K-Paz de la Sierra

(tuba eléctrica)

K-Paz de la Sierra is a Duranguense band that was formed in Chicago, Illinois by Mexican natives. The group was formed on Christmas Eve of 2002 by some departing members of Montez de Durango. The company Procan(DISA)Records gave them the opportunity. K-paz De La Sierra was well known in the U.S. in the first two months. Within the first three hours that their first CD came out 35,000 copies were sold in Chicago. They debuted in 2003 with the first CD titled Arrasando Con Fuego and the lead single Jambalaya. Some of their biggest hits are "Un Buen Perdedor" "Mi Credo," "Volveré," "Con Olor A Hierba," "Pero Te Vas A Arrepentir," "Procuro Olvidarte", "Y Aquí Estoy "Como Un Tatuaje" and "Para Toda La Vida a Duo Con Sergio Vega."

Band members

• Juan Gómez - Tambora and Leader
• Uriel Lozada - Keyboard and Director
• Charlie Ramírez - Lead Singer
• Andy Hernández - Second Singer
• René Altamirano - Keyboard
• Miguel Montalvo - Electric Tuba
• Frank Sanchez - Drums

Disband

La Autoridad de la Sierra

In October 2004, following their second album, Pensando En Ti, four original members: Jair Loredo, Oscar Cepeda, Simon Valtierrez, and Jose Luis Corral, left to form La Autoridad De La Sierra. Jair Loredo returned to K-paz in 2007.

AK-7

On May 28, 2007, following ongoing disputes with former lead singer Sergio Gómez, seven long-time members of the group left to form AK-7,^[1] which stands for "Antes K-paz", which translates to "Previously K-paz". The 7 refers to the number of members who left K-paz.

Majestad de la Sierra

Eight months after Sergio Gómez's death, second vocalist Humberto Durán, Luis Diaz and 3 other members left the group to create Majestad de la Sierra because of constant fighting with Juan Gomez and Miguel Galindo.

Sergio Gómez's death

On December 2, 2007, lead singer Sergio Gómez and two businessmen were kidnapped as they were leaving a dance hall in Morelia, Michoacán. The two businessmen were released, but Gómez was found dead on December 3. He was found with signs of torture and was recognized by the tattoo that he had. He had many bruises and burns that could have been caused by a cigarette. Sergio Gomez was strangled to death. According to friend Jose Manuel Zamacona, Gómez had been warned not to perform in Michoacan. Sergio Gomez's father told the Chicago Tribune that the body would reach his hometown of Indiana. His last farewells were given there. Following Gómez's death, his brother Juan took over as the leader of the group. The killing of northern musicians of the genre has become very common in Mexico in the last few years. This is because many of them are actually sponsored by the heads of the drug cartels and they have to abide by certain rules throughout their careers.

On December 6, 2007, Gómez, along with Valentín Elizalde (another murdered Mexican singer), were each nominated, posthumously, for Best Banda Album at the 50th Grammy Awards.^[2]

On January 29, 2008, K-Paz introduced a new lead vocalist,^[3] Miguel Galindo.

New Album

The new album "Para Toda La Vida" was released February 15, 2011. It features the already released single "Ni Se Te Ocurra" which is a duet with the deceased singer "Sergio Vega" who was murdered a few days after the song was recorded.

New Vocalist, Tamborista and More Breakups

In Fall of 2011 Juan Gomez was fighting over the "K-Paz De La Sierra" title with Sergio Gomez's wife and won the name. Juan Gomez along with Miguel Galindo were officially trying to form a new band under the K-Paz title. They had re-recorded the song "Yo Tuve La Culpa" from the album Para Toda La Vida Unfortunately for Juan Gomez, Miguel Galindo parted his own direction and is now a solo artist. In an interview over the phone with Majestad De La Sierra's Humberto Duran he said that Galindo "was an opportunist and did what he had to to gain fame". Juan Gomez is left by himself with the title.

Discography