Music & Dance
LOS BANDITS de MICHIGAN
Kalamazoo, Michigan
La Musica Tejana, Michigan-Style
Los Bandits plays Tex-Mex music, the infectious accordion-led dance music created along the Texas-Mexican border, but with a twist.
This Kalamazoo-based conjunto calls its music "Tex-Mex, Michigan style," a mixing of rhythm and blues, gospel and country rock influences with norteño and tejano performance style and instrumentation. They have a big, rousing and danceable sound that gets listeners on their feet in short order. There's also an element of social consciousness expressed through their original compositions, some of which deal with the plight of farm workers. Los Bandits formed in 1991, but each of its members has over 20 years of musical experience. Rene Meave (guitar and vocals) and Guillermo “Memo” Martinez (accordion, vocals) both began their musical careers in Texas and came to Michigan as migrant workers. An accomplished songwriter, Meave has been recognized by Billboard and the American Song Festival for the originality of his compositions. Martinez is also a songwriter and a poet whose works dealing with issues of social justice for farm workers have been featured at local talks by the late Cesar Chávez. Rounding out the group are Esteban “Steve” Ortiz (drums, vocals) and Ernesto “Ernie” Ortiz (bass, vocals). Los Bandits has appeared with The Texas Tornadoes, Patty Loveless, Terrence Simien and Little Joe y La Familia among many others. The group has been featured at national events such as the Tejano Awards Fanfare in San Antonio and the National Council of La Raza 25th Anniversary Conference. In 1999, the Michigan Hispanic Caucus and the Governor of Michigan paid special tribute to Rene and Guillermo for their contributions to Tex-Mex music. Los Bandits' recent recordings include "Tex-Mex Del Midwest" and "Live En El State Theatre, Los Bandits."
In 1999, the Governor and the Hispanic Caucus of the State of Michigan honored René and Guillermo with a special tribute for their outstanding contribution of Tex-Mex music in Michigan. In 2005 a documentary on the band, More Than A Tex-Mex Band, was released.
Los Bandits de Michigan are currently working on their 4th CD, due for released in the fall of 2009. Other recordings include: “Tex-Mex del Midwest”, “Live En El State Theatre, Los Bandits” and “La Onda del Midwest.”
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