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Guitarist, singer, and songwriter
Cesar Rosas is a key member of
Los Lobos. While less prolific than the team of
David Hidalgo and
Louie Perez, his rootsy compositions, fiery guitar playing, and gritty vocals act as an important counterweight in the band's sonic blend. Primarily working from a blues-based foundation,
Rosas' compositions for
Los Lobos include the hard-rocking "Don't Worry Baby" (from
How Will the Wolf Survive?) and "I Can't Understand," co-written with blues giant
Willie Dixon, which appeared on
The Neighborhood (1990). In addition to his role in
Los Lobos,
Rosas released Si Se Puede!, his debut solo album on 24/7, and in 1998 appeared as a member of
Los Super Seven, the Latin American supergroup. Their self-titled album featured re-interpretations of traditional Mexican folk songs. It was a minor hit and the band became a touring concern.
Rosas kept busy, issuing
Soul Disguise for Ryko in 1999, a potent blend of rock, blues, soul, and Latin music. He appeared on blues icon
Kid Ramos' self-titled offering for RCA.
In October, a horrible tragedy struck
Rosas' family. His wife Sandra disappeared. Her body was found a year later in a shallow grave outside Los Angeles. She had been murdered. Her half- brother Gabriel Gomez was convicted of the crime.
After taking some real time off,
Rosas healed himself by remaining busy. His touring and recording duties with
Los Lobos and
Los Super Seven (the latter recorded two more albums:
Canto for Sony in 2001 and
Heard It on the X for Telarc in 2005) took up a lot of time but he also took on work as a sideman, appearing on
Rick Trevino's Mi Son and on
Alejandro Escovedo's conceptual work
By the Hand of the Father, and as part of the
Texmaniacs with bandmate
Hidalgo,
Flaco Jimenez, and a host of other Latin luminaries on Tex-Mex Groove in 2006. A month after
Los Lobos issued the acclaimed
Gates of Gold in November 2015,
Rosas emerged the following month with his third solo album, Live from the Galaxy -- backed by accordionist Jimmy Baca, drummer
Aaron Ballesteros, bassist
Steve Falomir, and keyboardist John Kito -- on the Los Angeles label. ~ Martin Monkman & Thom Jurek