Los Texmaniacs
9th Annual Latin Album Nominee
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Genre: Latin
Smithsonian Folkways
www.folkways.si.edu
BAND NAME: Los Texmaniacs
WEB SITE: www.texmaniacs.com
ARE YOU SIGNED OR SELF-RELEASED? Signed
NAME OF LABEL: Smithsonian Folkways
HOMEBASE/COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: San Antonio, Texas
ALBUM NOMINATED: Borders y Bailes
WHERE WAS ALBUM RECORDED? San Antonio, Texas
WHICH GENRES BEST DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? Conjunto Tejano
WHAT/ IF ANY UNUSUAL INSTRUMENTS, SONG STRUCTURE/WRITING TECHNIQUE, RECORDING METHOD DID YOU USE? Not really – we used traditional instruments to push the envelope of conjunto style.
WHERE IS YOUR MUSIC AVAILABLE? Folkways.si.edu
DID FANS HELP FUND THIS PROJECT? No
DESCRIBE YOUR AUDIENCE: Anyone from teenagers to grandparents – both for dancing and partying as well as for standing or sitting and listening.
WHAT MAKES YOUR FANS UNIQUE? Our fans are all proud to either be from Texas OR are proud in the way that we represent the state of Texas.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO PLAY? Festivals – the crowds really respond to us. We love playing Folk Festivals as the crowds are there to listen and appreciate and are really open minded.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BANDS’ MOST MEMORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE? Being asked to entertain the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. Not everyone gets that honor. We felt so appreciated and we appreciated them even more.
WHAT’S IN THE WORKS FOR 2010? We’re working on our next CD and touring all over the country as well as to Holland, Spain, and hopefully Canada.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS….. filled with ups and downs but as long as you keep your focus on what you believe in, your music, and your culture, you should end up ok.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Making a difference to people through music.
WHAT’S ON YOUR IPOD THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR FANS? From traditional blues to AC/DC!
NAME SOME ARTISTS YOU ARE CHAMPIONING: Flaco Jimenez, Tara Linda, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
ARTIST BIO:
Combine a hefty helping of Tex Mex conjunto, simmer with several parts Texas rock, add a daring dash of well-cured blues, and R&B riffs, and you’ve cooked up the tasty TexManiacs groove. Not to say that this group’s sound is for musical gourmets only… it is, “hip music everyone can relate to” .
Los Texmaniacs — feed the masses, with only the best in musical fare. Founded by Max Baca (bajo sexto, vocals), the TexManiacs are a product of his wide-ranging experience touring and recording with everyone from his father’s family conjunto, Flaco Jimenenz, the original Texas Tornados, Los Super Seven and even the Rolling Stones.
Max is a legend on the bajo sexto, a twelve string guitar-like instrument, which customarily provides rhythm accompaniment for the button accordion, thus creating the core of the conjunto sound. On the bajo, Max does all that and way more, using the instrument to push the TexManiacs sound to another level of vibrancy altogether. He has displayed a musical virtuosity and blistering guitar riff solo style, that is now being emulated by young bajo players internationally. Max is being credited as turning a traditional folk / roots/conjunto instrument hip again, attracting young, new audiences while maintaining his roots in traditional conjunto. His many sojourns as a life long musician have resulted in an impressive international touring schedule, including four tours to Iraq, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Kosovo to entertain our troops. Max has appeared on national television programs such as Conan O’ Brien, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Austin City Limits. Max has also bee featured in several PBS documentarys such as: Songs of the Homeland, American Roots Music, and Latin Music USA. Max has also participated on ten Grammy winning projects including the double-platinum CD for the Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge (Virgin 96). Max’ most recent Grammy was earned with his band, Los TexManiacs Jan 30th 2010 for Borders Y Bailes (Smithsonian Folkways) 2009.
David Farias (accordion, vocals) *”comes from a prominent musical family, he started playing music at age eight. For thirty-four years David helped morph the family band “Los Hermanos Farias”into the Tejano super group phenom “La Tropa F” … David was inducted in the Tejano music hall of fame 2007, and earned numerous Tejano music awards . He has been nominated for two Latin Grammy’s and two Grammy’s, bringing home the gold in 2010 with partner Max. David has earned numerous gold records and performed in front of tens of thousands. Destiny was taking shape as David parted ways with his former group in 2006 the precise moment Max was looking for a new accordion player. “Being with the Texmanics has been a blessing” David explains, “the need to incorporate jazz and blues licks” into his conjunto style playing, has propelled his masterful “squeezebox” sound to new audiences worldwide leading to an endorsement with Hohner Accordions.
Lorenzo Martinez (drums, guitarron) was born and raised in the Norwalk- Whittier area of Los Angeles, California. He grew up listening to accordion music, and took up saxophone which led to jazz studies in college. Lorenzo studied mariachi with renowned Nati Cano at UCLA, meanwhile playing R&B in East L.A. at night with groups such as Los Rock Angels and Los Lobos.
Oscar Garcia (bass) was born in Santa Cruz, California. His father, “Chon” Garcia, was a professional musician from McAllen Texas. Oscar started accordion at age five and went on to play in his fathers group and then with accordion legend Mingo Saldivar. Along the way he learned drums, bajo sexto, and then bass. He also sings first and second vocal parts further displaying the versatility of a complete musician.
Like a great salsa., the Texmaniacs mix the simplest yet finest ingredients of Texas music to create a sound solidly rooted in tradition, exploding with contemporary vitality. Texmanics versatiility has led them to performances such as The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Internatinoal Accordion Festival, Kennedy Center , Governor of Texas Ball and many major festivals oversees in countries such as Germany, Holland, and Spain.
Los Texmaniacs have been awarded proclamations as ambassadors of good will from several goverment entities such as : Cities of San Antonio Texas, Austin Texas , Los Angeles California , and Alberquerqe New Mexico.
Their first CD, A Tex Mex Groove,(2004) contains a wide sampling of musical focus that is characteristic of the group. It also hosts a legendary line-up of guest artists, such as Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers, and Ruben Ramos, and Los Lobos, who share the TexManiac take. The second CD,”About Time”(2007) peaked at #1 on the Tex-Mex charts. Los Texmaniacs current CD is the Grammy Award winning “Borders Y Bailes” for Smithsonian Folkways (2009). Smithsonian Folkways is the record label of The Smithsonian National Museum of The United States.
This project further cemented Los Texmaniacs, rightful place in history as master musicians in their respective musical disciplines.
So don’t just stay for supper, make sure you stick around for dessert.