Cleveland isn't exactly known as a hotbed for Latin music, but Grupo Fuego -- aka the Fire Group -- is trying to change that.
Since 1999, Grupo Fuego has played its energetic, powerfully rhythmic blend of Latin styles at festivals and clubs throughout the Midwest, as well as in assorted East Coast cities.
"We've been doing it a long time," said Julio Rodriguez, the group's band leader and keyboard player. "It's a hard experience, especially in the Midwest. It's harder to find gigs. It would be a different situation if we were living in Miami or Los Angeles or New York City, where Latin music is big and there are a lot of Latin music venues. And it's easier in those places to market a band.
"Being a Latin band in Cleveland is a little bit harder. But I'm trying."
Depending on the gig, the group can include up to 14 players. Rodriguez said seven musicians or so will likely play at Grupo Fuego's Erie show on Saturday at the Metropolitan Dance Club.
With the word "dance" in the venue's name, expect Grupo Fuego to do its part.
"We want to be melodic and we want to make the people dance and have fun. That's our goal," Rodriguez said. "We pretty much cover the whole tropical music genre. But of all the styles, we play merengue the most. But we also play salsa and bachata."
The group showcases those styles -- along with reggaeton and several ballads -- on its 2007 album "The Element," recorded by Grammy-winning producer Freddie Mendez in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez's home territory.
"We were trying to get that sound of the island," Rodriguez said. "It'd be harder to find it here in the recording studio in the U.S. It's like if you want to record reggae, you'd like to work in Jamaica. It's the same principle."
The group recorded the entire CD in less than 10 days. After its release, Grupo Fuego's following expanded.
"It really opened many doors," Rodriguez said. "It kind of led us from (being) a local act to a national act to a little bit international. Our music has spread out to Europe, though we haven't played (there). But I can see where people buy our downloads."
Rodriguez grew up in Puerto Rico, then moved to Cleveland to attend college. He played with several other bands before starting Grupo Fuego.
"There were a couple of original bands, but they were more in the salsa style," he said. "It came to a point where we had the talent and we had the energy to do a completely original show. We are one of the few who are 100 percent completely original. We're real proud of our band."
Dave Richards
Erie Times
Nov 1, 2012
Since 1999, Grupo Fuego has played its energetic, powerfully rhythmic blend of Latin styles at festivals and clubs throughout the Midwest, as well as in assorted East Coast cities.
"We've been doing it a long time," said Julio Rodriguez, the group's band leader and keyboard player. "It's a hard experience, especially in the Midwest. It's harder to find gigs. It would be a different situation if we were living in Miami or Los Angeles or New York City, where Latin music is big and there are a lot of Latin music venues. And it's easier in those places to market a band.
"Being a Latin band in Cleveland is a little bit harder. But I'm trying."
Depending on the gig, the group can include up to 14 players. Rodriguez said seven musicians or so will likely play at Grupo Fuego's Erie show on Saturday at the Metropolitan Dance Club.
With the word "dance" in the venue's name, expect Grupo Fuego to do its part.
"We want to be melodic and we want to make the people dance and have fun. That's our goal," Rodriguez said. "We pretty much cover the whole tropical music genre. But of all the styles, we play merengue the most. But we also play salsa and bachata."
The group showcases those styles -- along with reggaeton and several ballads -- on its 2007 album "The Element," recorded by Grammy-winning producer Freddie Mendez in Puerto Rico, Rodriguez's home territory.
"We were trying to get that sound of the island," Rodriguez said. "It'd be harder to find it here in the recording studio in the U.S. It's like if you want to record reggae, you'd like to work in Jamaica. It's the same principle."
The group recorded the entire CD in less than 10 days. After its release, Grupo Fuego's following expanded.
"It really opened many doors," Rodriguez said. "It kind of led us from (being) a local act to a national act to a little bit international. Our music has spread out to Europe, though we haven't played (there). But I can see where people buy our downloads."
Rodriguez grew up in Puerto Rico, then moved to Cleveland to attend college. He played with several other bands before starting Grupo Fuego.
"There were a couple of original bands, but they were more in the salsa style," he said. "It came to a point where we had the talent and we had the energy to do a completely original show. We are one of the few who are 100 percent completely original. We're real proud of our band."
Dave Richards
Erie Times
Nov 1, 2012