La Mafia Calls it Quits

LA MAFIA'S NEWS CONFERENCE
By RAMIRO BURR Special to ONDANET SAN ANTONIO(Dec. 3) -- La Mafia, one of the hottest Tejano outfits in the '90s, formally announced its retirement in a news conference today in Houston. In a prepared statement, bandmembers noted that while an eventual reunion is possible, it's last concerts will be the ones the band is committed to, in its remaining scheduled bookings for 1999. Lead singer Oscar De La Rosa said part of the breakup was in part because bandmembers were tired of touring constantly and they reached a point in their careers where they are ready to explore different interests. In the band's 20-year career, they have won two Grammys in the Mexican/Tejano category and recorded several top-selling Latin/Tejano albums. La Mafia was founded in 1978 in Houston when older brother Henry Gonzales Jr. helped his teenage brothers Oscar and Leonard form first Los Mirasoles. Through Gonzales' guidance, the fledgling outfit evolved on a series of albums on independent labels. But it was on the powerful independent label Cara Records, owned by industry veteran Robert Grever, that La Mafia emerged in the late '80s as a powerhouse along with labelmates Mazz. La Mafia then began a metamorphosis towards a keyboard-driven/pop ballad group in the early '90s on the Sony Discos label. That period saw la Mafia's best-selling CDs including "Estas Tocando Fuego," and "Ahora y Siempre." Henry Gonzalez left the group in 1993 and in 1996 Oscar changed his last name to De La Rosa. At the time Oscar told the Houston Chronicle the name change was to go "with the band's new longterm strategy." Officials said at the time, the group might record an English-language pop album. Sony Discos label manager Ray Martinez said the CD could come as early as 1997. It never happened. The rest of the band is: brother Leonard Gonzales, guitar; David de la Garza, keyboards; Tim Ruiz, bass; Michael Aguilar, drums; and Mando Lichtenberger Jr. keyboards. According to a Sony Discos spokesman, the group still has to deliver one more album by contract. The band canceled all their December and January engagements to record that album. La Mafia is the second major band to announce a breakup this year. Earlier, Mazz split into two groups: New Image Mazz, fronted by singer Joe Lopez and Original Grupo Mazz, fronted by guitarist Jimmy Gonzalez. (Ramiro Burr is a music reporter for the San Antonio Express-News and correspondent for Billboard. Burr is also the author of the forthcoming book "The Billboard Guide to Tejano and regional/Mexican Music," due April 1999 on Billboard Books. Burr can be reached at 1-800-555-1551, ext 3429 or through e- mail at rburr@express-news.net)

LA MAFIA'S NEWS CONFERENCE

By RAMIRO BURR
Special to ONDANET

SAN ANTONIO(Dec. 3) -- La Mafia, one of the hottest Tejano outfits in the '90s, formally announced its retirement in a news conference today in Houston.

In a prepared statement, bandmembers noted that while an eventual reunion is possible, it's last concerts will be the ones the band is committed to, in its remaining scheduled bookings for 1999.

Lead singer Oscar De La Rosa said part of the breakup was in part because bandmembers were tired of touring constantly and they reached a point in their careers where they are ready to explore different interests.

In the band's 20-year career, they have won two Grammys in the Mexican/Tejano category and recorded several top-selling Latin/Tejano albums.

La Mafia was founded in 1978 in Houston when older brother Henry Gonzales Jr. helped his teenage brothers Oscar and Leonard form first Los Mirasoles. Through Gonzales' guidance, the fledgling outfit evolved on a series of albums on independent labels. But it was on the powerful independent label Cara Records, owned by industry veteran Robert Grever, that La Mafia emerged in the late '80s as a powerhouse along with labelmates Mazz.

La Mafia then began a metamorphosis towards a keyboard-driven/pop ballad group in the early '90s on the Sony Discos label. That period saw la Mafia's best-selling CDs including "Estas Tocando Fuego," and "Ahora y Siempre."

Henry Gonzalez left the group in 1993 and in 1996 Oscar changed his last name to De La Rosa. At the time Oscar told the Houston Chronicle the name change was to go "with the band's new longterm strategy."

Officials said at the time, the group might record an English-language pop album. Sony Discos label manager Ray Martinez said the CD could come as early as 1997. It never happened.

The rest of the band is: brother Leonard Gonzales, guitar; David de la Garza, keyboards; Tim Ruiz, bass; Michael Aguilar, drums; and Mando Lichtenberger Jr. keyboards.

According to a Sony Discos spokesman, the group still has to deliver one more album by contract. The band canceled all their December and January engagements to record that album.

La Mafia is the second major band to announce a breakup this year. Earlier, Mazz split into two groups: New Image Mazz, fronted by singer Joe Lopez and Original Grupo Mazz, fronted by guitarist Jimmy Gonzalez.

(Ramiro Burr is a music reporter for the San Antonio Express-News and correspondent for Billboard. Burr is also the author of the forthcoming book "The Billboard Guide to Tejano and regional/Mexican Music," due April 1999 on Billboard Books. Burr can be reached at 1-800-555-1551, ext 3429 or through e- mail at rburr@express-news.net)