interview con paradize band 2011

Exclusive interview con Paradize Band, 2011.
Cchwnn.
Topeka, Kansas. Hi I am Santa Cecilia la que te canta con on the road again interviews. This week my creator esa vato that thinks he knows everything has send walking to Topeka, Kansas to meet up con a Tejano, R&B,and Country band named Paradize band. Let us get to that interview now?
Sc: hello Ray Ortega, I wonder if you can help me get off my feet, it sure was a long walk here?

Ray: I’m glad you made it through the snow and cold. Sandals don’t work huh?

SC: how does it feel to be a conjunto band out of Topeka, Kansas?
Ray: Actually we are a Tejano Horn Band and we do perform conjunto music along with a variety of music.

SC: how did you guys get into la onda tejano?
Ray: Our Dad was a musician so there was always music around the house so being surrounded by music it was inevitable for us not to follow. Musicians were always around playing in the early morning hours at our house during the weekends. I being the oldest started with Tejano music after my Dad had gone to see Little Joe and The Latinaires and came home with the” Por Un Amor” album and Little Joe and The Latinaires “On Tour” album. My brothers all followed thereafter in music.

SC: tell us a bit about your band and family involvement?
Ray: Paradize Band’s history began in 1976 under the name of La Familia Mexicana and was started by my brothers Arthur and Steve Ortega. It is horn based band and we grew up performing American music also so we basically added Tejano, R&B, Funk, Country, Blues and variety of music. We have 4 brothers in the group: Arthur, Roger, Steve and I and we have 2 friends also Ray Ayala and Tony Vargas. We grew up in the Oakland community of Topeka, Kansas, a block away from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and school, which we all attended. We give back to the community whenever we have the opportunity and to the Cancer Hospice Organization as well as others. Our parents always instilled in us to give back to the church and the school and the community.


SC: who were some of your major influences de la onda tejana?
Ray: Little Joe of course was one of our main influences along with Alfonso Ramos, Ruben Ramos, Tortilla Factory, Latin Breed, Royal Jesters, Big Lu & Los Muchachos, Carlos Landin, Carlos Guzman, Richard Rodriguez and The Blue Notes, Sunny Ozuna, Jimmy Edwards and countless others.

SC: do you know la family Ruiz’s de Topeka?
Ray: Yes, they are my wife’s cousins and we’ve known all of them for years.

SC: what is the future of la onda tejana in the mid west?
Ray: The future is bright here in the Midwest; there are so many great groups around the surrounding areas and Tejano music is well received here in the Midwest.We have a couple of radio stations that play Tejano music: KKFI 90.1-Fiesta Musical and Taste of Tejano so we do hear many of the latest music here in the Midwest.
SC; do we see a recording contract in the near future?
Ray: Funny you would mention that, we just finished our new CD- Paradize Band” Past Due” and it will be available through Tejano Music Headquarters and I think, Janie’s Records and it has already had some airplay on BNET, Picante Radio and Chicano Express Radio(Crazy Chuy) as well as California, Phoenix and Ohio and Kansas City. We’ll take one day at a time and see what direction God leads us.

SC: has the mid west weather every stopped you from getting to a gig?
Ray: In 35 years of performing and traveling in and out of state there has been only one time I can recall that we were unable to get to a performance. It was about 8 hours away and it snowing and sleeting and they closed the highway because of the weather and hazardous conditions and we couldn’t make the gig. We have been through tornadoes, thunderstorms, sleet, ice and mechanical problems. Most bands can understand what we go through because they have pretty much gone through the same thing. Thank God we made it all safely.

SC: which other groups have you shared the stage with en la onda tejana?

Ray: Eddie Gonzalez, Ruben Ramos and The Revolution, La Sombra, Joe Posada and many more that have slipped my mind. I use to know a lot when I had a memory.



SC: if given the opportunity to speak to a group of young people what encouraging words would you say?

Ray: Be all you can be, don’t follow the crowd. Be an individual and follow your dreams. Never take family for granted and have God as part of your life. Live for today because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring or what it will take away.

SC: how hard is it in selecting the material you play doing a performance?

Ray: It depends on the crowd, you have to read them and sometimes experiment to see what works or doesn’t work. We play such a variety of music that we usually have something that will appeal to the crowd besides our Tejano music. We have some very talented musicians and that amazes me sometimes how we can just put together a song we have never played before and make it work.


SC: and finally what would like to share with your fans all over the world?
Ray: We hope they enjoy the new CD and be sure you support Tejano music and Tejano bands from all over the USA, we are working to do our best for you, our fans.

SC: again thank you sir and can you get me on my feet and point which is south?
Ray: I would tell to click your heels, three times and wish you were back home but you would probably slip on the ice and break your cumbia shaker so head south until you run out of snow. On behalf of Paradize Band: Arthur, Roger, Steve, Ray, Tony and I, Thank you for the interview-God Bless You…