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Christina
Ballejo - Vocals
Christina
joined Grupo Excito in 1998 as the lead vocalist. Christina is from
Wharton, TX and is a sales representative. Her musical influences
include Little Joe, Selena, Mariah Carey, and Reba McEntire. She
developed a taste for Tejano while singing with her High School choir.
The success of other female artists in the genre inspired her to
pursue a future in music. She is joined by several relatives in
her family who are also musicians, and she is strengthening her talents
by studying to play piano and percussion. |
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Roel
Rodriguez - Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Vocals
Roel
co-founded Grupo Excito in 1991 with his father. Roel is from Wharton,
TX and works as a software developer for an automation and controls company.
His musical influences include his father, David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales,
Roberto Pulido Y Los Classicos, and George Straight. Being around musicians
as he grew up, it was no accident that he followed the call. First running
sound fro a local conjunto when he was 13, he began learning how to play
the drums, then the bass guitar. With these first steps, he has continued
to learn to play more instruments which now include the guitar, keyboard,
and accordion. Through the years, he as assumed the duties as needed for
the band, moving from sound engineer to bassist, pianist, accordionist,
and vocalist. Roel currently also serves as the recording engineer at
the Grupo Excito recording studio.
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Ray
Guajardo - Bajo Quinto
Originally
from San Benito, Ray has his roots deep in Tejano music. Ray has been
a musician since the age of 15, where he started playing with his father
with Los Sensacionales de Ray Guajardo. At the time, he played bass guitar,
and then later learned to play the drums. Ray’s musical influences
include his father, Jesse Serrata, Steve Jordan and also Big Lou. Ray
left “El Valle” in search of better opportunities near Houston.
There he joined up with Los Monarcas, where he returned to the bass guitar.
While with Los Monarcas, he recorded 4 albums and also appeared on the
Johnny Canales show. Always in search of a new challenge, Ray joined Grupo
Excito seeking to play more of the tejano music he has grown to love.
He has also contributed his skills as a songwriter, and many of those
songs are featured on our CD.
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"Wally"
Rodriguez - Bass Guitar, Vocals
Guadalupe
"Wally" Rodriguez co-founded Grupo Excito in 1992 after deciding
to make the jump from conjunto to tejano music. He started his music career
playing in the ranches of the Rio Grande Valley with a close friend. In
1957 he joined with, the then 12 year old, Oscar Hernandez as lead vocalist
in a new conjunto. In 1958, he joined Los Tres Ases de Ricardo Guzman
again as lead vocalist, then started playing the newly developed Electric
Bass Guitar developed by Fender Guitars. After a short stint with Gilberto
Garcia of Los Dos Gilbertos he joined Ernesto Guerra y El Conjunto Del
Valle under the Falcon Records label. He also performed on many recordings
as a studio musician with Falcon Records. In 1965, he joined with Mague
Casares Y Su Conjunto to form a new band under the Bego Records Label
(founded by Paulino Bernal). This new conjunto had much success in the
next few years, that took them on several national tours. In the middle
of one of the tours, Wally decided to leave Texas, and moved to Ohio.
The cold winters and long distance from family forced him back to Texas
in 1978. Settling near Houston, he joined with a local conjunto for 10
before deciding to start his own Tejano band named Grupo Excito.
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Alex
Ramirez - Accordion
Alex
is 18 years old and recently graduated from BF Terry High School. He has
loved Tejano music his whole life. He began playing the accordion at the
age of 9 and has continued to refine his skills as a musician. He plays
Gabanelli Accordians, and he currently uses an EAD, FBbEb, and GCF model
in his repertoir. His largest musical influences include Los Palominos,
The Hometown Boys, David Lee Garza, and Emilio Navaira. In his spare time,
Alex enjoys fishing, and playing pool. He is also a huge fan of the Dallas
Cowboys. Recently, Alex qualified for the Junior Nationals BCA Pool League.
His inspiration is his family, who supports him fully in all of his endeavors.
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Jorge
Hernandez - Percussion, Public Relations
Jorge,
aka Cookie, is the newest member of Grupo Excito, and has taken the role
of percussionist. His musical background is Tejano, and he grew up as
a DJ playing at local venues. His greatest talents include performing
and motivating the audience, and his love of Tejano music led him to Grupo
Excito. He has also taken on the role of public relations, and is his
new duties include handling merchandise and promotions.
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