Background:
Gabe was born and raised in the small farming town of Las Cruces,
New Mexico. Gabe spent most of his adolescent life building adobe
homes with his grandfather, brother, and cousins along the Rio
Grande River. It was during this time that he started taking a true
interest in music. Gabe remembers his grandfather dancing around the
job site with a shovel, to a combination of traditional Mexican
Rancheras and country music blaring from his cement spattered
portable radio. Since those days, he dreamed of a day when his voice
would be on the radio, and his grandfather could dance to his music.
Getting Started:
As time went on, Gabe would sing at weddings, fiestas, and family
gatherings, but was fearful that his hopes of being a true performer
were quickly passing him by. Never being one to give up, Gabe
entered the TNN television “Be a Star” contest, where he was chosen
over many contestants to be a top finalist. This was Gabe’s first
brush with success in the music world, and the fuel he needed to
launch his exciting career.
Awards and Radio Play:
After hearing Gabe on a home-recorded tape, Allen and David Frizzell
encouraged Gabe to participate in the Gibson Guitar Road to
Nashville Championships at the First Annual Lefty Frizzell Day in
Corsicana, Texas. Gabe eagerly agreed and head out for Texas to
compete against some of the nations finest. When the dust settled
and local radio and television personalities tallied up the votes,
Gabe was the clear winner! He was presented with an EJ-200 Epiphone
Guitar, recording time, and an appearance on TNN Music City Tonight
with Crook and Chase.
While in the studio, Gabe decided to record a remake of Lefty
Frizzell’s hit song, “Love you a Thousand Ways”. The twist was, that
Gabe would make it an up tempo version, with bilingual lyrics! In
order to accomplish this, Gabe brought in long-time friend and music
icon Little Richie Johnson, who produced and promoted numerous hits
with Farron Young, Willie Nelson, and George Jones. Little Richie
called in top musicians from Nashville, and blended them with
authentic mariachis from New Mexico. This unique sound sent Gabe’s
song charging up the international charts, and landed him his first
top ten hit on the Independent Country charts. As a result of his
rapid exposure and radio acceptance, Gabe was named Airplay
International Male Rising Star at the King Eagle Radio Awards in
Nashville, TN. Gabe’s music is still played regularly in Denmark,
Sweden, France, Australia, Germany and Spain. The Airplay
International Award marks the first time a Hispanic has ever won
this award.
Gabe’s next single “Moonlight, Roses and Wine” went all the way to
number one on the independent country charts, and quickly branded
Gabe’s style as “putting a little jalapeno in your coleslaw”! The
demand for copies of this single, sent Gabe into the studio to
record his current album bearing the same title as this successful
song. Little Richie has since past away, but Gabe dedicates this
album and every live appearance to Richie and his dream of taking
Gabe to the top.
Recently, Gabe was selected as the only country-act on the Hispanic
Compilation CD “The Chicano Alliance”. This CD will target the
Hispanic consumer and raise monies for the Hispanic Scholarship
Fund. Gabe will be featured with such Spanish icons as Little Joe y
La Familia, Malo, Tierra, and El Chicano.
Shows, Tours and Appearances:
Along with Gabe’s radio success in the independent world, he has
also been the opening act for some pretty well known names, such as:
Patty Loveless, Holly Dunn, Rhett Akins, Ken Mellons, Joe Diffie,
The Dixie Chicks, Baker and Myers, America, and Rick Springfield.
Gabe has also been the headline act for some pretty high exposure
promotions and shows as well. Gabe was selected by Sonic Restaurants
and Dr Pepper to be their honorary spokesperson for a program to
help students stay in school. Gabe went on tour across the states of
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, putting on concerts for high schools
with the highest overall attendance for the year. The two sponsors
provided Gabe with a tour bus, radio and television support, and a
commercial that took a Silver Medal in the Houston Film Festival.
Next Gabe was selected to be the main act at the US Olympic Torch
Ceremony held in Huntsville, AL at the US Space and Rocket Center.
The event was sponsored by Coca-Cola simulcast across the southeast,
and viewed by over 30 thousand people in the live Huntsville
audience.
Gabe was selected for both the Dr Pepper tour and the Coca-Cola
Olympic Torch Ceremony, as the result of his Hispanic heritage, and
his ability to sing in both English and Spanish.
Gabe has also headlined the Whole Enchilada Fiesta in Las Cruces,
NM, and the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. Both of these events have
been previously headlined by such names as Selena, Brooks and Dunn,
and Tejano legend Little Joe. Gabe’s October appearance there was
met with great reviews and enormous crowds.
Latin Style Magazine recently reviewed Gabe’s “Country-achi” CD,
marking the first time a country album had ever been reviewed by
this enormously popular Hispanic magazine. The album was given high
marks, and recommended to the Hispanic community.
Most recently Gabe was invited to perform along with Tony Orlando,
Andy Williams, Jimmy Osmond and Bobby Vinton at a recent Tribute to
our nation’s veterans in Branson, Mo. Tony Orlando has kind of taken
Gabe under his wing as of late, and has vowed to assist Gabe in
anyway possible.
Community Involvement:
Gabe is a Loaned Executive and volunteer for the United Way. As a
Loaned Executive, Gabe is responsible for educating and encouraging
major corporations to support both financially and in volunteer
time, the United Way Organization and its agencies. Gabe sits on
many boards for various charitable organizations, and performs
regularly at the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon on ABC, to help
raise funds for CP research. Gabe is also involved in the SAFE
Foundation, an organization focused on the communication and
education of National Missile Defense Programs, geared toward the
development of a national resolve for support of our nation’s
borders.
Other Tidbits:
Gabe recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Faulkner Christian
University in Montgomery, AL, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business
Administration. Gabe is currently pursuing his second Masters Degree
in Management of Information Systems at Florida Tech, where he holds
a 4.0 GPA. Gabe is the President of Touchzone Records, a independent
label with artist ranging from hip hop to country, and was
previously the VP for NASA Programs for BAE SYSTEMS Analytical
Solutions, a major aerospace firm that specializes in missile
defense programs, modeling and simulation, and other engineering
services.
Band:
Gabe’s band is affectionately called the Jalapeno Express. It is
comprised of mostly Hispanic musicians that grew up with Gabe in the
Southwest. The band focuses on mixing the cultures of country with
New Mexico flavors and traditions.
Film / Acting:
Last summer (2006), Gabe embarked in a separate avenue of
entertainment, as the Executive Producer of the Jordan-Walker
Pearlman Film “Constellation”, starring Billy Dee Williams,
Gabrielle Union, and Leslie Ann Warren. Gabe played a cameo roll in
the film as well, as “Astronaut Rivera”, and also supported the
soundtrack along with Backstreet Boy Howard Dorough as co-music
supervisors. The film will be distributed internationally in early
07 through CodeBalck Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox. This
summer (2007) Gabe will be reading for several parts in major films
to be produced by various independent and studio organizations.
Personal:
Gabe currently resides in Austin, TX where he performs at various
events and promotions. Gabe has headlined several summer fest events
from Corpus Christi to San Antonio. Gabe paired up with Rick Trevino
this summer, where they blended Texas and New Mexico styles at Route
66 Casino in Albuquerque. Gabe performs regularly with Grammy Winner
Ruben Ramos, Little Joe, and several other Tejano genre stars.
