The Rumba Kings

The Rumba Kings is an original American world music band co-founded in 2015 in Seattle, Washington, by producer/songwriter/bassist and former Capitol Records recording artist, Johnny Bacolas,^[1][2][3](best known for being a member of the band Second Coming),^[4][5] and guitarist/songwriter, George Stevens.^[2] The songwriting is strongly influenced by Latin and Mediterranean music, and is mostly nylon-guitar driven, influenced by such artists as Yanni and The Gipsy Kings.^[6][7][2]Regarding the band's songs, Stevens states, "If it isn't beautiful, it doesn't make the cut,"^[2] while Bacolas describes the band's music as "passionate and beautiful."^[2]

In 2018, the band released their debut double-album, The Instrumental and Vocal Sessions, Vol. I,^[8] and in 2019, released their sophomore full-length album, The Instrumental Sessions, Vol. II.^[9]Subsequently, the band released three singles in 2020.^[10][11][12]

History (2015–present)[]

In June 2015, Bacolas and Stevens formed The Rumba Kings.^[13][6] Bacolas and Stevens began collaborating in the studio for the next two years writing their debut album.^[14] Soon after Bacolas and Stevens formed a live band from musicians they both knew.^[6] In April 2016, the group began performing live at local small bars and bistros.^[6]

In 2018, band released their debut double-disc debut album The Instrumental and Vocal Sessions, Vol. I.^[6][15] The album was produced by Johnny Bacolas and mixed and mastered by Martin Feveyear.^[15][16] In 2019, the group released their sophomore full-length album, The Instrumental Sessions, Vol. II.^[17] The album was also produced by Johnny Bacolas and mixed and mastered by Martin Feveyear.^[9][12]

During the production of both records, Bacolas traveled to Greece on two occasions, to record several musicians on songs for The Rumba Kings' albums, and to film and direct music videos for the band's new albums. Filming for the music videos took place on location on Mykonos,^[18] Santorini,^[19] and as well as throughout the mainland of Greece.^[20]In a November 1998 interview in The National Herald, Bacolas states, "My ultimate dream is to build a small villa in Santorini with a recording studio."^[1]

The group released their Latin single, "Mirame", written by Horacio Alcantar (Lyrics), and George Stevens (Music), and produced by Johnny Bacolas in January 2020. Natalis is the featured vocalist.^[12]

The Rumba Kings released their Greek single "Den tha se ksehaso", written by Sofi Alexandrou (Lyrics), George Stevens (Music), and John Paul Adams (Lyrics/Music), and produced by Johnny Bacolas in July 2020.^[10] Also in July 2020, the band released their Latin single "Dance with me", written by Johnny Bacolas (Lyrics), and George Stevens (Music), and produced by Johnny Bacolas. Natalis is the featured vocalists on "Dance with me."^[11]

During the pandemic of 2020, when live music was paused, the group released several quarantine videos.^[21][22] During this time, Bacolas and Stevens redesigned their show, growing it from 90 minutes to almost three hours in length, adding several new songs, as well as instrumentalists.^[21]"We're really progressing with the show, revamping and adding a lot of new elements," says lead guitarist George Stevens. "This downtime that we've had really put everything in perspective as to what needed to be done and gave us the time to do that." Bassist and producer Johnny Bacolas adds, "That's been our attitude from the outset of this, to turn lemons into lemonade and to utilize this time, since everybody was going to be at home. George and I put the entire show under a microscope. We added songs, auditioned several additional musicians, brought in new percussionists and three new vocalists, and spent a lot of time training other instrumentalists. It was a really good time for us, since everybody has a home studio and we were able to collaborate electronically. It ended up being a really positive thing."^[21]

Musicians that perform and record with The Rumba Kings[]

• George Stevens – guitar^{[23][8][9][12][10][11]}
• Johnny Bacolas – producer, bass guitar, guitar, bouzouki^{[23][8][9][12][10][11]}
• Teddy Adams – guitar^[23][9][8]
• Vinnie Uanno – guitar^[17]
• Mohamed Hussein – guitar
• Andrey Zasypkin^{[23][11][12][9][8]}/Mike Fernandez^[17]/Josh Kossak/Christos Manolopoulos^[8][10] – drums
• Sofi Alexandrou,^[8][10] Natalis,^[11][12] Rustam Shtar^[7][8] – vocals
• Rustam Shtar^[9] – Soprano Saxophone
• Bahaa Sadak^[15]/Achilleas Dantilis^[9] – Keyboards
• Tor Dietrichson^{[23][9][8][11][12]}/Arturo Rodriguez/Kai Standskov – percussion
• Rachel Nesvig – violin
• Arcobaleno Strings – String Quartet^[24][25]
• Panagiotis Kotsianos – violin^{[8][11][12][10]}
• Geoffrey Castle – violin^{[8][11][9][12]}
• Brian Gunter – cello^[8][9][10]
• Enrique Haneo – guitar^[8][9]
• Eric Snyder – composer, guitar^[8][9]
• Seth May-Patterson – viola/arranger
• Loren Tempkin – Piano^[10]
• Martin Ross – Piano^[8]
• Charly Hernandez - ^[25]
• Deseo Carmin - ^[25]

Discography[]

Studio albums

Singles

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• The Rumba Kings at the AMG