Migrated to the US at 3 yrs old. Raised with wise guys but kept my Latino roots. Joined the USMC at 17 Travel the world. I love Latin music and it became part of my survival. I have been fortunate to have met and performed with legendary musician. Dealt with drug abuse and betrayal. Honored my mother and love my children but the system took my life away due to my divorce. Now I begin life again and many doors open on my way to a Grammy! I thank God Everyday and Believe!
Posts Tagged music
Believe………
Jan 20
stages of life
Nov 18
born into a black family and adopted into a white family at the age of 10. Struggling growing up in suburban life with 3 other adopted kids in the family. Grow up to go to collage for 2 yrs and then travel the world for a yr and a half with a performing group called Up with people. After be on the road for over a yr I struggled with getting back to a normal life. I got back into Djing witch was my love for music. I then met up with Latin superstar’s son (Tito Puente JR) and he help me form a pop group called Riodiege. I also did back ground vocals on his album and recorded a dance remix of one of his dads song (oya comova) witch became a big hit on the radio. Then we went on tour!
this is just the beginning of the story , if you want to hear the end then contact me!
3am baby
Nov 5
I was tired but couldn’t sleep. I crawl out of bed to smoke a cigarette. I realize that I don’t have any cigarettes left. I start calmly searching my empty packs. I light a couple long butts and breathe in the smoke. They don’t quench the nicotine need I have. I stare out one of the three windows that make up my largest wall daring myself to leave. I slip into my jeans and my old cowboy boots, no socks. Run a hand through my hair and head down the stairs. On my way out of the building I hold the door open for two very young, drunk scene kids who moved into the room above me. Without a thank you they push past me and stumble up the stairs falling over each other and laughing. I feel like an old man at 27. I stare down Washington st and start towards Colfax. It’s a walk I’ve made countless times. It takes me to the Denver public library where I spend my days reading and people watching. There is an all night bodega near Toms Diner where I can buy cigarettes; I just hope I have enough. I scrounged all the change I had left on my window ledge. I had been saving it for just such an emergency. Money is hard to find after rent is due. My useless Literature degree doesn’t help pay the bills. I wait for the light to change at the corner of Colfax and pearl reading the bill board. A prostitute walks behind me wearing a red bikini and fake mink coat. She’s black woman with a bad weave and red acrylic nails and missing a couple teeth. We are the only two people on the street. It’s unusual for Colfax to be this deserted, even for 3:30am on a Tuesday. She says to me in a very horse voice, ‘Hey baby, looking for something fun tonight? I can make you feel great.’
‘No, thanks’ I say back still waiting for the light to change.
She asks again ‘Baby, I can make you feel so good. Better than you’ve ever felt’
I smile and reply ‘no thanks.’ She smiles back and starts to fidget with her weave and stares down at her shoes. We walk slowly across the street; she keeps my lazy pace with me. Across the street she says again ‘Baby, tonight, I’m free. I will make you feel better than anyone else ever has; you look like you need it.’
I look at her for probably a beat too long and I say ‘No, but thanks.’ We walk our separate ways on Colfax, both taking a minute to look over our shoulders and glance at each other. We were the royalty of Colfax, owners of the endless neon street. We walk away, both smiling, knowing we gave each other exactly what we needed. She knew I needed to feel wanted and I knew she needed someone to tell her No.
It was freshman year at my private Christian college. There, the girls are pretty, everybody smiles and it’s hard to tell the difference between a friend and an enemy. Just that summer, I spent a week in an EDU for the eating disorder I had yet to accept. I figured a Christian college would be a great support system, but before I knew it I was relapsing and realizing who my real friends were. My sister’s then boyfriend had gotten me a job at starbucks and soon my coworkers became my new friends and family. That winter, the relapse hit hard and I ended up in the hospital for two months putting up the fight of my life against anorexia and bulimia. Towards the end of my stay, I fell too far behind in school and had to drop out. Luckily for me, those friends from work let me move into their apartment and helped me through my recovery. Soon after, I lost my license because, silly me, small town cops care a lot more about speeding than city cops do. This forced me to really learn the value of hard work. I walked a half hour to and from work every day and was able to get much closer to my roommates and friends during that time. Having to fully rely on others teaches a person so much. I didn’t know at the time, but I would end up having a tragic romantic relationship with one of them, get a promotion at work with their help, realize where my passions really are and watch that all come crashing to a halt within the year. Even though it didn’t work out with him, I learned a lot from my roommate. With his help and a good push from my somtimes crazy and hectic work at starbucks, I learned my true passion. Coffee isn’t just something to drink when you’re tired, it’s a gateway to all of the things I love. I decided to move out and quit Starbucks, but am now studying at a culinary and business school to open my own non-profit coffee shop. It’s going to have free music lessons for kids, support local artists, and give back to the community. Had I not had my eating disorder, I would never have dropped out of my christian school and pursued my passions. I also wouldn’t have become so strong… strong enough to know when to walk away from the man I loved to do the things I love. He may have broken my heart and my eating disorder was painful, but they are the reason for my joy now and the reason I will be able to help so many people in the future. Thanks to coffee, friends, a few too many tickets and hard times.
Music in the Air
Aug 10
This story comes from Jerry Hoke of Torrance, California.
“As a teenager in the 1950s, I went to visit my cousins in Bloomington, Illinois. While walking together one day, we were arguing about the words of a popular song. I said that they were saying, “An Indian named Standing Bear.” My cousin said it was “Standing There.” As we continued along, I noticed a piece of paper on the sidewalk. I picked it up, and it was the sheet music for that very song. There was no further argument. I was right, of course.”
If it were only so easy to solve arguments about Jimi Hendrix singing “‘scuse me while I kiss this guy,” and Three Dog Night singing “there’s the bathroom on the right.” (For the record, Hendrix actually sings “while I kiss the sky” and for Three Dog Night it’s “There’s a bad moon on the rise.” )
