Always A Friend - Music

Alejandro Escovedo Born January 10 1951 In San Antonio Texas Is A Mexican-American Singer-Songwriter. Escovedo's Family Tree Includes Former Santana Percussionist Pete Escovedo And Pete's Daughter Sheila E Also Prince's Former Drummer And Later A Pop Star . He Began His Music Career With The Nuns A Mid-'70s Punk Band Based In San Francisco. He Co-Founded The Pioneering Cowpunk Band Rank And File In 1979 Which Moved To Austin Texas In 1981 After A Stint In New York City. The Band Released Sundown On Slash Records In 1982 But Shortly After Escovedo Left To Form The True Believers With Brother Javier. The Band Recorded Two Albums For EMI And Toured The Country Often As An Opening Act For Los Lobos. However EMI Opted Not To Release The Second Album Which Eventually Led To The Group's Break-Up. It Eventually Surfaced As A Bonus Item When Rykodisc Reissued The First Set On CD In 1994. Escovedo Released A Solo Album In 1992 On Watermelon Records Gravity Uniting His Wide Variety Of Styles The Album Was Produced By Stephen Bruton Of Bonnie Raitt's Band. Escovedo Also Began Gigging Periodically With The Band Buick MacKane Who Fused Old-School Punk With 70's Glam Rock After Rykodisc Released Escovedo's With These Hands In 1996 They Followed It Up With Buick MacKane's Long-Awaited Album. After Escovedo Parted Ways With Rykodisc He Signed With The Chicago-Based Alt-Country Label Bloodshot In 1998 Who Released The Live Album More Miles Than Money Live 1994-1996 And The Acclaimed Studio Set A Man Under The Influence. In April Of 2003 Escovedo Collapsed Following A Show In Phoenix AZ And He Was Subsequently Diagnosed With Hepatitis C. An Outpouring Of Support From Musicians Led To A Series Of Successful Benefit Concerts To Help Pay Escovedo's Medical Expenses And Keep His Music Before The Public Followed By A Tribute Album Por Vida A Tribute To The Songs Of Alejandro Escovedo Which Was Released In 2004. In June 2010 Escovedo Released Street Songs Of Love. read less