Presents

NY Louie & Friends

Home and Friends

 

NY Louie Biography  

Bronx born, NY (New York) Louie Guzman, grew up in a music loving family. His grandmother taught him to salsa at age two by putting his feet on top of hers.  Louie’s early influences included Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Ramsey Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, the Jazz Crusaders, and James Brown.  The family bought a farm and moved to Plattlekill when he was nine. An old piano left in the family room by the previous owners got Louie started and he initially taught himself by ear.  Two years later he began playing percussion in school, and he also sang in choir and preformed with harmony groups through his school years.

His love of Latin music lead him to form and play with bands throughout his youth, including the Latin Soul Sextet. Louie played Latin jazz and R&B in a variety of New York City and up-state New York clubs while still in high school including; Colgate Gardens, Hunts Point Palace, El Nilo Country Club, Villa Garcia, and the Calderon Country Club.  

After high school, Louie joined the Air Force.  During his enlistments Louie played with his group and also performed with the Air Force ‘Tops in Blues’. The Latin Soul Sextet competed in Air Force sponsored events in the U.S. and Europe. They were featured in showcases on both continents and frequently performed as backup musicians for other performers on tour.  Concerts in Las Vegas, NV and in Europe were recorded live and broadcasted.  Louie also played with Johnny Pacheco, Monguito Santamaria, and the BBC Philharmonic.   

Louie moved to Albuquerque in 1997 after his retirement. He first became involved in the local music scene in 2000 after the death of his mentor, Tito Puente.  He sponsored a charity tribute to Tito Puente that provided funds for the Hispanic Heritage Committee Youth Scholarship Program. 

He played with several local groups at the New Mexico Jazz Workshop’s “Jazz Under the Stars”, the 50’s Reunion, and Musician’s and Friends.  In 2001, Louie formed a new group and prepared to record his first CD.  This was the birth of NY Louie & Friends and his first album “Follow Me, Follow My Groove”.  Jeff Kashiwa recorded two tracks with Louie for the album, “On Broadway” and “Louie’s Groove”.

In September of 2003, Louie and Jeff did a workshop with the Polk Middle School music students in Albuquerque, NM.  Later that evening, the two teamed up for NY Louie & Friends’ CD release party, which benefited the New Mexico Jazz Workshop Youth Education Program and Polk Middle School.  The two teamed up again in August 2004 to provide an educational opportunity for youth at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center.  

NY Louie & Friends have a loyal fan following throughout the US and has air play on about 80 radio stations nationwide.  Over the past seven years NY Louie & Friends have been featured at the Albuquerque Wine Festival, the Santa Fe Wine Festival, the Will Fjerstad Memorial Wine & Art Festival (Durango, CO), the New Mexico State Fair, Pappadeaux’s, Hotel Albuquerque’s Q-Bar, and other venues and special events - so return to the gig page often to find out the schedule!

Louie is a member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers).