Los Hombres C

Bill Summers of Los Hombres C

Saturday, August 23rd
5:15 pm Main Stage
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Los Hombres Calientes ”hot men” was conceived and brought to fruition in 1998 at the Summer Multi Ethnic Institute of Arts in New Orleans , LA. All of my groups have had the recurring universal theme of ethnic diversity and heat. Los Hombres Calientes is one of the stepping stones on my journey to achieve my objective.

Los Hombres Calientes is an extension of me and an original concept of what I feel a band should be. This goes back to my days with Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins and others who were my mentors and helped to establish my foundation in this business.

The world is a busy place musically. My first band, Summers Heat, encompassed a variety of musical styles. I like to say that the music bridged the gap from Africa to Hollywood , infused with the sounds and pulsations of all the indigenous people in between them.

My background dictates my actions. I was formally trained on the classical piano from the ages of 6 years old to 16 at the Detroit and Michigan Conservatory of Music. While studying at the Conservatory, I taught myself how to play the sax and flute. My knowledge of these instruments landed me my first paying gigs in and around the Detroit area. However, my true love was, and still is, drumming. I bought my first set of bongo drums at age 13 and studied the styles of Armando Peraza, Candido and Mongo Santamaria. Later, I concentrated on traditional West African drumming techniques.

For me, music is a never-ending saga of study and discovery. Now, after 50 years of musical training I look back at my legacy and find that one of my greatest assets is my ability to mentor and nurture young talent. Jason Marsalis, Maurice Brown, Pebbles, Rodney Franklin, Irvin Mayfield, Christian Sands, Larry Batiste now on the board of directors for Naras and the Grammy's and many others who just needed a little attention.

Diversity is the key. In pursuing a musical career you are told to find your nitch or genre that most appeals to your own senses. My feeling is that they all fit into my nitch. Africa, Europe, Asia, South America and any other destination in between are part and parcel of the Los hombres concept.
Diversity is the key. In pursuing a musical career you are told to find your nitch or genre that most appeals to your own senses. My feeling is that they all fit into my nitch. Africa, Europe, Asia, South America and any other destination in between are part and parcel of the Los hombres concept.

Let's mix salsa with samba, throw in a touch of Hatian Rada, Merengue, Modern Jazz, Funk, fusion and you have a bowl of musical gumbo laid over a bed beans and rice. THAT IS LOS HOMBRES C.