Meet the members of Trio los Guapos (the Handsome Trio), a guitar group in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The group consists of Tom (Tomas) Ruiz, the lead guitarist and vocalist; Eric Garcia, who plays bass guitar; and Joseph (Joe) Alvarez, who plays rhythm guitar. Antonio Porlan, who also played and sang with the group, recently returned to his homeland of Spain with his wife and two children.
Tom began the group after leaving another guitar group some years ago. He is originally from Chicago, IL, where his family still lives. After moving to the Las Cruces area, Tom was a member of a mariachi group Mariachi Primavera, where he played (what else?) the guitar and sang. After leaving the mariachi group, he formed Trio los Bohemios with two friends. Tom is employed by the State of New Mexico Environment Department; he is also an instructor in the College of Health and Social Services.
Eric, from Deming, NM, also plays in a rock band and works at New Mexico State University, for the Office of Facilities and Services. Before coming to Las Cruces, Eric joined the Luera Band. He was a founding member of Soulstice, which has now disbanded. He is engaged and the father of two young children.
Joe, born at Fort Benning, Georgia, is a senior at New Mexico State University. He is majoring in mechanical engineering and is a member of the New Mexico National Guard. Upon graduation in the spring of 2009, he will be commissioned into the U.S. Army and will complete his military commitment. Joe began his musical career in Espanola, NM, playing trumpet in his middle school band. He transferred to Picacho Middle School and became a member of that school's band. Upon moving to Las Cruces High School, he joined Mariachi Diamante de Las Cruces High School and Mariachi Espuelas de Plata (Mariachi Silver Spurs) at the Court Youth Center. Joe remained a member of Espuelas de Plata until his freshman year of college. He also took up guitar after seeing his mother play the guitar in church.
Trio los Guapos just recently cut and released their first CD, "Una Vez Nada Mas" (One Time, No More). Several cuts on the CD feature Antonio Porlan singing and playing, as well as Joe's guitar solos.
Many of the songs on their CD are popular old Latin standards, such as Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much), Solamente Una Vez (Only One More Time), Si nos Dejan (If You Don't Let Us), Mexico Lindo (Beautiful Mexico) and La Bamba. Most of these are love songs, such as Besame Mucho and Solamente Una Vez. I'm sure you remember La Bamba from the Ritchie Valens story.
On most Friday nights, the group plays at a local Mexican restaurant, Chilito's on Foothills. (Unless the group is otherwise engaged, they are usually able to play and meet with their fans.) Trio los Guapos has gained a large enough following that they are hired frequently for gigs such as business meetings, engagement or birthday parties, Masses, weddings or funerals. The group has become so popular that they are requested for engagements outside of Las Cruces; people wanting to hire the group have begun to call Joe's mother when they can't get in touch with Tom.
Obviously, these young men share a love of music, and more specifically, a love of playing the guitar. I know from seeing Joe pick up his trumpet and guitar, that he has found a lifelong love of music which has enriched his young life immensely. Antonio, Tom and Eric have experienced a very similar benefit from having music in their lives as well.
If you ever decide to visit southern New Mexico, include Las Cruces and Mesilla in your itinerary. You will find this part of the state, and indeed, the country, steeped in the Mexican culture, with its art, music and food. Mesilla is often host to mariachi performances, as well as live performances of other musical styles. Las Cruces has several restaurants with live entertainment such as Trio los Guapos. If you do nothing else, plan to listen to Trio los Guapos as they weave a musical spell, then meet these three wonderful young men.
