Chris Leon

Music:

Member Since: 25/05/2005
Band Website: WWW.THEBANDCALLEDBURN.COM
Band Members:
" HOW DO I SAY " from Eddie Barreiro on Vimeo .
Influences: See Bio
Sounds Like: Brace yourselves… BURN is smokin’ hot!For immediate release…Los Angeles (6/26/2007)Look out R&B fans, as the L.A.-based band BURN prepares to release its self-titled debut album and light the music world on fire.The 17-piece ensemble is the brainchild of musical artist, guitarist and producer Tom Pergola.Those who recognize the name may recall that his last work The Tom Pergola Project, Vol. 1 produced several hits on the MP3 charts in 2000, and the No. 1 R&B hit “Sweet and Mellow.” The album also, made #1 best selling album in it’s genre.Pergola’s new project BURN is a blend of R&B, funk and dance. He embarked on his latest feat in October of 2006, piecing together the perfect combustion of musicians and vocalists. Rehearsals began in January and since then the group has developed a signature sound that’s smokin’ and recorded 13 songs.“I wanted to pull together all of the elements I love in music with a lot of rhythm. I love Latin music. I love funk and R&B and I love horns,” Pergola said, adding the result is better than his expectations.The instrument-focused band is larger than most contemporary R&B groups, Pergola admits, but he wanted a unique sound. “I wanted to put in all the elements I really liked and not worry about how many pieces it would be. I wasn’t willing to compromise the sound for less players.”The new band is the culmination of sounds that have influenced Pergola’s life, combining old school, house and a Latin vibe that he attributes to his time spent playing with Charo.“We are a very high-energy band. We are developing our live show now and we’ll be adding dancers soon. We have seasoned musicians, many of whom have worked with big names, and band members range in age from their 20s to their 60s. I call it an old school sound with a new school twist.”Leading the group are female vocalist Andrea Ballard and rapper Fernando Chris Leon. The group is anchored by Pergola and his longtime friends, Sal Guglielmi (bass), Reggie Morris (keyboards) and Robert Lobato (drums). Lead vocalist Andrea Ballard brings her soulful jazz vocals to the mix. Rapper Chris Leon spits the infectious rhymes and moves that made his MDJ band popular with the L.A. nightclub circuit.“From the beginning I noticed there was a lot of chemistry between us,” Leon said of the band.BURN’s songs, co-written by the trio, including “Come Back”, “Let it Ride” and “Round and Round” show the group’s versatility. The songs run the spectrum from heartbreak to cruising and dancing.Leon’s passion to create uplifting music that mixes Hip-hop and R&B without negativity is at the band’s core. “We’re not like a lot of the rap and hip hop that’s out there and all about money, drugs and ho’s. We’re trying to bring back that old school essence with a new school twist. It’s a party on stage. We just want to make good music.Much like their musical influences Earth, Wind and Fire, James Brown, Sly and The Family Stone, Kool & the Gang and the Black Eyed Peas, BURN is hell bent on creating quality music for all. The lyrics are catchy with a feel-good groove.“We wanted to appeal to a wide variety of fans and I believe we can do that by having interesting music but with rap and lyrics that are not obscene or degrading. We can be suggestive but not over the top,” Ballard said. As the front-woman, she added, that even her image is “sexy, hip and hot” without showing too much.BURN just might ignite a music revolution. “Musicians will like BURN. People who like jazz will like BURN. Everyone is going to like BURN because there is really nothing out there like us,” she said.Mystique surrounds BURN as they prepare to debut on the music scene before the end of 2007. Pergola has not allowed anyone into rehearsals as the CD promises to be a big hit. Only a limited number of music executives will be invited to a private showing. For more information contact Tom Pergola. Music insiders expect to see BURN at the 2008 Grammy’s.Individual Bios:Tom Pergola- Producer, songwriterOriginally from North Bergen, NJ, Pergola began playing guitar at age 7. He began his professional career at age 16, playing the East Coast music scene. At 18 he was a founding member of The Rick Martin and the Showman Band. He also played backup for Charo in the Xavier Cugat Band. It was with the Xavier Cugat Band that he was featured playing guitar along with his friend Rick Martin on The Ed Sullivan Show, Johnny Carson and numerous other TV shows. He played the Latin Quarter in New York City and toured with Charo and Cugat. Pergola formed The Pilgrims (Mercury Records) in 1966, and after moving to Los Angeles in the early 1970s he formed a band by the same name, Burn. In the past decade, Pergola has contributed to other projects as a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He co-wrote four songs on the solo album of Ricky Bell (Bell, Biv, DeVoe and New Edition), and was featured with the band on Soul Train and B E T. His most recent work The Tom Pergola Project, Vol. 1 produced several hits on the MP3 charts in 2000. The song, Sweet and Mellow hit No. 1 on the Urban/R&B Radio and R&B Radio charts. The album went to Best Selling Album in the Urban/R&B category. All other songs from that album reached the Top 10 in their respective R&B categories. After taking time off during the past decade to dedicate to family, Pergola was itching to get back on stage and last October set the wheels in motion for his current band BURN.Andrea Ballard- Lead vocalist, songwriterBorn in Las Cruces, N.M., and raised in El Paso, Texas Andrea Ballard is one of those versatile artists who has been singing since she was old enough to speak. Her childhood is laced with pageants and performances on local TV shows, including the El Paso version of the Mickey Mouse Club. Ballard had a hit record at age 15. She debuted on the music scene with the four-member band Sugar & Spice with Fusion. The band opened for such acts as MC Hammer, Boyz II Men and Lighter Shade of Brown. The group was sponsored by Pepsi and from 1989 to 1992 was its National Teen Group. Ballard studied music for a time at the University of Texas at El Paso. After that she spent five years in the stage show Islands of Adventure at Universal Studios in Orlando. She pulled double duty during those years singing at a local jazz club and working under the direction of jazz great Deanie Clark. Four years ago she moved to Los Angeles. Her most recent projects include the Andrea Ballard Band and work on a 12-song album with producer Tichran. Her musical influences include Joanie Mitchell, Janic Joplin, Mary J. Blige, Sara Vaughn and Ike and Tina Turner, the Bee Gees and Lauryn Hill.Fernando Chris Leon- Rapper, songwriterR&B newcomer Chris Leon came straight to L.A. from the West side barrios of Tucson, Ariz. He was a misguided kid traveling down the wrong path of thieving, drugs and jail before making a 180-degree turn through his music. His music and lyrics send a positive, uplifting message and strive to return rap and hip-hop to its purest form. His songs are about feeling the music, making people dance, uplifting the soul and morals. Leon says its time to take hip-hop back to its essence, they way it was when he was a kid. “It’s been corrupted and rap now is all about exploiting women and glorifying money and materialism, murder, drugs and guns. My message is: “Don’t buy into the bull----.” He launched his music career four years ago and has since played the L.A. nightclub circuit as the leader of the MDJ Band. His music influences include RUN D.M.C, LL Cool J, Will Smith, the Black Eyed Peas, Talib Kweli and De La Soul. His R&B influences include Earth Wind and Fire, the Isley Brothers, George Benson and Barry White.
Type of Label: Major