BORDER BOOK FESTIVAL
FEATURED WRITER AND ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

FRONTERA BUGALÚ

FRONTERA BUGALÚ highlights the roots of Latin music, as well as composers from the El Paso and the borderland areas who have had a tremendous influence on modern Latin music.

Frontera Bugalú performs special arrangements of songs composed by historical figures such as Pérez Prado, Fito Olivarez, Rigo Tovar as well as little known composers from El Paso’s past, such as Don Tostis.

The music is re-arranged and interpreted through accordion, trumpet, and clarinet, complimented by a heavy percussion section that includes the drum set, tumbadora, conga, guiro, and timbales. Exploring some of the basic foundations of Latin music, including cumbia, mambo, son, salsa, merengue, and even ranchera,  Frontera Bugalú mixes together anything you could hear in the borderland from the 30s and on.

The project is complemented by native El Paso musicians who all hail from local projects and orchestras, creating and exciting mix of sound, harmony, and contagious Latin beats. In addition, the group has already begun performing originals that are arranged in the same style. The group has been performing since the summer of 2010.  Members of the group include Kiko Rodríguez— Accordionist/Vocals; Amalia Castro— Vocal/Clarinet/Trumpet; Michael Nelson—Percussion; Ramón Villa— Bass; Jesús Guereca— Conga/Percussion/Vocals; and Joel Osvaldo—Piano.