Los Lonely Boys keep it in the family

It’s all about harmony, in life and in music, for the Grammy award-winning family band Los Lonely Boys.

The three brothers Garza—Henry on guitar and vocals, JoJo on bass and vocals and Ringo on drums and vocals—who are best known for their debut single “Heaven,” have all been making music together since earliest childhood back in San Angelo, Texas. Father Enrique, whose nickname is Ringo, taught the boys to play instruments when they were very young and he even took them out on the road with him to play honky-tonks and bars all over the Southwest.

Now the globe-trotting brothers are all grown up. They released a third album, “Forgiven,” in July, and they have shared the stage with such celebrated bands as Los Lobos and Santana, among others. The band will make their first trip to the East End this weekend to perform at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 6.

During a phone interview from the band’s tour bus last week, eldest brother Henry credited his father with teaching him and his brothers about music, the importance of family, and pride in their Latin heritage. “Our dad is our biggest inspiration,” he said. “He taught us music and he taught us how to be men who love their family and take pride in who we are as Mexican Americans.”

Henry was quick to point out that the Los Lonely Boys brand of “Texican rock and roll” is music that is not defined by race or language, but instead comes from within his and his brothers’ hearts and souls. “Music has no color, it’s in our background and part of our skin tone but there are no labels ... it’s about the way we feel inside,” he said.

The eldest Garza brother reported that he can recall the first time he played on stage with his father, who was also part of an all-brothers group, The Falcones. “I was 6 years old the first time I played with my dad, leaving town and playing out of town in itty bitty bars,” he said. “We all lived travelling, playing music and living our dreams while we were growing up.”

Until recently, the senior Mr. Garza even travelled with the band and recorded some of their music with them. Henry said his father sometimes still comes out on tour with the band but that usually now it’s just the three brothers who hit the road together.

The fact that the band’s name translates to “The Lonely Boys” is ironic considering that the three are seldom out of earshot of one another. Henry joked about trying to find a place for a quiet conversation last Friday as the group’s tour bus rolled through Milwaukee en route to a performance at the Harley Davidson 105th anniversary party.

“I’m in the front of the bus, trying to find a place I can hear,” Henry said as youngest brother Ringo whooped it up and laughed from the back of the bus. Henry warned his brother that there would be dire consequences if the yelling and fooling around didn’t stop. “You better shut up, Ringo, or I’m giving you the phone and you’re going to have to answer the rest of the questions,” he said.

Henry’s threat worked for awhile but after about 10 minutes of relative silence, the commotion began again. “Woo hoo,” Ringo shouted several times. “Let’s have some fun.”

Henry then made good on his threat and handed the phone over to Ringo. “I warned you, brother, now it’s your time to talk,” he said.

“We’re just having fun on this bus,” Ringo said of his outbursts. “We’re not party animals or into drinking, but we’ve been on the road 22 hours and I just felt like it was time to wake up.”

According to Ringo, the musicians of Los Lonely Boys not only record and tour with one another, they also spend much of their down time together. Ringo said that he spoke for all his brothers when he stressed the important role they all play in each other’s lives, even in the brief periods when they aren’t on the road touring and performing.

Ringo reported that he and his brothers live within about three miles of each other in Texas and frequently spend their off time hanging out at his backyard pool, throwing big family barbecues, and watching the Dallas Cowboys.

Touring so much can be tough for the brothers, whose significant others and children stay home in Texas, but the rewards are worth the sacrifice, according to Ringo. “All the travelling brings you down every now and then,” he said, “but we’re doing this for our families so we don’t have to worry about the next due rent.”

As for all the constant togetherness, Ringo said that he and his brothers sometimes get a little cranky on the road since they do spend so much time with one another, but that, at the end of the day, they are best friends who relish one another’s company.

“Sometimes there are disagreements because we are together all the time, but I have looked up to my brothers my whole life and respect the type of men they are ... we love each other and we’re really close,” Ringo said. “Who else is going to watch your back the way family will?”

Los Lonely Boys will take the stage on Saturday, September 6, at 8 p.m. at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $70, $85, and $100, available by calling the Arts Center box office at 288-1500, stopping by the PAC at 76 Main Street in Westhampton Beach, or by visiting the PAC website, www.whbpac.org