Voices Of Theory: Mechie, Eric, James, Hector, David (not
present)
November 11, 1998
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Voices Of Theory: Eric (E): We were just in San Francisco and did the Sound Factory and it was great. All the radio is treating us well, and we had a number one for a while. Mechie (M): Actually it's the second biggest market for us. (All): Thank you San Fran! Lotta love!
VV: Where are you from?
VT (All): Philadelphia.
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VV: You all grew up together?
VT: (M): Yep, same neighborhood, same school.
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VT: (M): Well, James had approached me in high school at the lunch table. This guy was a tough guy and he comes with this other big guy, and I'm sitting there like I'm in trouble now.. nah.. basically he sat down and said he had some connections and I was definitely with it.
VV: And you two had already been singing together?
VT: (M): No, that's when we first met.
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VT: James (J): Well, I always saw him in the hallways, playing piano in the lunchroom, so I was really interested 'cuz I wanted to go that route and here we are.
VV: And how did you two (Eric, Hector) get involved?
VT: (E): We came in later on, I'm actually the newest member but I've known these guys all my life. We sang in the neighborhood groups, gospel choirs, and what not, and pretty much God just brought us together. There's another member in the group who could not be here today. His name is David Cordova, and he's going through dialysis awaiting a kidney transplant and all our prayers go out to David, we miss you David.
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VT: (E): For about 9 months, almost the whole tour.
VV: Tell him to stick in there ... my father died of kidney failure but he was on dialysis for 19 years, and strong as a mutha too ... so send him my love.
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VV: What has
changed from the time before your record hit and now, such as getting
noticed, your daily life, etc ...?
VT: (J):
Basically we haven't been home yet to actually enjoy or see the difference.
Our phone lines are more lit up than ever. (E): One thing is we
don't get a chance to see our moms as much, you know. You barely, barely
ever get to sleep 'cuz we work 18 to 19 hour days. From city to city to
city. So anybody who is trying to start a group you should know it's not
easy. It's not all what you see: like the cars, and the rest ... it's
a lot of hard work. (J): You have to be, the key word is, a family.
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VT: (M): Jellybean Benitez. I called him one day and he said send me a demo and I said no, you have to hear this live. So he set up an appointment and here we are today, thank you Jellybean for giving us Latinos a chance.
VV: Do you guys all write music, play?
VT: (All): Yeah, write, play ...
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VT: (M): We're currently pushing Wherever You Go which was produced and written by our manager, Michael Carey, from Boyz II Men, the one with the deep voice. The next single we're gonna work on is definitely giving you guys an up tempo. You know we can dance and ... hahaha. Hopefully you fans keep giving us love and maybe we'll have our own tour or jump on someone else's.
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VT: (E): It was off the hook!! We were out there on Halloween and we saw some of the craziest costumes. (H): Yeah, I saw some costumes out there that I don't think I've ever seen... (M): Don't mention anything (All): laugh
VV: OK, I'll talk to you on the side 'bout that then..
VT: (H): They've got costumes out there that I don't think I've ever seen in my life. I don't think you'd see anything like that anywhere. They're buggin' over there ... they're out there though. (M): They all love though, they treat us with a lot of respect out there.
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VV: How's the hometown?
VT: (M): All love. We miss our cheesesteaks you know.
Interviewer: Lee Evans
Camera: Lee Evans
Photos & Transcription: Lee Evans
Editor: Catherine Lee
© 1999, 2000 Evans Media Group, Inc.