Power Drive
The Power Drive Band originated back in the late 70's comprised of seven musicians of which four of the seven of the musicians had extensive musical experience and had a number of years playing with such bands as Toma, La Raza, the Latin Glows, the Sonics, Alma Latina and other bands in the Phoenix area.. For the three other members, this was really their first band. It took a lot of work, effort and care between all the members in the group to get the group sounding good before we actually started performing. Eventually, the group started contracting some casual engagements and in a few months started excelling in sound and performance. Although the majority of the band members had a full time job during the week, every one in the group took pride in practicing and improving on their perspective instrument. The band's uniqueness came from the repertoire of songs that it played. The band's appeal was the ability to play not only Spanish music but English Top 40 songs as well. Recently with the recognition of Tex-Mex music and unique style that was brought forth by the late Selena. The band was very much ahead of their times playing songs performed by such Tex-Mex artist as Little Joe Y La Familia, Sunny & the Sunliners, the Royal Jesters, Latin Breed and many other groups that played that jazzed up style of Tex-Mex music. You could say that the band was into Tejano Music before it was popular as it is now. Not only were we playing the top Tejano Hits but the band focused on learning 2 to 3 dance songs a week and referred to as now; Old School dance music.
In the band's effort to gain more recognition and popularity in the Latin Music scene, the group decided to establish themselves as a house band at one of the local night clubs. All the hard work finally paid off, after auditioning at various nite clubs in the valley, the band obtained a contract to play at the Los Olivos Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona. We played there for approximately 2 years and became very popular, so popular that sometimes, people were lined up half way around the block waiting to get in to the club.
Like all good things in life, the band broke up after their contract ended at Los Olivos night club. Many of the members continued to play with other bands in the valley and a couple of the original group members went on the road for a number of years with various musical groups.
The Power Drive Band re-grouped in March 1995, and has continued to be a leading dance band in the valley of the Sun for the past 16 years.
