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CHECK OUT OUR MYSPACE
www.myspace.com/myrnarocks
AND MY ACTING/ART WEBSITE
www.myrnacabello.com
CHECK OUT THE ARTICLE IN SOUTHWEST BLUES MAGAZINE!!!
MARCH 2007
Myrna Cabello
Story by Billy Garza
Upon arrival into the Austin City Limits, a person can find just about anything they are looking for and many things they never thought they would ever come across. With the population increasing almost faster than toll roads are being built, an influx of artistic, creative and imaginative newbies just keeps on trucking in. Search long enough though and you will come across a few rarities in town.
Such is the case with artist Myrna Cabello. (www.MyrnaCabello.com)
One of the most frequent questions asked when meeting a person for the first time in Austin is "where are you from?" Cabello, unlike the majority of current Austinites is actually from Austin, Texas. Other than a short time on the left coast experiencing life in the acting world, Cabello has always called Austin home.
Cabello keeps herself busy these days writing and performing songs with her group Myrna Cabello and the Gris Gris Blues Band, doing voice over work for radio spots as well as acting in commercials and television shows. Recently she was seen as a real estate agent in an episode of Friday Night Lights. And you can occasionally see her on Brake Check commercials.
When asked about the writing process she uses to create her songs, Cabello spoke not only of the creative outlet that writing music has given her but the emanation of pride and self-empowerment. "It is exhilarating, it makes it all worthwhile! There is nothing better than to tell your story and have the audience connect", said Cabello. This is apparent at her shows when the audience is not only tapping their feet, clapping their hands and keeping their eyes on the band on stage, but actually listening to her songs and realizing these are based on true events in this artist's life.
Support for her creativity not only comes from her parents, three brothers and her talented band, but also from her new husband/guitarist Daniel Cook. An accomplished songwriter and performer himself, Cook couldn't be happier about the situation. Cabello seems to be in the lap of luxury as far as support. When asked about the possible difficulties of maintaining a professional as well as personal relationship with the same person, Cabello replied, " This is a dream come true!"
It was in her childhood that writing music made its first appearance in her life. Jingles became a part of her creative outlet though she never took it seriously. Cabello's father consistently encouraged her by saying, "You need to sing!" More recently, it was a powerful boost when brother Hugh who recently returned to Austin attended his first show and noted, "You found your voice."
Writing her own songs that she performs and records in English and Spanish are also not so common characteristics that Cabello possesses.
As a young girl in Austin, Cabello started singing at a very early age. In elementary school Cabello had a lot of fun singing in school musicals. At one point in a Christmas performance her microphone went out and she continued to sing at a higher level to keep the show going. Not an easy task for such a young performer, she was able to complete the well-rehearsed song to the amazement of the audience. Comparing her vocal ability from back then to the present, it seems she still maintains the power to keep the attention of the crowd with her voice whether electronically amplified or not.
It now appears that her years of singing, acting and performing have reared themselves and formed a strong foundation supporting an energetic and powerful performance each and every time on stage.
Fellow Latina singer Patricia Vonne says, "Myrna Cabello's exuberance onstage is fiery and contagious. She's a multi-talented artist whose innovative mix of Latin Blues Rock is helping to pave the way for other Latinas."
So how does a Latina get the blues? When asked that question, Cabello says that one day she was shopping in a department store and heard some blues music coming over the stereo and it hit her hard and thought to herself, why not write and perform Latina Blues? This also coincided with what she noticed while perusing through open mic nights; there were no Latina singers! "Why not?" she asked herself. "Even Mexicans get the blues!" It was at this point in time when Cabello started making her rounds and her presence known in various music venues throughout Austin. She was asked to sing back-up vocals with a few musicians, so she tried it. Not being one to follow, she decided that it was time to start leading and building up a following fronting her own band.
Then comes Antone's. Austin's legendary blues club is like an enormous centrally located magnet pulling anyone and everyone towards it as they enter the city seeking fellowship in the blues. There Cabello met Clifford Antone and asked him how many Latina blues singers he knew. His response was zero. Voodoo John mentioned to Clifford that he should listen to the voice of Myrna. So right there, Cabello sang acappella for Antone. Clifford invited Cabello back to the club to sing with the Blue Monday Band. So she did and has been singing the blues ever since.
One of the most influential locally known performers of Tex-Mex blues was former San Antonian Randy Garibay. Though he passed in May 2002, Cabello pays tribute to his legacy by performing Garibay's Barbacoa Blues in her set. Cabello cites Garibay as one of her initial blues influences.
Just a few years ago it was with due diligence that Cabello created a business plan. Within one year she would put together a band, write enough songs rooted in honesty deriving from her own experiences and ideas to perform on stage, and put together a CD. Well, within that year she not only accomplished her goals, but also established herself in the local music scene as a powerful and lavishly exuberant singer/songwriter and performer.
This spring Cabello and her Gris Gris blues band will head into the studio to work on a full-length CD comprised of all originals with the exception of one song originally sung by Billie Holiday. Amazingly, Cabello possesses the ability to sing comparably to the likes of Holiday, Franklin and James without having ever taken voice or music lessons.
In the past two years with this band, Cabello has already made her mark in not only the Austin music scene, but the Texas Music scene as well. Cabello has performed at Bayfest an annual event in Corpus Christ showcasing many Texas and nationally know acts. She has played on the same bill as rising Latina musician Patricia Vonne and this year will perform a longer than usual set on March 16 during SXSW in Austin at the free outdoor show at Mother Egan's Irish Pub on west sixth street.
Keeping the rhythm rolling in the Gris Gris blues band are musicians Voodoo John on percussion, Daniel Cook on guitar, Charlie DiMaggio on drums and Charlie Irwin on bass. This group of talented musicians not only compliments Cabello in a professional manner, but also believes in the dream that Cabello is pursuing. Definitely a band that any musician would be glad to be backed up by.
Though a title has not yet been set for her upcoming CD, Cabello is sure to entice the palettes of hungry audiences wherever she goes. Whether you prefer Tex-Mex, home cooking or a hot spicy dish with a tequila chaser, Cabello is sure to satisfy the appetite of any audience on hand.
www.MyrnaMusic.com www.MySpace.com/MyrnaRocks
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