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Although best known nationally and internationally for his
unobtrusive yet fortifying guitar licks and the warm, smooth
vocals behind such groups as the Sir Douglas Quintet and the
Texas Tornados (Freddie Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers
and Doug Sahm), Louie Ortega can and does stand on his own as
a singer/songwriter/guitarist.
With a career spanning more
than three decades, Ortega got his start in 1969 as the front
man for Columbia and Atlantic recording artists Louie and the
Lovers. When the group disbanded, Louie joined forces with his
friend Doug Sahm for a series of recording projects and
European tours. His songs, such as "Little Georgie Baker" and
"County Line," were mainstays of the group’s releases on
Sweden’s Sonnet Records. During this period, Ortega also
quietly pursued a career as a solo performer and songwriter in
his hometown of San Luis Obispo, California.
From 1989 to 1996, Ortega
toured extensively throughout the U.S and abroad with the
Texas Tornados. His performance and translation of "Soy de
San Luis" on the group’s first album helped secure the band a
Grammy in 1990. Their CD Four Aces, released in 1996,
features two of his compositions, "Amor de mi Vida" and "Mi
Morenita."
He has performed with the
newly revitalized Sir Douglas Quintet (Doug Sahm, Doug
Clifford, Augie Meyers and John Jorgenson) on Elektra Records.
He has also released two solo CDs: You & I and In My
Heart, featuring a collection of well-crafted tunes that
demonstrate Louie Ortega can take front and center stage with
the best of them. |
