K1 is the new sensation in Latin music, fusing rhythms and cultures
in their music as much as in their look and their performances.
Originally from Texas and Illinois, the band has the boy-next-door
appeal and a powerful musical formula that mixes hip-hop, R&B,
rap, vallenato and salsa transcends the usual thump-thump of
pop songs to deliver what must be the new sound of American mainstream
music, Latin rhythms included.
K1 (abbreviation for Kings One) is a new name for a group of
young and passionate performers who had their first taste of
fame and popularity as members of million-selling, award winning
Kumbia Kings. K1's following throughout the United States remains
constant, with packed performances, incessant screams from the
young fans and the mass hysteria reserved for true musical phenomenons,
as was the case during their recent autograph sessions and performances
in Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.
Their sizzling hot single "A QUE TE PONGO" (I bet
you I'll make you) follows a flowing pattern throughout the US,
Mexico and Puerto Rico, oblivious to national borders and language,
behaving like a spontaneous international hit. The album, released
February 10, 2004, shows great acceptance at retail, with fans
briskly snapping it up. "NUESTRO TURNO" includes twelve
original songs penned by members of K1.
The rhythms go from the party-essentials "A Que te Pongo," "Tu" (You),
and "Lero Lero" to the beautifully crafted "No
Me Digas" (Don't Tell Me) written by Frankie J, who also
co-authored "Amor, Familia y Respeto" (Love, Family
and Respect), song that features Rap royalty Fat Joe. Other guest
artists include Daddy Yankee in the Reggaeton version of "A
Que te Pongo," as well as hard-driving cutting-edge DJ's
DJ Nelson and Luny Tunes.
For Alexandro "Alex" Ramirez, keyboard player for
K1, the name of the band "signifies unity for all of us.
I thought the name would be appropriate because in our older
band we didn't experience unity." Alex spent six years with
Kumbia Kings and it was there that he learned " a lot about
the business side of music."
Like Alex, the members of K1 share credits as authors of the
songs, thus alleviating the "personality-cult" that
pervaded their last band. Andrew Maes is the lead singer. He
states that being the lead singer doesn't make him the leader
of the group-"We are a group, and we are all equally important
to the musical formula, Slim on percussions is essential. "We
belong to the people" continues Andrew "we all live
through hard times and it is there that we must have faith and
move forward with more strength than ever. And that really happened
to us… it was a hard year, but the hard times made us
grow. The doors opened for us at OLE Music with Oscar Llord,
in whom we find support, incredible experience and the direction
we need to forge a great career. Our message is, no matter what
happens, if somethings comes from your heart, nothing can hold
you back."
Isaí Piñón, is also a lead singer, co-producer
and keyboard player, and is 22 years old. At age 13 he was already
playing keyboards with the Mexican band Mojado (Wet). The K1
star roster includes Frankie Aranda, Adolfo García, Aaron
Vasquez, Alfonso Herrera and J.B., for a total of 10 members.
Andrew was born in Hereford, Texas and is 21 years old. Alex
and his brother Slim (Roy Ramírez) were born in Aurora,
Illinois. Slim states-"They call me Slim, I play percussion,
do back up vocals and sometimes lead vocals. My uncle Tony Guerrero
is one of our biggest influences. He was the lead singer of one
of the seminal and most important bands in Tejano music, La Sombra." Other
groups that influence the music and performance of K1 include
Pedro Fernandez, Tupac, Santana, Tim McGraw and Control Machete.
