Antonio Lopez is a musician, composer, and the executive director of the nonprofit, Sound Bridge Music. He is a quiet man who has something to say. His music is like an onion. It has many layers, each one revealing something more. At the core, Lopez is a singer-songwriter in service to the song. His adept guitar work and composition skills are never used in a showy way, but rather like the spices in a delectable home cooked meal. The result is a feast of emotions that is a delight to the listener.
Lopez was born and raised in Alamosa, CO, growing up steeped in the Chicano culture of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Since 2012 Lopez has been living in Longmont, CO. Speaking of the move he says “ I was green as they come when I first arrived on The Front Range, full of that naive small-town optimism. The first job I had was as a night janitor in the public schools, trying to hustle my first gigs in a new music scene.” That hustle ethic has paid off as evidenced by Antonio’s newest album, Roots and Wings, which was crowdfunded through a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign. The album is set for release on 01.01.2021.
The concept for Roots and Wings was planted in the late summer of 2018 as Antonio and his wife Georgia were flying back from their honeymoon on Vancouver Island in Canada. While there, Lopez picked up a free newspaper called The New Agora with an article about stepping into this new form of masculinity and fatherhood with a quote from Goethe that hit him in the gut…”There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children, one of these is roots, the other, wings”. He read these words in the airplane, flying miles above the ground. Tearing up, Lopez reminisced on his childhood and all the sacrifices his parents made in order for him to have a better life than they had.
Lopez is the youngest of five children. His mother is a retired second grade school teacher who dedicated her life to educating generations of youth. She grew up the youngest of eleven children. Her father never learned to read or write and started working in the coal mines of Southern Colorado at a young age. Lopez’s father is an activist and attorney. He and his brother Reyes became lawyers in order to amplify the voices of oppressed people during the Chicano Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s and 70’s. During this time, the FBI formed a secret branch called COINTELPRO, aimed at infiltrating and disrupting domestic social movements. They often used illegal tactics, and it is believed that these operations lead to the death of his uncle Reyes in a mysterious car bombing at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, CO in 1974. The way they tried to silence Lopez’s dad was trumping up false charges, forcing him into exile and into relinquishing his license to practice law for over ten years. He was later exonerated of all charges and gained his license back, but the shadows of those events still loom over the family.
Even though these events happened before Lopez was born, they are an important part of his story. In his own words Lopez says “I choose to share this story with you because I feel the past informs the present. However, I believe the future is not defined by the past. Each of us alive right now are the thread that connects the past with the future. It is now our time. My songs come from my ancestors. My ancestors still exist because I am here. They exist inside of me. They exist through me. Basically, I am their dream. The life that I am able to lead is a life they could only dream of having. When I sing, I’m adding my voice to their voice. Joining them in both words and actions for a better tomorrow. A better tomorrow for me. A better tomorrow for you. A better tomorrow for ALL of us.”
Serving as the executive director of the non-profit Sound Bridge Music, Lopez vows to do what he can to support the Front Range music community navigate the challenges raised by Covid-19.
Lopez was born and raised in Alamosa, CO, growing up steeped in the Chicano culture of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Since 2012 Lopez has been living in Longmont, CO. Speaking of the move he says “ I was green as they come when I first arrived on The Front Range, full of that naive small-town optimism. The first job I had was as a night janitor in the public schools, trying to hustle my first gigs in a new music scene.” That hustle ethic has paid off as evidenced by Antonio’s newest album, Roots and Wings, which was crowdfunded through a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign. The album is set for release on 01.01.2021.
The concept for Roots and Wings was planted in the late summer of 2018 as Antonio and his wife Georgia were flying back from their honeymoon on Vancouver Island in Canada. While there, Lopez picked up a free newspaper called The New Agora with an article about stepping into this new form of masculinity and fatherhood with a quote from Goethe that hit him in the gut…”There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children, one of these is roots, the other, wings”. He read these words in the airplane, flying miles above the ground. Tearing up, Lopez reminisced on his childhood and all the sacrifices his parents made in order for him to have a better life than they had.
Lopez is the youngest of five children. His mother is a retired second grade school teacher who dedicated her life to educating generations of youth. She grew up the youngest of eleven children. Her father never learned to read or write and started working in the coal mines of Southern Colorado at a young age. Lopez’s father is an activist and attorney. He and his brother Reyes became lawyers in order to amplify the voices of oppressed people during the Chicano Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s and 70’s. During this time, the FBI formed a secret branch called COINTELPRO, aimed at infiltrating and disrupting domestic social movements. They often used illegal tactics, and it is believed that these operations lead to the death of his uncle Reyes in a mysterious car bombing at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, CO in 1974. The way they tried to silence Lopez’s dad was trumping up false charges, forcing him into exile and into relinquishing his license to practice law for over ten years. He was later exonerated of all charges and gained his license back, but the shadows of those events still loom over the family.
Even though these events happened before Lopez was born, they are an important part of his story. In his own words Lopez says “I choose to share this story with you because I feel the past informs the present. However, I believe the future is not defined by the past. Each of us alive right now are the thread that connects the past with the future. It is now our time. My songs come from my ancestors. My ancestors still exist because I am here. They exist inside of me. They exist through me. Basically, I am their dream. The life that I am able to lead is a life they could only dream of having. When I sing, I’m adding my voice to their voice. Joining them in both words and actions for a better tomorrow. A better tomorrow for me. A better tomorrow for you. A better tomorrow for ALL of us.”
Serving as the executive director of the non-profit Sound Bridge Music, Lopez vows to do what he can to support the Front Range music community navigate the challenges raised by Covid-19.
LISTEN
NEWS
I am happy to announce that I am stepping into the executive director role for the non-profit Sound Bridge Music. In taking on this role, I vow to do what I can to support the Front Range Music Community as we navigate through this difficult time. It pains me to see the financial hardships that many of my peers and myself are going through as the result of lost income from event cancelations and all the venues being closed. It haunts me to think about what the climate is going to be like as a working musician after this. One thing is for certain, none of us are going to be able to weather this storm on our own. The way we are going to get through this is people helping people.
A little background on Sound Bridge Music: Sound Bridge Music is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation incorporated in 2017 in Longmont, Colorado. The organization was founded as a grassroots effort to use the power of music to make a positive difference in communities across the Front Range. Harnessing the talents of local musicians, Sound Bridge Music connects artists with opportunities to bring music to those in need of the unique comfort, empowerment, healing and sense of belonging that only music can provide. Thanks for making The Kickstarter Campaign for Roots and Wings A Success!
As you may have heard, I am in the final stages of recording my next album, Roots and Wings. I want these songs to reach more people than anything I've done in the past, so I'm asking for your help. I just launched a kickstarter campaign to fund the album. My goal is to raise $15,000. Funding on Kickstarter is all or nothing. That means if we don't reach the funding goal of $15,000 by the time the campaign ends on January 8, 2020, I won’t receive any of the funds that were pledged to the project. If this happens, all who pledged will be refunded and the timeline for the release of Roots and Wings will be severely delayed. I've fronted the money for the costs incurred thus far. I did this so that the timeframe for those who pledge on kickstarter and the release of the record and rewards is not an overly drawn out process. This is the first time I have used crowdfunding. Ten years into my career, almost 4 albums later, over 1000 live shows. I wanted to build your trust in me as an artist before I funded a project through kickstarter. It’s not easy for me to ask for help, but when I do, I'm reminded that after years of walking this path as a working musician, I’m not alone on this journey. The friendships and connection I have found through the music is what makes all of this worthwhile. You, my community, are what nurtures me and you are what gives me roots. Now I’m asking you; will you give me wings? -Antonio 
My friend Greg Johnson and myself are putting on a music festival! Casey Jones Music Fest will be at Parrish Ranch on September 6-8. Parrish Ranch is one of the sweetest places in Colorado I’ve ever been. Just 10 miles NW of Longmont, it has plenty of shade trees and the river running through it. For anyone that was at Georgia and my wedding this past summer, this is the place it was at. Join us for three days of music, camping, and community. CJMF features 18 acts, workshops, a songwriting contest, and an open stage. Festival attendees can hang out in the festival field after the main stage performances to play acoustic music and celebrate the joy of making music under the Colorado sky. Bring your instrument and BYOB! Get your early bird tickets before prices go up on July 31 by clicking here.
The Episode of The Songwriter Hour that Antonio was featured on is now available to listen to at thesongwriterhour.com or on Spotify and iTunes. The Songwriter Hour is hosted by Kyle Donovan and is taped in front of a live audience at Still Cellars in Longmont, CO.
My last show of the year is this Wednesday, December 5th at eTown Hall in Boulder, CO. I will be performing as part of Boulder in The Round’s 4th Anniversary. We will be upstairs on the main stage! Other songwriters performing are Shanna in A Dress, Pamela Machala, Heatherlyn, Theresa Peterson, Kyle Donovan, Dave Tamkin, Hunter Stone. Be prepared for many collaborations between the artists and even some special guests. eTown is the best sounding concert hall in Colorado, this is going to be a special one. Get your tickets here.
HOLLER!WEEN Music Festival
Antonio Lopez Band is proud to be part of The Holler!Ween Music Festival on Saturday, Oct 20th in Fort Collins. In it's 16th year, Holler!Ween is hosted by Michael Kirkpatrick and the Sustainable Living Assocition. Bring 2 or more non-perishable food items for the Food Bank. Your ticket includes camping and your first beer. |
|