EDDIE URIAS makes music on lots of instruments, from guitar and accordion to the Conga drums. Urias played the different tracks for all of the instruments in his new album. PHOTO BY TERRY KETRON/THE SUNEddie Urias was closer to his father’s knee than the microphone when he started making music alongside his father at weddings, quinceaneras and fiestas.
But Urias sang his heart out anyway.
Growing up he jumped at the chance every time his performer father invited him to sing the songs that would eventually define his growing up between Somerton and Yuma.
Today Urias’ father is watching from heaven as his son reaches a milestone in his own professional music career, releasing a CD that’s dedicated to Urias’ homeplace, childhood and dearly missed musical hero. It’s called “Recordando La Co. 15th St.” or “Remembering Co. 15th St.”
“I miss my dad the same way today as the day he passed away. To me making this CD has been a healing process.
“My hope is to remind my extended family, friends and community of the songs my father used to sing. These are the songs I used to wake up to each morning growing up!”
Urias made a list of his father’s favorite songs and came up with about 80. He whittled those down to the top 15, all of which are featured on “Recordando La Co. 15th St.”
The last song on the CD is a corrido or tribute song “Corrido de Don Alex” dedicated to the senior Urias.
“This CD has been the best thing that’s happened to me,” Urias said proudly, adding that the CD is also a tribute to the roots of today’s Mexican music.
“There is so much history and culture on this CD. Most of these songs were written by the pioneers of these musical styles. To see it all on a CD in 2008 is just neat.”
Urias works as a field supervisor for Doug Mellon Farms. But in his spare time, just like his dad, Urias is entertaining his family and friends, plus taking gigs around the community. He’s putting on concerts lately both with a local band and for his new solo career.
While this recording stuff may be new, the singing and music-making certainly are not.
Urias says he got his start at the fresh age of 5 years old. That’s back when Urias would stand next to his dad during songs and try his best to sound all grown up and big.
“I was just mimicking then,” Urias said, chuckling. “But I was learning by singing along with him.”
It wasn’t long and the son started playing the keyboard, too. “That’s when we really started playing together.”
Then his father got Urias his very own accordion and got into playing corridos and Norteño songs.
The Urias family’s musical history reaches back into Mexico, where Urias was born. In addition to his father’s musical career in the northern state of Sonora, Urias’ grandma and her four sisters sang in a quintet.
“They performed in the little hometown of San Juan,” Urias said. “They used to do quinceaneras and weddings and they played at church.
“They praised the Lord every Sunday. That’s where I get the music.”
The family moved to the Somerton area when Urias was 8 months old. He graduated in 1985 from Kofa High School.
He was playing in area bands by age 13, everything from cumbias to Norteño and bolero music. Later he played with the band Wish, a group that mixed top-40 American and Mexican tunes. Wish won a citywide battle of the bands in both 1985 and 1986.
These days he’s playing with Los Coronados. He sings and plays both the keyboard and accordion. The band is working on a CD and has a gig coming up April 5 at Cocopah Casino.
Urias’ own CD was recorded at JS Recording Studio in Somerton. The CD has only been out a few weeks, but it’s also getting good air time on La Campesina 104.5 in Yuma and La Comadre 98.5 in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son.
Urias is already fast at work on his next CD. While his first is a tribute to tradition, his second CD will focus more on original music that he’s written.
In the meantime, Urias says he’s open to performing at clubs and casinos around the region, something he’s already investigating in terms of booking.
“It all just depends on how things go with this CD. If people want me take my music further on down the road that would be neat.”
Urias humbly admits that he’d love to make it big in music and just make songs for a living. But in a second tribute to his father, Urias is also a grounded and humble man.
“If a company with a good name wants to hire me or give me a record deal, why not? But God will decide what’s best for me. I’m listening to his voice.
“I think it’s just best to do what you like best and just have fun. That’s the most important thing.”
Besides, at 40 a grinning Urias knows he’s got a world of time for making music.
“Hey, I’m barely starting to open my eyes!