Tierra (group)

Tierra is an American Latin R&B band, originally from Los Angeles, California, United States, that was first established in 1972 by former El Chicano members Rudy Salas (guitar) and his brother Steve Salas (vocals). The other original members were Bobby Loya, Bobby Navarrete ( reeds), Joey Guerra (keyboards), Steve Falomir (bass guitar), Philip Madayag (drums), and Andre Baeza (percussion). Their biggest hit was the 1980 remake of The Intruders' 1967 hit "Together", written by Gamble & Huff, which reached No. 18 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and No. 9 on the US ''Billboard'' R&B chart. It was a number one record on Los Angeles radio.

Background

Tierra has the distinction of being the first Latino band to have four songs on the national chart, with two of them in the Top 100 at the same time.

In 1972, Rudy and Steve Salas formed Tierra and their self-titled debut album was recorded. By the mid-1970s the band consisted of the Salas brothers, Rudy Villa on reeds, Kenny Román on drums and Latin-percussion, Conrad Lozano on bass, Aaron Ballesteros on drums and vocals, Alfred Rubalcava on bass and Leon Bisquera on keyboards. Around that time they recorded the album ''Stranded'' for the Salsoul records label.

In 1980, they had a platinum hit with "Together", a remake of the 1967 song by The Intruders. The song, written by Gamble & Huff, reached No. 18 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, No. 23 on the US ''Cash Box'' Top 100 and No. 30 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. I'm 1981, they charted with "Memories" and " La-La Means I Love You", both failing to reach the Top 40.

In 1981, in an interview with the ''Los Angeles Times'' Rudy Salas was quoted as saying "Sometimes I couldn't feed my family, I'm going out to get a legitimate job." At those bleak moments, his then wife Martha Salas would intervene. "She would talk me out of it," Salas said. "She knows how I love music. She would tell me, 'No way you're gonna quit, you'd just take it out on me and the kids and we'd all be miserable.' She was right".

In 1995, they released their ''A New Beginning'' album.

Around 1997, younger brother Steve supposedly quit the band after disputes over leadership of the band, money and management. In an interview he claimed that he was fired by his brother Rudy. He formed his own band and for a period of time there were two bands bearing the name Tierra. The Tierra band led by Steve Salas was booked for three nights at the Conga Room. This led to the club's booking manager Robert Vargas getting into negotiations and mediating between the two brothers, with a plan to have a band consisting of the two brothers and as many members as possible from their successful years in the early 1980s. An argument developed over the line up, and Steve Salas backed out two weeks before the concert was to take place. He then apologized, and in January 2002, they were booked to play the Conga Room.

Recent years

Their album ''On Solid Ground'' was released in 2013. They appeared on Kid Frost's 2001 CD, '' Still Up in This Shit!'', performing a new version of The Notations' "I'm Still Here".

Band member Isaac Avila died at age 49 of a brain hemorrhage on August 30, 2009. Johnny "The Stick" Valenzuela died some time between 2010 and 2013. Bassist Steve Falomir died due to a stroke on January 21, 2012 in Los Angeles. Rudy Salas died from COVID-19 on December 29, 2020, at age 71. Steve Salas died on February 10, 2022, at age 69, after a two-year battle with myeloma, also contracting COVID-19 .

The Salas family has been embroiled in a legal battle for their inheritance rights to the band's trademark. The ownership of Tierra, the Tierra band, and its intellectual property rights have become the subject of litigation in the Los Angeles Superior Court (Case No. 21 STCV 25207). The lawsuit was initiated by the Salas family against Joanna Salas, Rudy's second wife at the time of his demise.

Associated acts

Tierra Legacy, run by David Salas, son of Rudy Salas' and nephew of Steve Salas. Also includes Rudy and Steve's brother Richard JP Hurtado & Jonathan Lacayo are the lead singers .

DW3 aka Down With Three, that consists of (former lead singer of Tierra), Damon Montelongo, and Eric Mondragon.

Band members

1973 Lineup

* Rudy Salas - Co-founder, band leader, guitar
* Steve Salas - Co-founder, co-leader, vocals
* Rudy Villa - saxophone, flute
* David Torres - keyboards, trumpet, flute
* Kenny Roman - drums
* Conrad Lozano - Bass

1981 lineup

* Rudy Salas - Leader & Co-Founder, Guitar & vocals
* Steve Salas - Co-Leader & Co-Founder, Lead Singer, Trombone, Timbales
* Andre Baeza - congas, percussion
* Joey Guerra - keyboards, backing vocals
* Steve Falomir - bass
* Philip Madayag - drums
* Bobby Navarrete - sax, reeds, backing vocals
* Trumpet – Bobby Loya
* Steve Salas - lead singer

Other Past Members

* Isaac Campos Avila - lead vocals, guitar
* Mike Jimenez - lead vocals
* Billy Mondragon - lead vocals
* Tino Melendez
* Conrad Lozano - bass
* David Torres - keyboardsLowrider website January 1, 201
Lifestyle / Entertainment, Tierra of East Los Angeles ''by Steve Gonzales and Mike Landers''
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* Aaron Ballesteros - drums
* Johnny "The Stick" Valenzuela - percussion
* Danny Santillan - drums
* Leon Bisquera - keyboards
* Christopher Trujillo - drums
* Joey Navarro, keyboards, background vocals)
* Dale Villavicencio - percussion

Discography

References

External links

Official website
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tierra (group)
1973 establishments in California
American musicians of Mexican descent
American rhythm and blues musical groups
Musical groups established in 1973
Chicano rock musicians
Musical groups from Los Angeles
Rock music groups from California