by GECU

We met with Sangre Gitana’s guitarist and vocalist Frank Hernandez to talk about their story, the influence of international artists, and the inspiration they find in their homes and in our Sun City, El Paso, Texas.

Sangre Gitana is an original rumba flamenco band based out of El Paso, “in the crossroads of a musical melting pot,” as the band says. The band consists of Frank, Charlie Escobedo and Hugo Gonzalez on guitars and vocals, Riccardo Hernandez on drums and percussion, and Ray Hernandez as the band’s bassist.

The band’s unique musical style, infused with the liveliness of Spanish soul and the passion of flamenco, started as an idea from local musicians and artists in 1997.

EL PASO BORN AND RAISED

All of the band members were born and raised in El Paso and four of them are actually Bowie High School graduates where they studied music under the guidance of the late, great Ricardo Barragan, beloved founder of the Bowie Mariachi. “That’s where our love and passion for music started,” said Frank. “A few of us joined the Bowie Mariachi and a youth summer program that teaches guitar to young people.”

Guitar Smarts – Youth Alliance

The instructors of the summer program were the well-known cultural activist and author David Dorado Romo, renowned visual artist Cesar Ivan, and famous classical and flamenco guitarist Stefan Schyga. David Romo and Cesar Ivan were part of a local group known as Fronteras No Mas and used to take Frank and the rest of the band to their own gigs, where they always encouraged them to get on stage and play their music.

“We played a couple of songs, and people liked us! We loved performing on the stage, so we thought, “Why don’t we keep this going? We were a bunch of friends that became a family.”
– Frank, Sangre Gitana

These local legends provided a way for the young and talented to express their artistic gifts. They saw the potential in the band and introduced Frank and his friends to the music of the Gypsy Kings.

GYPSY KINGS AND SANGRE GITANA

“Back then, we were known as ‘the group of students that want to play’ but we knew that had to change,” remembers Frank. “We went through a couple of names and they worked for a while. It wasn’t until the Gypsy Kings came into town that we became what we are now.”

Everything changed for the band when a good friend, who used to work at the lobby of the Camino Real hotel downtown, tipped them that the Gypsy Kings were going to be in town for their U.S. tour in 2000.

“Our band is pretty much inspired by their sound, so we woke up at 5 a.m. and went to the hotel. We were waiting for them when we saw Nicolas Reyes, the Gypsy Kings lead singer, walk by. He saw us with our guitars, sat down, and we just started talking.”
– Frank, Sangre Gitana

The band members were talking to Nicolas about their music, their inspirations, and the band’s names through the past three years when Reyes said, “You shall be known as Sangre Gitana. You are now a part of our families.”

Gypsy Kings and Sangre Gitana at the Camino Real Hotel in El Paso

The band immediately fell in love with the name, and the fact that it came from Reyes himself meant a lot.

“It’s a great honor. We’ve kept the name ever since because it’s more than just the band’s name. It became our inspiration to keep doing the music that we cherish and love to perform.”
– Frank, Sangre Gitana

Gypsy Kings and Sangre Gitana

FINDING INSPIRATION AT HOME

When he first started playing, Frank wanted to prove to himself that he could play original songs that had not been heard before in El Paso.

“El Paso is a really great city with a lot to offer. I wanted to be part of that whole lot more to offer, to be part of the originality that comes from El Paso.”
– Frank Hernandez, Sangre Gitana

Frank married his high school sweetheart and they have been together since 1997. He told us that as time passed, the band matured and so did their inspiration. “My wife has always been so supportive of me and encourages me to keep going,” said Frank. “I have two daughters now and both of them really enjoy our music.”

“I’m truly happy when I get home, pick up my guitar and start playing. When I see my daughters’ eyes light up with the music, and dancing or singing along, that is where I find the meaning of it all … This is what I really love doing.”
– Frank, Sangre Gitana

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION

Sangre Gitana is truly passionate about the music they create. They may be inspired by the Gypsy Kings musical style, but they took that style to new levels while influenced by El Paso’s culture.

“We want to be able to say, ‘Hey come to El Paso, we have country, gruperas, mariachi, norteñas, jazz, all types of music … and we also got rumba flamenco. In the end, the important thing is to follow your dreams. If you have the music in you, if you feel really passionate about what you do, people are going to notice it and they are going to like it. You don’t want to be wondering after the years have passed ‘What if I had done that or the other.’ Don’t let those what if’s haunt you, don’t be afraid of putting yourself out there, you will be recognized.”

– Frank Hernandez, Sangre Gitana

Make sure to catch Sangre Gitana for an evening of rumba and flamenco this Sunday.