KUMBIA KINGS

The 'Kumbia Kings' are a Latin Grammy-winning group from Texas. Their music encompasses the styles of Cumbia (hence their name), Hip-Hop and R&B. They produce songs in both Spanish and English. The band's producers from the beginning have been Abraham Quintanilla, III (AB), and Cruz Martínez. AB is also known as the brother of the late "queen of tejano music", Selena. He played bass guitar for the group, while Cruz played keyboards. Both co-wrote songs for the Kumbia Kings. Though the group has gone through a revolving door of members in recent years amid controversy and finger-pointing, and the Kumbia Kings of today are vastly different than what originated in Corpus Christi, TX over 8 years ago, Cruz and AB were always the soul of the group. Gone are original members Frankie J. and DJ Kane both who have gone on to significant success as solo artists, as well as the group Kingz1 (K1), a collaboration of former Kumbia Kings members who have defected from the group for reason of "internal dissention". Unfortunately, AB, singer Irvin "PeeWee Gonzales" Salinas, as well as Selena's husband Chris Pérez, ( who has now remarried ) also decided to leave the group due to that same "internal dissention".

Contents

Success

Controversy

Recently

Success

Los Kumbia Kings’ 1999 debut album, ''Amor, Familia, y Respeto'', immediately sold over 500,000 copies and earned them a Grammy nomination. 2001 brought the album ''Sshhh!'', which in its first week, was number 2 among all Latin releases, and stayed at the top for almost 2 years. By 2003, the Kings had already earned a nomination for the “Latin Artist of the Year” at the American Music Awards, along with countless other musical awards and achievements. ''4'' was released in March 2003. It was a bilingual project that brought together innovative fusions of R&B, pop, reggae, hip-hop, vallenatos, and electro-cumbia hits. Latin all-stars, such as Aleks Syntek, El Gran Silencio, Juan Gabriel, and the Grammy-winning group Ozomatli brought extra dimension to the Kings' already encompassing style. In October of 2004, Los Kumbia Kings released their 6th studio album titled ''Fuego'', another CD that, as well, has gone on to sell over 500,000 copies. This album had again saw the Kings meeting the “Gold-Standard” in the music industry. On November 2, 2006, Los Kumbia Kings won their first Latin Grammy for their album, ''Kumbia Kings Live'' (Best Tropical Regional Mexican Album). Unfortunately, this is a bittersweet victory for the group amidst the controversy and love/hate relationship between the co-founders of the band, Quintanilla and Martínez, as well as the other members (and ex-members) of the group. AB Quintanilla left the group and early in the summer of 2006 formed “Kumbia All Starz”, a Kumbia King styled ensemble that released their first album in Late September of that year.
A.B. 's new group has launched many hits such as "Chiquilla", "Parece Que Va Llover" And "Speedy Gonzalez". They are now touring all over Latin America and the U.S.. Cruz Martinez continued to tour with "Los Kumbia Kings" until he decided to change the name of the group he now headed to "Los Super Reyes". Many of the members of the Kumbia Kings opted to stay with Cruz and released their first album as Los Super Reyes in August of 2007. Their first single, entitled "Muevelo" has topped Latin radio airwaves in the U.S. as well as Latin America.

Controversy

Amid a flurry of controversy and rumors, AB Quintanilla abruptly quit Los Kumbia Kings early in 2006. Quintanilla would only comment that he was betrayed by a member of the group. After months of speculation, Quintanilla revealed on Univision’s ''Cristina'' that his departure from the group stemmed from financial mismanagement on behalf of the group's manager and keyboardist Cruz Martínez. He stated that Martínez had somehow mishandled over a million dollars owed to him from touring and record sales. Quintanilla also stated that Martínez had registered Los Kumbia Kings in Mexico as his own property without Quintanilla's consent.
Questioned as to why AB did not simply fire Martínez from the group, Quintanilla stated that “Me leaving was the best thing to do for everybody. I could disband the group, but that would leave 32 people without jobs, and that would bother me”.
With wife Alicia ever-present, Martínez was quick to respond to his former band mate's accusations. Interviewed outside his home in Monterrey, Mexico, Martínez stated that he would present proof that Quintanilla's accusations were false. Martínez also took offense to Quintanilla involving the name of his wife, Mexican artist Alicia Villareal, in the controversy. Martínez has told people ''People en Español'' that the reason for his name being registered as the sole property owner of “Los Kumbia Kings” in Mexico, was that Quintanilla asked that his name be removed from ownership of the group in Mexico. Martínez said his wife Alicia was “honest,” and “noble”. Martínez commented that at the time, Quintanilla was having legal issues pertaining to child support payments, and was advised by his legal representation to be removed as property owner of “Los Kumbia Kings” in Mexico. Martínez has stated that he would provide future proof of Quintanilla's business habits pertaining to Kumbia Kings that would leave “everybody in shock”. Cruz appeared on “Cristina” three weeks after Quintanilla's accusations. Martínez, who appeared along with his wife, refuted the allegations made by his former bandmate. He disputed that he did not take or embezzled any money owed to Quintanilla, explaining that the money owed was paid in full, but that Quintanilla was simply not happy with the timing of the payment. Martínez stated that at the time, he was in California caring for his pregnant wife, and could not attend to Quintanilla’s requests, as all business transfers concerning the group are handled through an office in Monterrey, Mexico. Martínez commented that all Quintanilla needed to do was “drive two hours from his home in Texas to Monterrey, and none of this would have been an issue”. Martínez also refuted the statement made by Quintanilla that upon calling in regards to funds owed to him, he was told “that somebody ripped us off, and we both lost money”.
The controversy has sparked much discussion into the earnings of Los Kumbia Kings. One industry insider has said that as it is a regional music group, he would be surprised if the group collectively earned more than a few million dollars per year. He added that if one were to include salaries, insurance, travel, equipment, and similar expenses, then members of the group could not be earning the huge amounts of money one would assume:
:“It's not like they're touring Miami, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and playing in the big arenas. They play moderate sized venues, with no more than a few thousand fans. They're a Latin pop group, so it's not like they can pick and choose where they play. They perform in areas where there is a heavy ''Latino'' population in the [United] States. And they also tour Latin America, mostly Mexico. But you're really not going to make great money touring Mexico. The group is not a big-time money maker. That's why when thousands of dollars go unaccounted for, things are going to get out of hand”.
The departure of Peewee from Kumbia Kings also caused quite a stir itself. Although officially he was “terminated” from the group due to his failure to appear at a variety of Kumbia Kings shows and functions, it has been widely reported that Peewee’s absence at those shows was a tactic to get himself terminated from Kumbia Kings. But on the other hand, when interviewed by Univision's ''Primer Impacto'', he himself said that the reason he was absent from those shows was because he was sick with an earache. A few days later, when recording at Quintanilla's Texan home for what was to be the new Kumbia Kings album, he heard for the first time that Cruz had hired another teenager, Joseph aka Jojo, to replace Peewee. Peewee was just as shocked by this piece of news as everyone else. In the interview, Peewee also said that Quintanilla offered him a spot in the new group, Kumbia All Starz, and Peewee accepted. Currently, Peewee is fronting the new group, Kumbia All Starz. Quintanilla commented on ''El Gordo Y La Flaca'' that material on the album of Kumbia All Starz was originally meant to be released by Los Kumbia Kings. It is speculated that Cruz later attempted to get Peewee back into the Kumbia Kings, but Peewee refused.
Rumors also had former Kumbia King front man Jason “DJ-Kane” Cano returning to front Los Kumbia Kings. Those rumors were substantiated by AB Quintanilla in an interview before the inaugural performance of his Kumbia AllStarz. Responding to comments in an interview by then Los Kumbia Kings lead vocalist “Nando”, Quintanilla replied “Nando will take Cruz' side in the matter, because that's his boss. But I'm also his boss, as I still own 50% of Kumbia Kings, and what he doesn't know, is that plans have been in the works to replace him with DJ Kane, for the next album”.
Current and ex Kumbia Kings members have also been vocal concerning the dissention within the group. Abel Talamantez who joined Kumbia Kings in 2003, after a 6 year stint first with Menudo - and 5 years with ''MDO'' - had some surprising comments pertaining to Quintanilla. Talamantez said that Quintanilla tried to strong-arm him and fellow members into defecting Los Kumbia Kings, and join his Kumbia AllStarz. “We were presented with some documents by AB, which in effect would have us signed over to his new group, but I came here to be a Kumbia King” Talamantez is quoted as saying in ''People en Español''.
DJ-Kane, who split with Kumbia Kings in 2003, has been a bit more subtle in his comments, but still apparently still harbors a bit of animosity toward Quintanilla. Interviewed on Univison's daily variety show ''El Gordo Y La Flaca'', DJ-Kane was asked about the current Kumbia King dilemma. “Well, it’s the same thing every couple of years. This and that, that and this. I respect AB a lot, but it’s easy to see what’s going on over there. He's not an easy guy to work with, because it’s his boat. Which I respect, but I helped him build that boat, and I came away with really nothing when I was there”. DJ-Kane says he has begun work on his 3rd solo album, and denies reports he will rejoin Kumbia Kings.

Recently

AB Quintanilla successfully petitioned Mexican courts to claim the naming rights to "Los Kumbia Kings", though there really was not much opposition. As Fellow Kumbia King founder Cruz Martinez never pursued litigation to retain or share the naming rights with Quintanilla. The name "Los Kumbia Kings" is retired according to Quintanilla, though rumors persist that "Los Kumbia Kings" will resurface at a later date with new band members. "That name will make you money", so it's foolish to think that it will not be used again, cites one record company executive.
Quintanilla continues to tour with his group "Kumbia Allstarz", and their self-titled October 2006 release sold well. Plans for a follow-up album have not been discussed, as the group continues to heavily promote and tour their current release, but in the Latin music market where album releases by the biggest stars average about every 15 months, another release by the "Allstarz" is expected early next year.
Martinez regrouped and took what was left of Los Kumbia Kings to Warner Brothers Music Group Latino. In late June it was announced that the new venture would be named "Cruz Martinez Presenta Los Super Reyes" with "El Regreso de Los Reyes" coming August 14, 2007. The single "Muevelo" was released to the public over the internet and radio. The "Super Reyes" ensemble includes cast-offs from the last edition of "Los Kumbia Kings"; And in a surprising move, Martinez lured original Kumbia Kings members Alex and Roy Ramirez (currently still with their stalled Kingz1 music venture) to help him out with the project. "They are original Kumbia Kings, so I thought it would be great to have them back, plus they're family," stated Martinez to Univision.
What success Martinez will have with his new project will be closely watched, and maybe answer the question many have been asking for the past year. Where Los Kumbia Kings and their groundbreaking success a figment of AB Quintanilla, or a collaboration of countless musicians, personalities, and ideas over the 10 year existence of the group.
So it appears this ends the great "Kumbia King Kontroversy" of 2006, with all parties seeming to be at peace with their respective projects. "They may make more money, they make less money being on their own, But I really don't think this was about money. In fact I assure you it was not about money. I think Quintanlla and Martinez learned one of the harder lessons there are in life. Never go into business with friends or family, because in the end family, friends and business just don't mix", said a record executive.