Is Jorge Alejandro About to Hit the Lottery?

By Ramón Hernández

Jorge Alejandro is one of fifteen finalists in the Songwriting Contest for Hope and Justice in a competition of over 200 composers.

"Levanten La Voz," which Alejandro co-wrote with his brother Alfredo Knott is the tune that made the finals.

The first place winner will take home $6,000; and the runner ups will receive $2,000; $1,200 and $800. Other local finalists include Bebo Cardenas, René René and Jesse Farias of La Tropa F plus doctors Rachel Cruz and Josie Méndez Negrette. It’s not the lottery, but it’s the next best thing.

"I wrote the two songs I submitted as a story with a diplomatic protest," said Alejandro, who dropped his last name, Knott, when he became a solo recording artist.

Other finalists include songwriters from Laredo (Los Tres Reyes featuring Gilberto Puente), Dallas, the Rio Grande Valley, Puerto Rico, Mexico, California and yes, Arizona.

The 51-year-old vocalist, whose father is Anglo-American, was born to Yolanda Ornelas in Villa Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico where the music bug bite him when he attended his first concert at fourteen.

"I moved to Texas in 1973 in search of a big city and larger opportunities," Alejandro said of his reason for crossing the border to the land of opportunity.

In regard to the songwriting competition, Alejandro said, "René René was one of my first influences and inspirations because he’s a good songwriter."

In fact the Rio Rami album was produced with none other than Marco Antonio Solís.

"Yes, I did record, but always as a part of other projects," Alejandro said of his absence from radio’s airwaves. "Some were international hits in other genres such as reggaeton.

As a singer, I did backup vocals for Masizzo, Mazz, Mesquite and he was featured in several compilations. As a songwriter, he wrote "Sin Ella," "Que Traigan Botellas" and "Serveme Otra Cantinero" for Michael Salgado; also "Señorita Tequila" and "Hay un Corazón" for Jay Pérez,

As a producer/engineer he did recording sessions with Reyli, Dinastia Norteña sometimes also playing bass, cowbells, timbales and other percussion instruments as a studio musician.

Besides being in demand, he was also selected the 2005 Academy of Tejano Musicians and Artists’ "Percussionist of the Year."

JORGE ALEJANDRO Y LA PAZ REGROUP

This year, Alejandro, who has not recorded in ten years as a soloist, decided it was time to reconnect with his fans.

"However I have been jamming here and there," Alejandro said in regard to his sitting in, singing and playing congas and timbales with various groups.

Alejandro’s latest compact disc, "El Ladron de Tu Amor" ("The Thief of Your Love"), of which he wrote 65 percent of the songs, as can be expected is very international with a sprinkling of Tejano here and there.

In addition, the multi-talented musician, who celebrated his birthday on August 14^th says, "I re-recorded "Señor Bolero," "No Digas Nada," "Poquito de Pecado," "Que Gano" and "Dos Monedas" because people request them and fans can’t find those records anymore.

"Despues De Ti," penned by Beto Ramón, is another fan favorite and one tune for which a video was produced by the late Jerry De La Rosa five years ago.

"Locamente," also written by Alejandro is so catchy; it could easily be spun off into a commercial. And "Quiero Amanecer" is a new joyful version of the Mikie Laure original done in a norteño style club remix with a touch of hip hop.

Some of the musicians on this ongoing production for the last six years are the late Jerry De La Rosa, keyboards; Angela Mesquiti, backup vocals; plus arrangements, keyboards and guitar by Alejandro, Margie Hernández and Ralph Sáenz.

This CD could easily have been titled "The Best of" or "Las Mejores Canciones de" because every song is a proven hit.

"There’s more to come because I still have new old songs in the stove that I have already recorded, but then, there’s nothing to look forward to in the future," Alejandro revealed.

"One of them is ‘Mama.’ It’s a mariachi tune I wrote this for my own mom when she died two years ago and which I plan to release as a single during the Christmas days.

Now that Alejandro has reactivated La Paz and will be doing more and more live gigs, don’t expect him to cover other band’s tunes because as he says, "The reason people are there is to hear ‘your’ music and not cover tunes, so I’m there to give them my best."

Once word got out that Alejandro was back, he was swamped with invitations to appear on the newly resuscitated Johnny Canales Show and Rudy Treviño’s "Domingo Show" in Corpus Christi plus "Tejano Y Más" and other television programs throughout Texas.

On Friday, September 24, all fifteen Sing for Hope and Justice Music songwriting contest finalists will perform the tune that took them to the finals at the Restoration Centre at 6401 Bandera Rd. Tickets for the awards show are available at Janie’s Record Shops and for more information on this event, call Dr. Paul or Margarita Ruiz at (210) 979-0575.

Watch Jorge Here

photo:Jorge Flores

JORGE ALEJANDRO of La Paz

Aug. 14, 1959- Singer, guitarist. His real name is George Alejandro Knott

Alejandro was born in Villa Acuña, Coahilla, Mexico. His father is Anglo-American, his mother, Yolanda Ornelas, is Mexican.

The music bug hit Alejandro at the age of 14, when he attended his first concert.

"From then on, I would go to every concert I could, but it got too expensive so I started helping out by carrying instruments for the bands and helping them set up. Then I started playing percussion, then bass and drums until I started singing.

His first major gig was opening for Mexican movie star Manolo Muñoz. Since then he has opened for many national groups.

MUSICAL HISTORY

1973 Moved to Texas in search of a big city and larger opportunties

1974 Became bass player with Los Tipicos

1976 Joined Rene & Rene as a bass player.

1978 Alejandro started vocalizing with the Rio Rami Band while also playing with the

Ramiro Cervera Orchestra.

1981 Formed his own band, Jorge Alejandro y La Paz

1984 Became host of "La Onda En Tejas," a Tejano music variety television show. The program only lasted three months.

"I had to give it up because it took up too much of my time. I had to give up some gigs and was unable to devote time to my music," he explained.

DISCOGRAPHY

1978 Rio Rami (J.A., Jorge Ramírez, Joe Revelez) produced with Marco Antonio Solís

1984 Tengo Miedo/Mi Mente CARA CA-258

1985 Destino Nuevo (w/Joe Revelez)/A Mi Mexicana MONI 155

1987 No Vales La Pena/Despues De Quererte Tanto SAS 208

ALBUMS

1984 "Ella" DEL REY DDR-101

CASSETTES

1985 Destino Nuevo MONI 1036

1986 Jorge Alejandro y La Paz JOEY/CBS JMC-13307

1987 Jorge Alejandro y La Paz Vol. III SAS 5039

COPMPACT DISCS

2010

2005 Academy Percussionist of the Year

Music Express – cover songs that made Billboard magazine at one time or another al estilo norteno reggaeton.

Compilation of different Latin artists.

(Reyli) "Volverte A Ver" (Juanes) 2004

Mariachi song to be released at the end of year "Mama"

produced by Oscar Cruz 7 Henry Gómez