Family Pride
Some of Mary's relatives, including her mother, her father's mother, her brother, and several cousins have heard Mary's Band perform. She plans to visit Venezuela soon, for the first time in several years.
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Mary Frometa's Venezuelan roots extend through the Latin and Caribbean music industry for decades. Her grandfather, Bill Frometa, led the band "Los Billos Caracas Boys" in performances across South America and the Caribbean. Her father carried on the tradition, and in 1995, when Mary moved back to Texas (she was born in Bryan, TX), she soon joined Grupo Ka-Che, touring with them for six years.
In 2002, she formed Mary's Band, taking them on tour around the country and overseas to Japan and Korea. Mary's Band has performed under Michelob Light and Bud Light sponsorships, played for Texas Governor Rick Perry's inauguration, and appeared in pre-game entertainment for the U.S. and Mexican Soccer Leagues among many other highlights.
Mary herself has appeared on the popular Spanish-language Telemundo and Univision networks, inteviewing artists and showcasing the "Video of the Week" for "Ritmo Latino". Somewhere in-between the spotlights, she also operates her own real estate agency.
Latin music first became popular with Anglo audiences in North America in the 1940s and 1950s. Pop movies like Patrick Swayze's "Dirty Dancing" sensationalize the dance styles that have accompanied the music, but it's down-to-earth artists like Mary and her fellow musicians who bring the music itself to life.
Houston dancers and Latin music devotees have flocked to venues where Mary plays. When Ringside at Sullivan's Steakhouse, once a popular Salsa hot spot, featured Mary's Band several times in 2004, the floor was standing room only all night long.
I was still not fully comfortable with dancing to live music, which tends to be faster than CD music, when I first heard Mary's Band play at Sullivan's. Latin artists really have to be versatile and offer their audiences a selection of styles. But when you're just getting your dancing legs under you, you spend a lot of time asking your friends, "Is that a Salsa or a Merengue?" You feel a bit silly when someone says, "Cumbia!" or "Cha Cha".
Mary plays Cha Cha, Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, and Bachata. Maybe she plays a few other styles I haven't heard yet. My friends were enthusiastic about her performances, but I started out feeling some frustration because she wouldn't stay with Salsa like "other bands". I have since learned that the better performers change styles faster than Superman changes clothes.
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