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Sergent García
(Sargent Garcia)
One of the most popular French bands has to be the one that
was started by a musician who has a Spanish father and a French
Mother. This band is Sergent García y Los Locos del Barrio
(Sargent Garcia and Crazy Ones) who even though they haven't
been around that long are already leaving an important dent
in the music world.
The history of
the group is one that is very different and funny. This French
band began by pure coincidence and it was done by the hand
of Bruno Garcia. He was a fan of many different genres
of music and having Latin roots, he began to listen to Latin
music from all over. He especially would listen to this kind
of music on a popular French radio show called Salsamania.
In 1997, Salsamania
was celebrating their eighth anniversary and the show's director
asked listeners to send in letters, postcards, and messages
talking about the show. Bruno who was a faithful listener
decided to make a musical postcard. He was a musician that
liked to experiment with rhythms of all types. In his house
he had a home studio where he recorded the show's theme song
in a different way. People loved the song when they heard
it and they wanted more songs from these mysterious musicians.
The demand was high that Bruno had no other choice
than to record another 15 tracks. The songs were an explosion
of Latin music that included Cuban son, merengue and salsa
mixed with hip-hop, punk and reggae. It was a total fusion
that had been inspired by groups like Mano Negra, Siniestro
Total, La Polla Records and Ludwig Von 88.
The songs were
recorded at his home and an album titled ¡Que Viva el
Sargento! (Long Live the Sargent!) was made. This
of course was an indie album. He recorded this album without
having a band. He would do self-promotion at concerts, parties
and other places throughout France and Spain. One day a promoter
came to him and asked him to participate in Cuban music festival.
Bruno didn't know what to do since he had no band.
The promoter's suggestion to him was to make one. He did just
that. He got some friends together and in less than a month
Sergent García y Los Locos del Barrio had arrived!
They played all
over France and Spain where record label people finally saw
them and saw the definite potential of the band. Finally,
Virgin France decided to sign this young band. Ironically,
this was the same label that had signed another French band
with a lot of potential a few years back, Mano Negra.
Sergent Garcia made their first official presentation
in the United States in June 1999. This was at the Midem Latin
Americas conference where they were part of the SGAE
(General Society of Authors and Publishers) showcase alongside
two other artists, Los Girasoules from Spain and Julieta
Venegas from Mexico. The crowd totally loved the band
and its energy.
Finally, Sergent
Garcia's album has been released here in the U.S. by Higher
Octave World and this French band is ready to conquer
the American continent like Mano Negra once did. Un
Poquito Quema'o (A Little Burnt) has been a total success
and maybe is the most requested and programmed album on all
the Latin Rock and World Music shows in the U.S. Now people
from this side of the ocean are finding out what everyone
in Europe already knew, that Sergent Garcia is ready
to declare a musical war.
CD Currently
Being Promoted
“Un Poquito Quema'o (A Little Burnt)”
| 1.
Si Yo Llego, Yo Llego (If I Arrive, I Arrive)
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7.
Oye Mi Bomba (Listen to this Bomb) |
| 2.
Acabar Mal (Bad Finish) |
8.
Mamaye |
| 3.
Medecine Man (Medicine Man) |
9.
Amor Pa'Mi (Love for Me) |
| 4.
Camino de la Vida (Path of Life) |
10.
Que Palique |
| 5.
Hoy Me Voy (I Leave Today) |
11.
9 Vidas (9 Lives) |
| 6.
Llevalé Mi Canto |
12.
Jumpi |
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