| Member Since | 9/24/2006 | | Band Members | Richard Bean .......... friend, legend, lead singer, band leader - started getting involved with music playing sax in Junior High, Liking it so much, he formed and performed with different bands like The Dynamics (with Carlos Santana), Wizardz ( with former Malo guitarist Abel Zarate), Jet (with Jorge Santana, brother of latin rock legend Carlos Santana), The Righteous Ones, Casanova ( with Mike Judge bassist- creator of Beavis and Butt Head), but it wasn't until 1968 with a top 40 band called The Malibu's, that included both Richard Bean and Arcelio Garcia on vocals, that one of his most creative periods would occur. As the latin rock scene blossomed in the San Francisco Bay Area, the popularity of groups like Santana gave way to a new sound that would sweep the country. Producer David Rubinson decided he was going to create a super latin group and began to incorporate musicians from various groups in the area that would form the legendery Chicano super-group Malo. Formed in 1971, with Jorge Santana and Abel Zarate on guitars, Pablo Tellez on bass, Pianist Richard Kemode, Jazz trumpeter Luis Gasca, Trombonist, Roy Maurry, singers Richard Bean and Arcelio Garcia, and other steller local players, the band was complete. After a few short months the group began to develop a new horn-oriented latin funk sound that was explosive and exciting. Developing a reportoire of original material, it was a new concept that fused jazz, latin, R&B, and rock. "We created songs and played well together", recalls Richard Bean in an interview conducted at KPFA Radio in 1994. "We jammed, and songs started happening from the riffs we created. Released in 1972 on Warner Bros. records, Suavecito has gone on to become one of latin rock's most requested classical love songs. Richard Bean, lead singer, and co-composer of the million seller, wrote the lyrics and the melody as he says" I wrote the words in algebra class and took it to a rehearsal." The rest is history, as the song swept the world. But before Richard Bean could reap the glory of success, he left Malo for unspecified reasons and knew Suavecito would become a big hit when he heard it on the radio driving down Mission Street in San Francisco. Realizing his potential, he wanted to create something that reflected his musical ideas and concepts. He and his brother Joe Bean decided to form a band and began to audition players. The group would be called SAPO and would include the noted congero Raul Rekow, who would join the Santana band a couple of years later. The rest of the band was rounded out on bass by the now famous comedian Jose Simon, pianist Kincad Miller, Oscar Estrella on guitar, Bobby Gaviola on trap drums, Trumpets, Bill Atwood, Joe Ellis and trombonist Wayne Wallace (Bill Summers, Pete Escovedo, Tito Puente, and John Santos & The Machete Ensemble). One of their first songs was a funky *guajira* that Richard Wrote, called I Can't Make It " The song came out of a poem I wrote ", says Richard. Once I the had words, I knew how I wanted the song to be. I took it to the band and we developed it and made a demo tape for Bell Records, (AKA ) ARISTA who loved it. We auditioned for the label in San Jose, after seeing the whole package we got signed in 1974. The song was at it's height and became an anthem during the Lowrider era around 24th st. and Mission, as lowriding reached it's peak in the '70's and early '80s. The album featured an exciting selection of latin flavored tracks like Ritmo Del Corazon (with its "Orale A Orale" chorus) Sapo's Montuno, Been Had, and Nina . Recorded at the Wally Heider Studios by famed engineer Fred Catero (Tower of Power), the album never got commercial air play it deserved but was an instant street hit. Sapo disbanded in the late '70s. Jorge Santana, who scored a contract with New York City Based Tomato Records, reunited with Richard, who would Co-Write and sing lead for his recording project. It hasn't been all roses for Richard, but in the 90's with the emergence of a new Chicano/Latino generation searching for its roots, he and his music have been re-discovered and as a result, he reformed Sapo in 1995. I had the pleasure of recording Sapo ( with the help of ace recording engineer Michael Yoshida) at the KPFA Studios for my show "Live from Aztlan" (Sun@1to5am) where he recorded several of his classic jams. In early 1998, Richard Bean and members of Sapo appeared on the national television show, Vibe, hosted by funk comedian Sinbad. It brought him and his music to millions who never knew that this unsung vocalist was the actual singer of Suavecito . In late 1999 , TIME WARP RECORDS re-released SAPO'S exciting and dynamic first album on CD after the demand of his loyal fans, who would ask to bring it out again, while they heard him perform the songs of Sapo ,on his Malo tour. After touring extensively with Sapo, Malo, Jorge Santana, recording 3 albums and writing and arranging many hit singles including Suavecito , Love The Way , Nobody's Perfect , and Can't Make It , Richard is still a focal point in the music world currently enjoying the success of SUGAR RAY'S multi-platinum CD and their hit single EVERY MORNING , Richard co-wrote the smash hit single with the band SUGAR RAY. Currently working with his band sapo, and writing songs for his upcoming CD, to be released later this year, Richard is also working with members of TIERRA, EL CHICANO and SAPO on the LATIN SENSATIONS TOUR 2007 AS WELL AS "THE VOICES OF LATIN ROCK TOUR" featuring Jorge Santana, Arcelio Garcia, Lydia Pence, Donnie Baldwin, Tony Mejavar, Gabe Monzo, Abel Sanchez, etc... performing songs of MALO, SAPO, JORGE SANTANA, COLD BLOOD and the songs of other great artist. Richard is always ready to take you to a higher dimension in music. With the ever changing sound and music, Richard manages to stay one step ahead of the time. Performing songs from his three albums in concert as well as the new material, Richard Bean and SAPO are always, an exciting band to see. As Richard says "My life is music and music is my life". © 2002 WWW.SAPOMUSIC.COM ---E-MAIL SAPOMUSIC@AOL.COM (All Rights Reserved)
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