Coming up:
Weekender: TMNC, Zamora, Guerrero
Liberacion reunites Virgil Canales and Juan Tavares
By RAMON HERNANDEZ
(Guest blogger)
After thirty five years, Tortilla Factory has resurfaced and is ready to conquer a new generation of fans.
Yes, founder/bandleader Tony "Ham" Martínez Guerrero and original vocalist Bobby "El Charro Negro" Butler are back at the helm, however their latest compact disc also features the lead singer that will carry the torch forward; and that is Alfredo Antonio.
(That's Ham in the middle, Randy Caballero on the left and Alfredo Anttio on right of photo
Best of all, the threesome will be making a personal appearance at Janie's Record Shop on Saturday, August 23rd at 2 p.m. to promote the most anticipated CD of the year. The official release date for this production
is August 15 thus making it eligible for a Grammy nomination.
"Tierra, El Chicano, Malo, Tower of Power and Poncho Sánchez all contacted me when they found out we were back in the studio. So we're getting a lot of love from California," Ham said during an interview at Studio Masters Recording Studio in Austin.
"In Texas, there's a wait and see attitude, but we will prevail. That's why we're working harder than ever and we practice until we bleed because we are not leaving anything to chance."
That must be pretty grueling for the 64-year-old bandleader, who died twice during a quintuplet bypass operation and undergoes dialysis three times a week, but his family says he seemed to be dying without the music that flowed in his veins and gave him life. Therefore, this is a sort of resurrection for Ham and Tortilla Factory.
What is not surprising is that his version of "What a Wonderful World" with a driving, yet lush, big band sound, coupled with a jazz guitar is probably the standout tune in this album.
Tortilla Factory Part II coming up
Related stories, photos:
Los Tigres Del Norte: on a new late summer tour
Concerts Calendar 8/12: Zamora, Guerrero, Suave
Intocable's Munoz says new CD '2C' is a 'back-to-the-future' work
Esteban 'Steve' Jordan: All-Star Tribute Sunday in Austin
Upcoming concerts: Iglesias, LuisMi, Grammys
TMNC2008: Sauceda, Salgado, Perez, Pulido and more
Little Joe, Ruben Ramos among All Stars on tribute CD to De La Rosa
Dan Segura dead; Tejano pioneer blazed trail
Grammy importance stressed at RyN conf in LA
Radio Notas: Women behind radio; SA leaders at LA confab
Daddy Yankee: the next step into movies
Actress/singer Aracely Arambula back on TV
SA's metal group Brotherhood - chance to play Ozzfest 2008
Radio Notas Convention examines elements of a hit song
Premios Juventud top winners: Martin, Camila, Aventura
De La Rosa All-Star tribute CD in final mixing stages
Jenni Rivera faces lawsuit in stage assault
Concerts Calendar 7/15: Hispanic Fair, Tejano soul, disco
Leave a comment