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(20.10.04 - Arild Rønes)
"The King of Tex-Mex Rock & Roll gjør tre (+ muligens to til) konserter i Norge i
november. I den forbindelse er denne pressemeldingen sendt ut:

>Joe King
>Texas native Joe "King" Carrasco has devoted his career to re-creating the
>Tex-Mex, Farfisa organ rock & roll sound of such '60s groups as the Sir
>Douglas Quintet and Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs. After playing in a
>succession of bands around Texas in the late '60s and early '70s, Carrasco
>founded his band El Molino in 1976 and recorded Tex-Mex Rock-Roll in 1978.
>(The album was reissued by ROIR in 1989.) By 1979 he had formed the Crowns
>and was calling his music "nuevo wavo," playing especially in New York,
>where he appeared on stage in a cape and crown. He was signed to the U.K.
>Stiff label and Joe Boyd's Hannibal label in the U.S., and released Joe
>"King" Carrasco and the Crowns in 1980. By 1982 he had moved up to major
>label MCA for Synapse Gap, followed by Party Weekend (1983). These missed
>the charts, however, and although Carrasco has recorded since, turning
>increasingly political meanwhile, his work has been harder to find. Bandido
>Rock (1987) on Rounder was credited to Joe "King" Carrasco Y Las Coronas. ~
>William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
>
>Since the early 1980's "Joe King Carrasco" has been the toast of Texas as
>the crown regent of the "nuevo wavo" crowd. In 1978 he released an LP
>titled Tex-Mex Rock & Roll with his band El Molino. Somehow this record
>made its way to England and was re-released by Big Beat Records. Elvis
>Costello remarked in the press that it was "better than the Police".
>In 1980 Joe and his new band, The Crowns, released their first single,
>Party Weekend, and the label chase began.The band became one of the first
>American groups signed to England's legendary Stiff Records. During this
>time Joe toured extensively throughout Europe, Central America, Bolivia and
>Columbia as well as across the USA and Canada, consistently delivering high
>energy performances where dancing was numero uno priority.
>
>Rounding out his assault on the International music scene with an in-depth
>interview in Rolling Stone Magazine and an appearance performing his music
>on Saturday Night Live. His song Party Weekend which is still known as the
>quintessential party anthem, was re-released by MTV as Party Christmas,
>making Joe King Carrasco a household name to MTV viewers across the
>country.
>
>Even with all this going on Joe knew he was ready to take his music to a
>new level. It was on the Stiff Records, Sons of Stiff Tour, while traveling
>with a British-born Jamaican band called The Equators, that Joe picked up
>much of his reggae influence. After returning from a very successfull year
>on the road, he put this experience to work and recorded the reggae
>flavored song "Don't Let a Woman (Make a Fool Out of You)" on his album
>Synapse Gap for MCA Records where he had the King of pop, Michael Jackson,
>singing background harmonies.
>
>Joe's music is enhanced with an even greater Latin influence after living
>and studying in Nicaragua in the mid 1980's. His songs dealt with the
>unjust political situation of that period in Central America, and the
>resulting albums were; "Bordertown", "Bandido Rock" (off of which the song
>"Pachucco Hop" was recorded by the French group Mano Negra on thier first
>platinum selling CD), "Royal Loyal & Live" (with the only live recording of
>Party Weekend), and his latest "Dia De Los Muertos".
>
>Several years ago, His Majesty took a few left turns at Nogales and wound
>up playing with his band at a bar called Pancho y Lefty's in San Miguel de
>Allende, Mexico. There, the Tex-Mex fell into a slow cool cumbia/reggae
>groove. This style seemed to be the musical answer to what Joe had been
>searching for from the Mayan pyramids to the shores of Lake Titicaca. This
>mystical conbination of Latino and Caribbean, with a little bit of Sam The
>Sham thrown in for a spicy flavor, has evolved into a style Joe has termed
>"tequila reggae".
>
>In 1995 MCA Records released a compilation CD set of Joe's music, though
>this set merely scratches the surface of this seasoned songwriter's
>catalogue. In early 1996 joes' song Tell Me was recorded by The Texas
>Tornados, and sung by Freddy Fender, on their latest CD. He also plays
>guitar on the song A Little Bit is Better than Nada in Kevin Costners new
>movie The Tin Cup.
>In 1999 Joe released his album Hot Sun which has receieved lots of air play
>and promises to be a must have for cellectors of Joe King's music. Four of
>the thirteen songs on this CD were placed in the soundtrack for the movie
>Borderland . Several more from this recording session are being looked at
>and are expected to be placed in other movie soundtracks in the year 2000.
>Hot Sun also marks the first project co-produced by Joe and his long time
>live audio engineer and office manager Bruce Warren.
>
>For many years, Joe has donated his time and music to make P.S.A.'s for the
>Tx. Parks & Wildlife Dept., helping to spread the word about keeping our
>beaches clean. In 1978 Joe's father was killed by a drunk driver. So he
>welcomed the opportunity to work with and support Tx.'s S.O.B.E.R. program,
>educating people about the pitfalls of driving while intoxicated.
>
>With thousands of live performances under his belt, a dozen albums to his
>credit, and fans circling the globe, it's little wonder Joe King Carrasco
>is still the #1 party act in music circles around the country.
>
>
>
>Discography
>
>Joe King's music has been released on three continents to date. His catalog
>holds a diverse array of musical styles all of which is available for
>purchase on CD in the JKC Mercado.
>Joe King Carrasco & El Molino - released in 1978 by Lisa Records. Songs
>include- Jalapeno con Big Red , Mezcal Road , Black Cloud , Tell Me , I'm A
>Fool To Care , Rock Esta Noche , Funky Butt , Every Woman , Please Mr.
>Sandman , Just a Mile Away. The musicians are - Ike Ritter(lead guitar) ,
>Augie Meyers & Arturo "sauce" Gonzalez(keyboards) , Speedy Sparks (bass
>guitar) , Eracleo Morales & Louie Bustos (tenor saxophone) , Ernie Durawa &
>Richard Elizondo (drums), Charlie MacBurney (trumpet), David Mercer
>(farfisa), Al Castro (Marimbas), Jerry Silvas & Frank Rodarte (sax harmony
>on Mezcal Road), and Joe King Carrasco(guitars and vocals).
>
>Tales of the Crypt - was recorded in New York City NY and released in 1979
>by Rior Records. Songs include: Buena, Caca de Vaca, Tears Been Falling,
>Morning Coffee, Wild 14, One More Time, Sweet Little Rock N Roller, That's
>the Love, Let's Get Pretty, Betty's World, Federales, Monkey Got My Frisbee
>The musicians are - Kris Cummings (keyboards),Brad Kizer (bass guitar),
>Mike Navarro (drums), and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Party Safari - released in 1981 by Hannibal Records. Songs include - Bad
>Rap , Gin Baby Gin , That's the Love , Ta U La Ou Va. The musicians are -
>Kris Cummings (keyboards), Brad Kizer (bass guitar), Mike Navarro (drums),
>and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Joe King Carrasco & The Crowns - released in 1981 by Hannibal Records
>(USA). Songs include - Houston El Mover , Gimme Sody,Jody, Buena , Betty's
>World , I Get My Kicks on You , One More Time , Don't Bug Me Baby ,
>Nervoused Out , Caca de Vaca , , Party Doll , Federales , Let's Get Pretty.
>The musicians are - Kris Cummings (keyboards), Brad Kizer (bass guitar),
>Mike Navarro (drums), and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Joe King Carrasco & The Crowns - released in 1981 by Stiff Records
>(Europe). Songs include -Buena , Betty's World , I Get My Kicks on You ,
>One More Time , Don't Bug Me Baby , Nervoused Out , Caca de Vaca , Susan
>Friendly , Party Doll , Federales/Wild 14 , Let's Get Pretty. The musicians
>are - Kris Cummings (keyboards), Brad Kizer (bass guitar), Mike Navarro
>(drums), and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Synapse Gap - released in 1982 by MCA Records. Songs include - Imitations
>Class , Person - Person , Don't Let a Woman , Where We At , Senor Lover ,
>Wanna Get That Feel , Bad Rap , Front Me Some Love , Rip It Up-Shake It Up
>, That's The Love , Man Overboard.The musicians are - Kris Cummings
>(keyboards), Brad Kizer (bass guitar), Dick Ross (drums), Joe King Carrasco
>(guitars and vocals) and courtesy of Epic Records - Michael Jackson
>(harmonies).
>
>Party Weekend - released in 1983 by MCA Records. Songs include - Let's Go ,
>Dance Republic , Kantina , Get Off , Buena , Tears Been A-Falling , Party
>Weekend , Let's Go Nutz , Lupe , Perfect Spot , Burnin' It Down , Gracias.
>The musicians are - Kris Cummings(keyboards), Brad Kizer (bass guitar),
>Dick Ross (drums), and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Bordertown - released in 1985 by Big Beat Records (USA). Songs include -
>Escondido, Hola Coca Cola , Who Buy The Guns , Are You Amigo , Put Me in
>Jail Mr. Bogota , Walk It Like You Talk It , Current Events , Cucaracha
>Taco , Baby Let's Go To Mexico , Vamos A Bailar , Tamale Baby.The musicians
>are - Kris Cummings(keyboards),George Reiff (bass guitar), Dick
>Ross(drums), and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Bordertown - release in 1985 by New Rose Records (Europe). The songs
>include - Manana , Yabba Ding Ding , Dinero , Escondido , Hola Coca Cola ,
>Who Buy The Guns , Put Me in Jail , Mr. Bogota , Walk It Like You Talk It ,
>Current Events , Vamos A Bailar , Tamale Baby. The musicians are - Kris
>Cummings(keyboards), George Reiff(bass guitar), Dick Ross(drums), and Joe
>King Carrasco(guitars and vocals).
>
>Bandido Rock - released in 1987 by Rior Records. Songs include - Juarez and
>Zapata , Pachuco Hop , Bandido Rock , Arriba Sandino , Hey Gringo "No
>Pasaran" , Banana , Chicano Town , Dame Tu Nook Nook , Kry Tuff , Fuera
>Yanqui. The musicians are - Bobby Balderama (lead guitar),Marcilo Gauna
>(accordion,harmonies,bajo sexto), George Reiff(bass guitar,harmonies), Dick
>Ross(drums) and Joe King Carrasco(guitars and vocals).
>
>Royal Loyal & Live - released in 1990 by Royal Texacali Records. Songs
>include - Hey Joe , 96 Tears , Do It Up , Breakdown The Border , Baby Let's
>Go To Mexico , Don't Push Your Suerte , Manan , Sweetness is My Weakness ,
>Parti Weekend , No Problema , Having A Ball , Salsa Perfecto , Don't Let
>Woman. The musicians are - Marcelo Guana (keyboards, accordion,), Robert
>Ramos(bass guitar,harmonies), Tom Cruz (lead guitar,harmonies), Javier
>Zenteno (drums,harmonies) and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Dia De Los Muertos - released in 1993 by Royal Texacali Records. Songs
>include- Chihuahua , Vi Va Vi Va Va Va Voom , Knockin' on Heaven's Door ,
>El Arroyo , Last Call For Love , One Love Beat of My Heart , Vera Cruz,
>Tocame , Break Down The Border , Care To Explain , Easy Goin' , Pacha Mama
>, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. The musicians are - John DiGrazia
>(lead guitar,harmonies), Ian Brooks (drums), Tony Puenta (percussion),
>William Longoria (bass guitar) and Joe King Carrasco (guitars and vocals).
>
>Anthology - released in 1995 by MCA records. This is a compilation CD set
>including all songs from Synapse Gap and Party Weekend.
>
>
>Hot Sun - released in 1999 by Anaconda records. Songs include - Hot Sun, Ca
>Ru Cu Pa, Hasta Manana, Cool Casa Rockin', Take With One Hand, Yo Soy Tuyo,
>There is a Rain Forest, Donna do You Wanna, On Top of a Teardrop,
>Karmalita, Adios Amor, Coco Bongo, Puesta Del Sol, Good Thing. The
>musicians are - Chuggy Hernandez (bass guitar, harmonies), Tommy Proctor
>(guitar, keyboards, harmonies), Tony Puenta (congas,bongos, percussion,
>harmonies), Vince Mejia (drums) and Joe King Carrasco (guitars, vocals).