette, Louisiana and is comprised of Gino Vallecillo (drums),

Katie’s Bar always features the best in entertainment Wednesday through Sundays, so one of these days you need to make a trip down to Bacliff to join in the action.

Robert Johnson

Muddy Waters (“Hoochie

The

Kent Beatty (Bass), and Logan Turner (guitar).

Photos By Kevin Wildman

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Holy Diver Perform At Rise Rooftop

If you’re into Dio, then this is the band you need to see. They are one of the best Dio tribute’s we’ve ever seen. This night they performed at Rise Rooftop. We’re told they reall y put on one of their best shows this night.

(Photos By Brian Lambert)

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Weathered Perform At The 19th Hole

If you are a fan of the band Creed, then you really need to check out Weathered. Named after Creed’s third album release, these guys carry on the legacy of Creed and really do a fine job recreating all your Creed favorites. We caught up with them this night at The 19th Hole and they really did a fine performance. And, by the way, this was their first performance and they nailed it right out of the box. We were really impressed with their show and can’t wait to see them again. You can keep up with the band on their FaceBook Page at Weathered - The Music Of CREED.

Photos By Kevin Wildman

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Black Kennedy Perform At The Wildcatter Saloon

Michael Kennedy and his great band, Black Kennedy were rockin’ The Wildcatter Saloon this night as part of the Tribute to John Janatsch. As usual, these guys rocked the socks off everybody there.

Photos by Greg Holleman

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Moreno Performs At The Big Easy

Ruben

Photos by Kevin Wildman

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Myke Miller Performs At The 19th Hole

Here’s another act that we saw at The 19th Hole this month. It’s Myke Miller. Myke is an extraordinary showman. He really knows how to captivate the audience with his slick selection of songs and genre’s. Tonight’s show was indeed varied from one extreme to the other with great results. To give you an idea on how these songs vary, he performed “Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine, “Shine” by Collective Soul and Alice in Chains “Rooster”. It really made for a great night of entertainment.

Photos By Kevin Wildman

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Honeycutt Southern Perform At The Acadia Bar & Grill

Honeycutt Southern was going at it hot ‘n’ heavy this night at The Acadia Bar and Grill this night. These guys are really making a name for themselves around town. Blending the sounds of yesterday with the sounds of today, the band has managed to forge out a unique sound all their own. Mike Honeycutt is the frontman and guitarist of the band, not to mention the voice of Honeycutt Southern. Holding down the rhythm section is bassist Carl Sandin and drummer Andy Robinson. Before joining Honeycutt Southern, they had worked together in past bands, so they are so familiar with each others moves that it really compliments this arrangement with Mike. The show tonight was great and were happy to announce that if you missed these guys, then you have another chance to see them this month at Leon’s Lounge on December 29th, so mark your calendars now and check these guys out. You’ll be glad you did.

Photos By Kevin Wildman

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Powerslave Perform At Rise Rooftop

I know that you guys out there just can’t see enough pictures of these guys. They’re probably one of the most request when it comes to having pictures in Music News. It’s Texas’ finest Iron Maiden tribute band, Powerslave. These guys put on such a good show, who would really want to see Iron Maiden.... Just joking... Everybody wants to see Iron Maiden, but if you don’t have the opportunity, then this band is the next best thing.

by Brian Lambert

Photos

Photos By Kevin D. Wildman

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Sera Cero Perform At Eighteen Ten Ojeman

This night we were treated to something completely different. We went and saw the Spanish rock band Sera Cero at Eighteen Ten Ojeman. These folks were unbelievable. They were probably one of the best Spanish Rock Acts we’ve ever seen. The have a unique blend of Alt-Rock and Rock. The band has released their first album this year called “La Estacion” and they performed several songs of it at this show. It’s an incredible album. These guys are pushing the boundaries of Spanish Rock to the ‘nth’ degree and doing a fantastic job with it. I can’t wait to see them again. Thanks goes out to guitarist David Elbert for inviting us to see them.

Photos By Kevin D. Wildman

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Relevant Saints Perform At The Wildcatter Saloon

Photos By Greg Holleman

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The Lightnin’ Rob Band Perform At Katie’s Bar

The Lightnin’ Rob Band aka Casual Monsters with special guest James Wilhite lit up the Katie’s stage this evening with a great dose of Rock And Roll. The band was cookin’ tonight as the ran through tunes by

Ray Vaughan (“Texas Flood” & “Cold Shot”), Elvis Presley (“Don’t Be Cruel”), Sublime (“What I Got”), Lucas Nelson (“Find Yourself”), Wild Cherry (“Play That Funky Music”), Creedence Clearwater Revival (“Born On The Bayou”) and a cool rendition of “Hot Rod Lincoln”. Yeah, these guys rocked tonight. I’ve seen Rob perform before and I’ll tell you, the man is consistant. He always puts on a good show. Tonight was a blast! I’m glad I got to see them. James Wilhite was also at the top of his game too... excellent guitarist!

Photos By Kevin D. Wildman

Stevie

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Inner Image Perform At The Wildcatter Saloon

Photos by Greg Holleman

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The Sasha Lukashin Trio Perform At Leon’s Lounge

Jazz returned to Leon’s Lounge this night when the Sasha Lukashin Trio performed at Houston’s Oldest Club, Leon’s Lounge. Joining them onstage this night was guest vocalist Denia Ridley.

Photos By Kevin D. Wildman

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Photos By Kevin Wildman