Edward was always fascinated with music ever since he first saw his cousin Raymond Bernal Jr. perform with his band at local parks in San Jose. " I remember the first time I saw My Cousin Raymond play it was at Alum Rock Park. I couldn't have been no more than 2 or 3 years old. Even at that young age I wanted to jump on stage with him." Raymond was a also a Bass player and a great musician. At the age of 17 he was asked to go on tour by both, James Brown's band, and The Righteous Brothers. My Uncle Ray Sr. told him that if he was going to quit school to go on tour he had better join the army instead so Raymond joined the army. He served 3 tours of duty in Vietnam and was killed just one week before he was scheduled to return home. He was awarded 3 purple hearts and the City of San Jose Honored him by naming a park after him.Raymond Bernal Jr. Memorial Park is Located on 6th St. and Hedding St. in San Jose Ca.
"Raymond was a big influence in my life, and would have went far in his musical career had his life not been cut short, so I feel that in a way I am honoring his memory by continuing on his legacy." ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------Blocker and Alicia Villalba (Eds Mom and Dad) on their Honeymoon in Reno NV. circa 1958
Edwards mother Alicia Villalba says "I always new my son would be a musician. When Edward was around 1 or 2 years old, me and his father bought him a toy drum, and even though he couldn't walk yet, He would drag his little drum in front of the TV and play it to the music in the commercials. Then when the commercials would end, he would start crying, so we would have to turn on the radio to make him stop"------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Edward Age 4
Edward started his musical journey by learning to play the trumpet while in the second grade at Lowell Elementary School. He continued playing and at the age of 14 and in the 8th grade at Pala Jr. high his music teacher Gerry Stasko told him that she was starting a rock band at the school, and they needed a Bass player, and would he be interested in learning to play the Bass Guitar. "That changed my life forever" Edward says. "If it wasn't for Miss Stasko there would have never been a MYSTIQUE". The Pala rock band toured all the Jr. high and grammar schools in the district and Edward soon discovered that he really enjoyed performing in front of an audience. The next year Edward was asked to join a band that was being put together to perform weekly at the youth mass for his parish church, St. John Vianney. "It was unheard of at the time to have a full fledged rock band in a Catholic church but thanks to the vision of a young priest from Ireland, Father Eugene O' Donnell, it was a huge success and we performed to standing room only crowds at the youth mass every Sunday for the next 4 years". Edward, A 1977 Graduate of James Lick High School,----------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Edwards Graduation Circa 1977
still keeps ties with his old Parish church and returns back to St. John Vianney every year to perform for their annual Festival/Carnival in May.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Edward (White Pants) Age 15 performs at the St. John Vianney church festival in San Jose Ca. with Future "Trio Intimo Guitarist" Adolfo Alvarado circa 1975
Edward performed in a few local bands after that and eventually started singing. He was soon asked to be the Lead singer for a Santana tribute band called "Libre", "I was hesitant at first because I never really considered my voice as lead singer material" but after much coaxing from friend and Bandleader of Libre, Jimmy Sabala, Edward put down the Bass guitar and served as Lead Vocalist in Libre for the next 6 years. I loved performing with Libre. We would perform at car shows and Lowrider balls in the 80s but I missed playing the Bass.------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Edward Villalba Lead Vocal and Future Mystique Guitarist Antonio Marquez Lead Guitar for the band "Libre" Circa 1982
Edward Villalba Lead Vocal and Future Mystique Guitarist Antonio Marquez Lead Guitar for the band "Libre" Circa 1982
Flyer for the band Libre circa 1983
Edward Age 19 Lead singer for The Band "LIBRE" circa 1978
Edward Villalba Lead Vocalist for the band "Libre" Circa 1982
Edward Villalba Lead Vocalist for the band "Libre" Circa 1982
Edward Villalba Lead Vocal and Future Mystique Guitarist Antonio Marquez Lead Guitar for the band "Libre" Circa 1982
In 1986 along with Mystique trumpet player Robert Alvarado, Edward Started the First of 3 Mystique Bands. The first 2 bands never really took off. We would play at the Cinco de Mayo celebrations and for local parties but nothing really big.I was kind of shocked when the current Mystique band took off because we weren't doing anything different than the last 2 bands but as the saying goes....the third time's the charm. I guess we were just at the right place at the right time.------------------------------------------------------- ----- Edwards musical journey has afforded him to share the stage with many of the Music Worlds top musicians and bands including Mary Wells, War, Tierra ,El Chicano, Raul Rekow, Karl Perrazo, Armando Perraza, Mingo Lewis, Mic Gillete, Steve Salas, Marcos Reyes, Poncho Sanchez, El Chicano, Malo, Sapo, Lowell Fulsom, Jorge Santana, Juan Escovedo and of course Pete Escovedo who's Band Azteca was the model that Edward formed Mystique from. One of the persons that Edward has had the opportunity in playing with is Mr. Bobby Gaviola. Edward Remembers the first time he ever saw Bobby play was at the first concert he ever went to. "I was in the Eighth Grade and I won 2 tickets from KLIV Radio to see SAPO live in concert at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. The band was so awesome and I remember how proud I was that they were Latino musicians performing there own type of Latino music. I never dreamed in a million years that one day I would play with any of those musicians let alone have one of them be a member in my band." Another musician on stage that day with SAPO was Mr. Raul Rekow who would later join the band SANTANA, and would also perform with Mystique on a few occasions. ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- Edward has also had the opportunity to meet and rub shoulders with Many of Hollywood's top actors and actresses. In the early 80's Edward's Father, Blocker Villalba was an actor in a few Mexican Movies and he Joined "Nosotros", An organization started by Ricardo Montalban to further the careers of Latino artists in the entertainment industry. In 1989 Nosotros President Jerry Velasco heard that Edward was an entertainer and asked him to join also. Many of Hollywood's top Entertainers, Producers, and Directors have been given the Mystique CD by Edward personally, and many have even come to see Mystique perform live.------------------------------------------------------- ---- On November 25, 1978, Edward was voted "Young Man of the Year" by the Latino Community of Santa Clara County for his contributions to the Spanish speaking community and he received a plaque at the San Jose Convention Center from then San Jose Mayor - The Honorable Janet Gray Hayes and The Honorable Councul De Mexico - Sr. Fernando Botello Lozano. Edward's band "Mystique" would also be honored in 2000 with a nomination by the San Francisco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as "Hispanic Contributor of the Year" and on September 13, 2003 Mystique received an Accommodation from The City of San Jose Ca. for their many performances and contributions to the Hispanic community throughout California and in recognition of being the First Latino band to ever do a halftime show in the history of the NFL.-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Council Woman/Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez reads Commendation to be awarded to Edward Villalba and Mystique
California State Assembly man Simon Salinas Awards Commendation to Edward Villalba
Edward shows off Comendation Award
Commendation Awarded to Edward Villalba and Mystique from the City of San Jose Ca.
Mystique performed on the feild with all 50 Raiderettes At the Oakland Raider/Arizona Crdinal game at The Network Associates Coliseum in front of 65,000 fans on December 2, 2001. "I have always believed in giving back to the community and I have been blessed by having band members that are very understanding to the needs of our community. I am Very Proud that my band, "Mystique," has given a $1,000.00 Scholarship to a deserving Latino student for the last 2 years." Edward hopes that other musical groups will take his lead and also award scholarships because, "Our youths are our future and we have to make sure that they are prepared and well educated when they enter the job market because we need more positive role models in the Latino community" ----------------------------------------------------Many of the songs that Mystique plays are songs, that as a youth, Edward used to blast on his car stereo while cruising King and Story Rd in San Jose with his Car Club "Low Conspiracy." "We used to wash and wax our cars, cruise all night long and then watch the sun come up in the Jack in the Box parking lot. Then we would go home, sleep a few hours, wash the car again and then go out cruising again. I have a lot of fond memories of that time in my life and I get D?j? Vu sometimes when I am playing some of those songs." Edward was one of the founding members of the "Low Conspiracy" Car Club which grew to 60+ members and was one of the largest Lowrider Car Clubs in San Jose, Ca in the early 80's. ---------------------------------------------------------- Edward Age 21 with His 1974 Caprice Classic- Low Conspiracy Car Club- San Jose Ca. Circa 1982
Edward is President of Villalba Records and is Curently seeking out young talent that he can produce and mold into succesfull Recording Artists. He is currently writing new material and has collaborated with Keyboardist/Songwriter Ken Tadeo, and Vocalist/Songwriter Marshon Barr, and Keyboardist/Song writer Zach Bonilla in writing new songs for the next Mystique CD. He will also soon record a solo CD with himself on vocals and including many other guest musicians he has had the pleasure of performing with over the years. Edward says "All our success is because of the Mystique fans. It's because of you, always showing up to our performances, always being there to cheer us on and push us to new heights that we are succeeding in our quest . Without all of you we would still be playing in the garage. I feel that God has blessed me and given me the opportunity to entertain all of you with my vision and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for welcoming us into your lives and always being there to support us in our journey. You have made my dream come true, and to me, you are truly like family
