Tribu de Ixchel rocks--pero con ganas! And that's just the first thing. Four members made up a culturally versatile band that preferred to express their talents through Latin pop/rock music. Lead vocalist Jerry Villanueva, guitarist Jessie Gonzalez, bassist Gabriel Lopez, and drummer Rolando Martinez were better known as a top 25-Grammy nominated group of musicians for their 1997 celebrated debut release, Entre Mundos (Between Worlds).
As a result of their Latin heritage and American upbringing, Tribu experienced various musical influences including traditional Latin, pop, funk, jazz, rancheras, boleros and heavy metal. Those sounds nourished the creation of a unique and inviting new sound that encompasses international groove and Latin sounds sung in Spanish and English. Tribu de Ixchel (translates as "Tribe of Ixchel," the Mayan goddess of love and fertility) was formed in their home base of Houston, Texas. Soon after they made their debut with a melodic Entre Mundos, Tribu became hot in the local/international pop/rock movement.
They had the pleasure of performing nationally and internationally, as well as on television music shows. Tribu toured with Mexico's El Tri, one of Spanish rock's most established bands. In 2000, they opened for Latin sensations The Gipsy Kings and gave a stellar performance with Spain's Duncan Dhu. Tribu showcased their winning musicianship when they won the Warner/Silver Light Record's Talent Search, and played 1998's South By South West Annual Music Conference in Austin. They also headlined at legendary places, like the House of Blues in Chicago.
Tribu performed on several variety shows (This Week,PBS; Viva Houston, ABC; Grito Alternativo and Domingo Live, Corpus Christi, and also had two guest appearances in 1998 on Desvelados, a popular live TV show in Monterrey, Mexico. Features and reviews in multi-media arts and entertainment magazines, on evening news programs and radio air play throughout Texas and Mexico also completed the circuit.
Their proudest achievement, however, was receiving a semi-finalist nomination for "Entre Mundos" form the Grammy Awards in the Latin Alternative Rock Album category in 1998 as selected by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. That same year, Tribu was honored with Retila Magazine's "Artista Revelacion Nacional (Best New National Artist)" award. They were labeled in Latina Magazine as the "Next Ricky Martin."
In addition to their musical talent, Tribu possessed a notably strong sense of community service. They played at many charitable events for the City of Houston, for example The Power of Houston, Museum of Fine Arts, Talento Bilingue de Houston, and Cinco de Mayo celebrations in various cities. Tribu proudly performed in the Astrodome in 2000 alongside Tejano group Limite, Azul Azul and rap artist South Park Mexican.
Their sophomore CD Crema Latina, released in September 2000, was a brilliant cavalcade of songs from the soul. Tribu de Ixchel was on their way to becoming a top interntational pop/rock band and gaining an integral role in expanding an interpretation of a contemporary movement in music....what happen??? Who knows...but now with the help of MySpace you can have the pleasure of listening to some of Tribu's music
