Super-producer Mario Ortiz has added two artists to his Baby Grand Records roster with the signing of Tejano veteran J.R. Gomez and newcomer Vanita Leo.
Gomez is a Grammy-winning musician spending time with legendary bands La Fiebre, Mazz, and Kumbia All-Starz, to name just a few. He also worked with Mario O in The Band with Jay Perez, where the pair spoke many times about teaming together for a project.
“J.R. is just real charismatic, he’s got that energy, he’s got that hype. He knows how to work that crowd,” Mario O tells Tejano Nation. “I see this guy climbing to the top. We’re barely starting off but by the end of the year he’s going to be making some more noise and I see potential with this artist, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Gomez released “He Tratado de Olvidarte” last summer, the lead single from his upcoming sophomore album that was produced by Ortiz. It will be the follow-up to his solo debut album, Cervezas Y Gritos, released in 2019. An album that earned Gomez two Tejano Music Awards in 2020 for Best New Male Artist and Best New Group with his Conjunto Bandits.
“Mario’s always believed in me and he’s always dreamed of having this record label and I told him let me be your artist,” Gomez tells Tejano Nation. “It is an awesome feeling to be a part of Baby Grand Records and for Mario to believe in me and invest in me.”
Vanita Leo is the daughter of former Grupo Rodeo lead singer Marco Jaime and the talented 18-year-old vocalist is ready to showcase the next generation of her musical family with a highly-anticipated debut album.
“She’s got the music in the blood. She has the Tejano history and mariachi, as well,” Mario O said of the plans to work on her upcoming album. “It’s not Tejano but we will incorporate the cumbia stuff, maybe some Mariachi bolero but still with a modern twist because what she’s doing is like a Mariachi, Latin Urban fused with a Hip-Hop, Pop beat.”
A new cumbia single is forthcoming from JR Gomez in late April, while Leo is expected to release a new single this summer.
Mario O, who is also the musical director and producer for Tejano icon Jay Perez, added that fans of “The Voice” can expect a follow-up to the Latin Grammy-nominated 25th Anniversary Contigo album this summer. Just another project for one of the busiest producer en la Onda Tejana.
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