Austin – In a humble setting permeated by the sweltering heat of Austin’s Zilker Park the Grammy Award winning trio of Los Lonely Boys sat, doing what they know best, entertaining and giving to the community.
A crowd of fewer than 50 people including 10 young boys and girls, who participate in the Big Brother’s Big Sister’s program, were captivated as the three brothers played music and made small talk in between songs at the Sunshine Camp in Zilker Park. A testament to how humble the group is.
The young boys and girls were surprised by the band which also gave them each a guitar and later autographed the instruments. Smiles followed conversation and an impromptu music lesson for one teen by Los Lonely Boy’s drummer, 24-year-old, “Ringo.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas provided more than 82,000 hours of mentoring to 1,728 children in Travis, Williamson, McLennan, Brazos, Hays and Burnet counties throughout 2007. The group teamed up with Sunshine Camp to host the event.
Sunshine Camp’s Executive Director Jennifer Repass says, “Whenever they get some things like this it really has a big impact on their lives. It really means a lot to them.”
“Ringo” encouraged the crowd saying, “Maybe one day you guys can record your own albums or jam with somebody else.”
As KEYE began interviewing Ringo, asking why they were entertaining such a small crowd in Austin, front man Henry Garza described in a cheerful tackle of his brother,” We do it for the kids man,” his brother Ringo agrees saying their mission, “Hopefully get ‘em inspired, give ‘em a dream to be a star someday.
“We think it’s really cool for these kids to see a Mexican American band -an American dream come true,” says Henry Garza, Los Lonely Boys guitarist.
Family is also very important to the group of three and Ringo says “We’re still just three brother’s bro and we got kids, our kids are here man. We just love families bro.”
When asked about the young crowd they came to Austin for, Ringo says, “We love hanging out with the kids and showing them something new. You know it’s a great feeling bro. I got my kids and my wife’s around here somewhere. They run off man but yah they’re here.”
We all know how hot it can get in Austin and Ringo agrees, “Oh man it’s humid here. It’s dry heat over there [San Angelo] but it’s still hot you know.”
Ringo also has some advice for aspiring young musicians, “Have love and respect for everybody that’s all you know, what else can you tell em bro? You only got a few minutes here [on earth]. So… love and respect everybody man, be a good person for your brother, your sister, your uncle, your friends and everybody.”
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