Billy Wilson, Stephen Zirkel, Jacinta, Jake Owen, Joe Zito, Ulrich Ellison, Marty Mack, and Jeff Botta.
Wilson is the leader, songwriter, lead vocalist, and rhythm guitar player of Latin at Heart. His gift for melody fuels the songs, and his passionate vocals are the centerpiece of Latin at Heart's intense latin rock sound.
Zirkel, a supremely talented musician and a 30-year veteran of the Austin music scene, plays bass and helps with the arrangements of Latin at Heart's music and sound. He was one of the original members of Beto y Los Fairlanes and La Tribu, and he currently also makes a significant contribution playing and arranging for Will Taylor and Strings Attached. Also on bass, from San Diego, Latin at Heart is happy to have the solid musicianship of Joseph Zito.
The presence on lead guitar is Jake Owen. With instinctive understanding of the songs and youthful passion for his instrument, Owen creates the ethereal and melodic leads and embelishments that are a Latin at Heart trademark. Jake is also a large contributor to the sound of Michael Ramos and Charanga Cakewalk. And bringing in new blood and passion to the lead guitar spot is the Austrian, Ulrich Ellison.
Latin at Heart will finally have a BIG sound, because Jacinta is now part of the group! Jacinta is a Top 10 Billboard artist in Progrsv House / Trance / Pop. Adding her keyboards wizardry and vocals to Latin at Heart completes the sound that was originally envisioned.
On the drums, Latin at Heart is privileged to have the extraordinary musicianship of drummers Marty Mack and Jeff Botta.
Influences
Russian composers (Rachmaninoff, etc.), Beatles, Moody Blues, Steely Dan, Raphael (Spanish singer), Armando Manzanero (Mexican pop singer/songwriter).
Four years ago, Latin at Heart was a vague concept in the mind of suburban
family man, Billy Wilson. Through countless night time outings, he recruited some of Austin's finest musicians, gradually forming what is, pound for pound, one of Austin’s best bands. Latin at Heart has shared the stage
with Grupo Fantasma and Los Amigos Invisibles, and now has regular shows
at Momo’s. The band's upcoming schedule includes major festivals like ROT
Bike Rally, Batfest, Pecan Street Festival, Xemumba Festival, and Bastrop Music Fest at The Oaks.
Where does "Latin at Heart" come from? Well, when the band plays, usually every player on the stage is Anglo. Yet the music is flamenco and latin jazz inspired, and it's all in Spanish! When YOU go out on a Saturday night wearing a Mexican sundress or Cuban shirt, and you have fajitas and margaritas, and then you view Mexican sculptures at Mexic Arte, and then take in a Del Castillo or Latin at Heart show, and then finish the night with salsa dancing till 2:00 am, you are, for that night, "Latin at Heart"!
Latin at Heart's music can be called "bolero rock”, a fusion of boleros (flamenco-oriented melodies) with rock. Some of the band's repertoire borders on latin jazz, but with a Latin at Heart twist. The songs have a distinctive structure with mid-song rhythm changes. With few exceptions, the lyrics are Spanish and focus on the search for love, meaning, and validation. Raised in Central America, Wilson grew up listening to Latin crooners like Raphael and Armando Manzanero. At home his mother always had a vinyl record spinning with the symphonies of Russian composers. Upon his return to the States at the age of 13, it was Beatles, Moody Blues, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Fogelberg, and Steely Dan. It can be argued that Latin at Heart's "bolero rock" is the combination of these areas of influence.
The band features Wilson’s passionate lead vocals and the musicianship of some of the most accomplished players in Austin, namely Stephen Zirkel, Jake Owen, Jacinta, Ulrich Ellison, Joe Zito, Jeff Botta, and Marty Mack. With this lineup of talented musicians, Latin at Heart is winning over music fans. Latin at Heart's unique sound and make-up, its fresh twist of rock fused with flamenco-inspired musical progressions, its return to music with a melody and words about human emotions, are all features that are making this band a major player in the Austin music scene.
Hola Latin at Heart!! Only 13 more days left of the contest! Please click on the banner below and vote for KALUA- support Austin's Latin Rock and help us release our debut CD!
Hola buenos dias paso a desearte que tengas un sabado expectacular, lleno de amor y mucha felicidad, disfruta cada dia de tu vida a lo maximo!!! Sinceramente radio fuzion activa.
