Music Commission Chair Carlos Medina
Bio
Carlos Medina is a singer, songwriter, actor and comedian; born in Las Vegas, NM, grew up in the village of El Coruco.
Covering the music scene both nationally and internationally, Keith Langerman’s a veteran of over 30 years experience as a musician, journalist and photographer. Internationally known, his work has been featured in This Is Rock (Spain), Rock It! (Germany), Classic Rock : Blues (UK) as well as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The Chicago Tribune in the United States.
More recently, his attention has been focused upon photography and running the Americana Music Society, which now numbers over 15,000 followers on Facebook, and growing. His photography has been featured in the official city of Albuquerque publication on the Albuquerque music ecosystem, In Harmony : Strengthening the Albuquerque Music Ecosystem (October 2017). In 2019 he was the official photographer for the New Mexico Music Awards. Currently he also serves as VP Artist and Relations for New Mexico based label 13 Music Ltd.
His photography and digital artwork has also been used in numerous promotional material, album covers and publications worldwide.
Buddy Abeyta, with his brother Amado Abeyta are founding members of Sol Fire and 7th generation New Mexicans. They are known for their original music, a unique sound that fuses rock with pop, R&B and Latin influences. The sons of local music legend Chris Abeyta, a mainstay of the Santa Fe music scene, they plan to keep the flame burning for many generations to come.
After playing in local bands for many years on the Santa Fe scene, including Buddy & The Lush, the brothers formed Sol Fire in 2002. Two years later, they entered the studio and released their debut album, “Self Titled.”
Since then, Sol Fire has become a household name in Santa Fe and New Mexico.
In the summer of 2006, Sol Fire released their second studio album, “Third Floor Serenade.” The buzz around their second release took Sol Fire to new heights when they were chosen as only one of three bands to be showcased in the New Mexico Lottery Powerball commercials and ad campaigns. They were also the only band chosen to produce two commercials, one in English and one in Spanish, proving that their music can reach a diverse audience.
In 2007, their original song, “She’s Got,” was chosen for the national compilation album “The After After Party” sponsored by McDonald’s and Coca-Cola. Sol Fire also co-wrote and produced music for United Way of Central New Mexico’s ad campaign. In addition, many of their songs have been used in ads for the City of Santa Fe, local films, and national streaming playlists.
Sol Fire has also been honored with many other great opportunities, including opening for Ozomatli, English Beat (who are some of the brothers’ personal heroes), Yerba Buena, The Iguanas, Groupo Fantasma, Paul Rodriguez, Quetzal, and Los Lobos.
Ten days before the 2008 election, Sol Fire sang the national anthem and performed an acoustic set before George Lopez and then Presidential candidate Barack Obama who spoke at a rally in Albuquerque, N.M., with over 45,000 people in attendance. They have also opened speaking engagements for Former President Bill Clinton on two different occasions.
Their original sound has taken the band to a variety of venues, such as performing the National Anthem at the University of New Mexico Pit, The John Steinbeck Center, St. Mary’s University, Tingley Coliseum, headlining the Santa Fe Fiesta’s street dance, and headlining the burning of Zozobra multiple times with crowds of 40,000 plus. They are a mainstay for the tree lighting on the Santa Fe Plaza, the 4th of July, and play up to 150 shows a year as a duo and band.
Being able to share their music with so many different people has been Sol Fire’s greatest honor. Through the success that they have gained in New Mexico, the brothers of Sol Fire have proven their dedication to their music by self-producing all of their albums. Their latest EP was released last year and is getting airplay on several local radio stations. The EP’s first single is “Sophies Song.” An ode to his daughter and Autism Awareness. The full album will be released in early 2021 via all major streaming services as well as vinyl.
STATE OF NEW MEXICO
MUSIC COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday 12 April 2022
1:00 p.m.
The New Mexico Music Commission will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 12 at 1:00pm. In light of the Governor’s Executive Order 2020‐004, declaring a state of public health emergency and directing agencies to take necessary precautions to mitigate the transmission of COVID‐19, the Arts Commission has decided to hold the April 12, 2022 meeting via videoconference. The meeting is open to the public.
Please contact Cynthia Gonzales at CynthiaR.Gonzales@state.nm.us or phone at (505) 827‐6490 for the link to the Zoom webinar. You may participate with a computer or by phone.
If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified signed language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, or both please contact New Mexico Arts at (505) 827‐6490 or statewide at (800) 879‐4278 or via email at CynthiaR.Gonzales@state.nm.us at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting date or as soon as possible. Public documents, including the agenda and meeting minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Please contact New Mexico Arts if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed.
A copy of the meeting agenda is available at https://nmdca.net/archives/governance/2022/nmmc.2022.04.12.pdf . Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Copies of the agenda may be obtained at http://nmarts.org/ or http://www.NMculture.org or by contacting Cynthia Gonzales at CynthiaR.Gonzales@state.nm.us or phone at (505) 827‐6490.