|
Background:
Gabe was born and raised in the small farming town of Las Cruces, New Mexico. Gabe spent most of his adolescent life building adobe homes with his grandfather, brother, and cousins along the Rio Grande River. It was during this time that he started taking a true interest in music. Gabe remembers his grandfather dancing around the job site with a shovel, to a combination of traditional Mexican Rancheras and country music blaring from his cement spattered portable radio. Since those days, he dreamed of a day when his voice would be on the radio, and his grandfather could dance to his music.
Getting Started:
As time went on, Gabe would sing at weddings, fiestas, and family gatherings, and later on Gabe entered the TNN television “Be a Star” contest, where he was chosen over many contestants to be a top finalist. This was Gabe’s first brush with success in the music world, and the fuel he needed to launch his exciting career.
Awards and Radio Play:
Gabe was encouraged to participate in the Gibson Guitar Road to Nashville Championships at the First Annual Lefty Frizzell Day in Corsicana, Texas. Gabe head out for Texas to compete against some of the nations finest. When the dust settled and local radio and television personalities tallied up the votes, Gabe was the clear winner! He was presented with an EJ-200 Epiphone Guitar, recording time, and an appearance on TNN Music City Tonight with Crook and Chase.
Gabe was also selected as the only country-act on the Hispanic Compilation CD “The Chicano Alliance”. This CD will target the Hispanic consumer and raise monies for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Gabe is featured with such Spanish icons as Little Joe y La Familia, Malo, Tierra, and El Chicano.
Shows, Tours and Appearances:
Along with Gabe’s radio success in the independent world, he has also been the opening act for some pretty well known names, such as: Patty Loveless, Holly Dunn, Rhett Akins, Ken Mellons, Joe Diffie, The Dixie Chicks, Baker and Myers, America, and Rick Springfield.
Gabe was selected by Sonic Restaurants and Dr Pepper to be their honorary spokesperson for a program to help students stay in school. Gabe went on tour across the states of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, putting on concerts for high schools with the highest overall attendance for the year. The two sponsors provided Gabe with a tour bus, radio and television support, and a commercial that took a Silver Medal in the Houston Film Festival.
Next Gabe was selected to be the main act at the US Olympic Torch Ceremony held in Huntsville, AL at the US Space and Rocket Center. The event was sponsored by Coca-Cola simulcast across the southeast, and viewed by over 30 thousand people in the live Huntsville audience.
Gabe was selected for both the Dr Pepper tour and the Coca-Cola Olympic Torch Ceremony, as the result of his Hispanic heritage, and his ability to sing in both English and Spanish.
Most recently Gabe was invited to perform along with Tony Orlando, Andy Williams, Jimmy Osmond and Bobby Vinton at a recent Tribute to our nation’s veterans in Branson, Mo. Tony Orlando has kind of taken Gabe under his wing as of late, and has vowed to assist Gabe in anyway possible.
Other Tidbits:
Gabe recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Faulkner Christian University in Montgomery, AL, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Gabe is currently pursuing his second Masters Degree in Management of Information Systems at Florida Tech, where he holds a 4.0 GPA.
Band:
Gabe’s band is affectionately called the Jalapeno Express. It is comprised of mostly Hispanic musicians that grew up with Gabe in the Southwest. The band focuses on mixing the cultures of country with New Mexico flavors and traditions.
Film / Acting:
Gabe recently embarked in a separate avenue of entertainment, as the Executive Producer of the Jordan-Walker Pearlman Film “Constellation”, starring Billy Dee Williams, Gabrielle Union, and Leslie Ann Warren. Gabe played a cameo roll in the film as well, as “Astronaut Rivera”, and also supported the soundtrack along with Backstreet Boy Howard Dorough as co-music supervisors. The film will be distributed internationally in early 07 through CodeBalck Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox. This Fall (2007) Gabe will be reading for several parts in major films to be produced by various independent and studio organizations.
Gabe currently resides in Austin, TX where he performs at various events and promotions.
Artist Mission
Expand my songwriting within the Country markets to include latin-based songs and storylines sang to me as a young Hispanic growing up in New Mexico. It is my desire to continue on with the offerings of Freddy Fender or Johnny Rodriquez, in a manner that will bring visibility to latin country music. Finally, I will create a new genre I call Countryachi.....a cultural blend of Country music with the spice and flavor of Mariachi music.
Music Influences
Johh Conley, George Strait, Johnny Rodriquez, Merle Haggard, Tracy Lawrence, Kieth Whitley, Carlos Santana, Freddy Fender, Tony Orlando
Alternative Links
|
