RDS Marketing News

TEX-MEX Kadillaks

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 17:06 GMT

Tex-Mex Kadillaks

“Leading The Next Generation in Tex-Mex Music"

Fasten your seat belts and sit back because you are about to go for a cruise on the ultimate Tex-Mex adventure with the TEX-MEX KADILLAKS.

With the versatility to play any genre of music, the “Kadillaks” are quickly emerging as leaders of the new generation in Tejano/Tex-Mex Music. Based in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, the “Kadillaks” have become one the hardest-working and sought after groups in all of South Texas since the inception of their career in the spring of 2005.

Their “Tex-Mex” style is a musical fusion of the different eras that the industry has evolved to over the years: Conjunto, La Onda Chicana, Tex-Mex Country, Música Tejana & Regional Mexican. Many would say that they are an “old school style” group with just the right modern and progressive elements to make their music appealing to both older and younger audiences. Whatever the case, the versatility of this band will put you on the dance floor and make you sweat up a storm, whether it’s a classic cover song or one of their original recordings.

As a new artist in the industry, its members bring many years of experience to the table; they are ex-members to the following great artists: BOBBY PULIDO, EMILIO NAVAIRA, FANDANGO USA and ALBERT ZAMORA. The members of the group are guitarist, Isaac Bazan; lead vocalist and keyboardist, Jesse Flores; drummer and percussionist, Paul Anthony Layton; lead vocalist and guitarist, Fernando Salinas and accordionist, Guillermo “Gizmo” García.

Aside from performing with various groups in the industry, Bazan’s previous musical stint was a six-year tenure as lead-guitarist for international recording artist Bobby Pulido; Flores also spent his early part of his career performing with various artists before landing keyboard and vocal positions with Fandango USA and a four-year stint with Emilio Navaira, Flores was also recognized by his peers when he received Keyboard Player of the Year at the 1999 Texas Talent Musician Association Industry Awards; Layton comes from a deep-rooted musical family and is the son of legendary-accordionist Benny Layton, who performs with of one of the Rio Grand Valley’s most popular groups “Los Hermanos Layton”, Layton recently won Rising Star Drummer of the Year at the 2006 South Texas Conjunto Awards, his previous stint was playing drums with Albert Zamora. Aside from previously having his own group, Salinas’ singing versatility has enabled him to sing lead vocals for both country and tex-mex groups in the Rio Grande Valley for years. García is making his professional debut as a musician and is a student of the great Benny Layton; he is the latest recipient of the Rising Star Accordion Player of the Year award at the 2006 South Texas Conjunto Awards.

The collaboration of “TEX-MEX KADILLAKS” brings to you a new and exciting experience that one must witness: Tex-Mex Music at its finest.

2006 Valley’s Choice Awards – “Most Promising Band of the Year”

For Booking Information Visit: Tex-Mex Kadillaks Web Page

Alabama Blues Brothers

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:48 GMT

For Booking Information Visit: The Alabama Blues Brothers Web Page

Ron Gartner

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:22 GMT

Ron Gartner - Las Vegas Style Entertainer

Watch out Carrie. Move over Kelly and Clay. There’s another “Idol” around; he’s a little bit older, and his show biz success story is even more improbable. This “Idol” is , an ex-textile salesman who, a few years ago, switched from selling “schmattas” (a Yiddish word for rags) to singing songs and entertaining crowds from coast to coast. Unlike the budding young stars on today’s music scene, Ron Gartner has tasted enough wine, breathed in enough air from smoke-filled lounges, broken enough hearts and had his broken enough times to be able to warble about a lost love and really mean it.

He always dreamed of being a Pop Star, just like all the young people lining up to get on American Idol these days. But back in the '50's when Ron Gartner yearned for the limelight, the only game in town was Ted Mack's Amateur Hour emanating from New York. Trouble was, Ron lived in Los Angeles, and his mother didn't really believe he was talented enough to warrant sending him to the Big Apple.

Ron contented himself with having his own high school band and had some success playing at the Whisky A-Go Go and PJs in the early 60's. It was at PJ's where he was "discovered" by then Motown executive Billy Davis. After a few frustrating attempts to cut his first album, Ron tabled thoughts of a music career and went into his family's textile business. When his parents retired to Palm Springs in 1994, Ron moved himself and his textile business east to New York.

Single for many years, Ron Gartner began to bring dates to a piano bar he had discovered, where he could impress them with a few tunes that he knew. That worked fine, until a matchmaker introduced him to his future wife Fran Heller. Initially charmed, she grew weary of late night forays into smoke-filled bars to wait for Ron to belt out yet another rendition of "Mack the Knife". An ultimatum followed: "Find another outlet for your singing!" He did.

After reading an article in the New York Times about dance programs at a senior center in Queens, Ron called the center and volunteered to sing there for free. They accepted, he performed and got both a standing ovation and a letter of recommendation. Using that singular letter, Ron began to contact and perform at other senior centers, nursing homes, and senior residences.

Today, Ron is bringing his Vegas-style shows to casinos, cabarets, nightclubs, community theatres and outdoor summer concerts, corporate and charity events, and golf club communities from LA to New York and all points in between. A 2005 MAC Award nominee for Vocalist of the Year, Ron is quite literally a living breathing example of how to re-invent yourself in mid-life to pursue your passions and live your dreams. A real "Idol" for our times.

Thrilling audiences from coast to coast, Ron Gartner may be the only performer in America who can go from Sinatra, Dean and Sammy to Perry Como and Tony Bennett, from Bobby Darin, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka and Chubby Checker to The Temptations, The Four Tops and James Brown — all in the same show!

Ron has created 3 distinctly different shows to appeal to the musical tastes and preferences of different age groups. There’s Ron’s Standards Show, for lovers of the Great American Songbook, Big Band, the Rat Pack and Bobby Darin. There’s Ron’s Salute to American Bandstand and Motown Show for people who enjoy ‘golden oldies forever’. And there’s Ron’s Best of Vegas Show, which incorporates the best of everything from Big Band and Rat Pack to classics of early Rock and Roll, Motown and Soul.

For Booking Information Visit: The Ron Gartner Web Page

Legendary Classic Motown Tour

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:55 GMT

Legendary Classic Motown Tour is available for routing dates in your area. Routing price and complete promotional kits are available with this package.

With original members known for their great songs, harmony sounds, and choreography through-out the decades that helped define “the sound of young America.” Their shows are every bit as entertaining as it was in the sixties and seventies. Reintroduce the Legendary Classic Motortown Revue Tour, to a whole new generation of fans.

“Your event will be a standing ovation show!”

The Legendary Classic Motown Tour featuring: The 'Ultimate Motown Party Band's known worldwide from the Grammy Hall of Fame The “Contours “featuring Sylvester Potts” and Jr Walkers Allstarband.

2 - acts no set changes A 2-HOUR HIGH ENERGY SHOW. That Catapulted them to instant fame with its unmistakable soulful groove that shaped the backbone of the Detroit “Motown Sound".

With such “HITS” as “DO YOU LOVE ME” “SHOTGUN” “ FIRST I LOOK AT THE PURSE” “WHAT DOSE IT TAKE TO WIN YOUR LOVE” AND MANY MANY MORE present to you, a spectacular two-hour live performances of unforgettable non-stop foot-stomping hits that guarantee everyone will be on their feet within minutes.

Jr. Walker’s "All Star Band"

Harvey Fuqua of Motown Hitsville, U.S.A owned a record label, Anna Records and Harvey’s label’s artist Johnny Bristol, brought a band to Harvey's attention: “Jr. Walker and The All Stars” with Tony Washington on drums, Autrey DeWalt (aka) Jr. Walker on sax and vocals, Victor Thomas on keyboards and Willie Woods on guitar.

Harvey Fuqua signed the band to his label in 1963; he closed his label and Harvey Fuqua brought his artists including the band with him to Motown Records. They started recording in 1964. Harvey became a songwriter and executive at Motown.

The 90's sadly brought the untimely death of Autrey DeWalt (aka) Jr. Walker and Willie Woods. Since then, Victor Thomas and Tony Washington have united with Kenny Walker on sax and Acklee King on percussion.

Throughout the 48 years of making music this band has worked side by side with Harvey Fuqua and in 2002 was inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame.

The 'Ultimate Motown Party Band' known worldwide as Jr. Walker's All Star Band will present to you, spectacular one-hour live performances of unforgettable non-stop foot-stomping hits that guarantee everyone will be on their feet within minutes.

“Jr. Walker’s All Star Band” whose 1965 sax driven #1 hit “Shotgun” catapulted them to instant fame with its unmistakable soulful groove that shaped the backbone of the Detroit “Motown Sound".

Jr. Walker’s "All Star Band" is very much alive and coming your way ... soon. Hear the Motown Sound played by the guys who lived it.

For Booking Information Visit: The Legendary Classic Motown Tour Web Page

Flaco Jimenez

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 11:08 GMT

Flaco Jimenez

In the landmark reference book, “The Billboard Guide to Tejano and Mexican Music”, written by San Antonio Express-News music reporter Ramiro Burr and published by the prestigious Billboard Books, Flaco was given one of his highest compliments:

“What B.B. King is to the blues, or George Jones is to traditional country, Grammy-winning accordionist Flaco Jimenez is to the world of Tex-Mex Conjunto. Jimenez was universally recognized as a leading exponent of the authentic South Texas Conjunto. While there are many masters of the accordion along the Texas-Mexican border, none have toured Europe, Japan and other points overseas or recorded with as many pop, rock and country artists as Jimenez. By all accounts, Jimenez was an international icon for the accordion-fueled Conjunto genre.”

Flaco Jimenez, the pioneering icon of Conjunto and Tejano music, was destined to be a great musician. He grew up in the barrios of San Antonio listening and learning his famous father’s trade.

Flaco’s father, Santiago Jimenez, Sr., was labeled the “father” of Conjunto music. He was a forerunning artist in his own right. At age seven, Flaco was already performing with his father on stage in front of live audiences. He had acquired a love for the music and would make a career out of it.

By the time he was 15, he was in the studios making records as a member of the group Los Caporales and soon thereafter was given his father’s nickname of “Flaco”, which means skinny or thin. After playing the local saloons and dance halls in San Antonio for years, he acquired a solid reputation as a unique musician and stylist. In the 1960’s he teamed up with a fellow musician Douglas Sahm, the founding member of the famous rock band The Sir Douglas Quintet, and then went on to New York to jam with Bob Dylan and Dr. John. From there, he played for mostly Anglo audiences with Peter Rowan and then traveled the world with Ry Cooder and David Lindsey, receiving international acclaim for his contributions to Cooder’s landmark album, Chicken Skin Music.

For Booking Information Visit: The Flaco Jimenez Web Page