TeCheetah The Queen of Salsa Soul

Once again, the Goddess of Ritmo smiles down upon us dwellers & dancers de Aztlan and the Land of 1000 Dances, and blesses us with some new and exciting talent and music from one of our own.

After the recent JOE BATAAN concert in Orange County last month, I received phone calls from musician friends Ray Carrion and Ray & Becky Cordova.

They tell me of a popular up-and-coming singer that really impressed them.

"She's gonna be the next SELENA, and she's even got the blessing of the Quintanilla family to continue with some of SELENA's unpublished work that has been on hold since she passed," Ray Carrion tells me.

"Girl got a voice and stage presence to match. I've heard her CD, and it's not bad, Frankie. You should hear it," says Ray Cordova..

Ok...just like my luck, when the great Johnny Hernandez gave me an early heads up on Valentina Estrada, when an established artist tells me about somebody new in their ranks, I feel complimented to have been thus informed.... so I start doing some research, 'cause I HATE to miss out.

I do a web search for Te'Cheetah...y ya! There she is !

Recognized, produced, and promoted by some impressive names in the music biz, I ask Becky Cordova to connect us so I can interview her for LatinoLA, being that she lives in San Diego and I'm about 5 minutes away from Magic Mountain in the San Fernando Valley...about 3 1/2 hour's drive one way in today's traffic...thank goodness for cell phones & free long distance!

A couple days later I get a call from a lady who cheerfully says, "Hi Frankie ! My name is Te'Cheetah Lopez. My friend Becky Cordova asked me to give you a call."

Confident and self-assured, yet easy to talk to, she and I hit it off immediately, and start conversing like we were talking over the backyard fence and having a cold one in the 'hood.

Born Patricia Ann Lopez in Visalia, California, and raised in the small farming community of Farmersville, Califiornia, Te'Cheetah tells me she started singing at the age of 5 and never stopped after that.

One day at school I started singing 'Mary had a little lamb' and was surprised at the positive attention I got. I was put in the school choir after that...and was bit by the show biz bug," she laughs. "But I had my first critic at age 7. I don't remember where we were going, but I was sitting in the back seat of my Tia Olivia's Ford Pinto, happily singing along like most little kids do, when she suddenly turned around and said 'Sing right, or don't sing at all'...and I thought 'Wow!...I'm being taken serious here.'"

Influenced by the legends she heard on the radio while growing up, such as Nancy Wilson, Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz and Barbara Streisand, Te'Cheetah (which is a family nickname she grew up with) began singing with a local Farmersville group called "Brown Sugar" at the age of 12. "That lasted a little while, but it was fun," she says. "Singing boleros & other Spanish songs for local parties, dances, and events."

At age 18, she started her own group called "Patricia y Los Recuerdos," still singing Spanish boleros. She laughs, "But I always wanted to sing Disco!" She also got married about this time, but kept on singing.

Te'Cheetah says music has always been a part of her life. "Hey, with my Dad being Mexican, and my Mom being being Italian-Caucasian-Hispanic, my family music taste influences ranged from Spanish boleros/rancheras to Motown to Rock to Soul and the TV music shows from American bandstand to Soul Train...I see music as a beautiful art and source of energy that has influenced my whole life."

Te'Cheetah first recorded professionally in 1987 as a back up singer doing studio sessions, and sang under contract with SONY from 2001 to 2005. Her Spanish language recording "Fuego" was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2004.

Still a virtual unknown among "big names," Te'Cheetah says she got a break in 2005 when, during a summer concert in Madero, California, where she performed along with a bill that included Evelyn "Champaign" King and Janice Marie of TASTE OF HONEY, she was asked to sing the National Anthem at the last minute.

"A fortunate aspect of my God-given talent is that I seem to be able to jump in with most bands, in almost any key, so when I was asked to sing the National Anthem in front of the large crowd, I stepped up and gave it my best...the crowd loved it, and afterwards, David Cochran of the COMMODORES came up and gave me his number, saying he wanted to work with me."

"After my CD 'Abrazame' was completed, I met producer Christopher Troy, who invited me to his studio to hear a new Spanish language project he was working on. I soon discovered it was music that he had composed years earlier that was intended for SELENA's English crossover album just before her death, that has been just sitting for years. He thought my voice was perfect for it, and we start recording in October. About a year ago, I met guitarist Ray Carrion of EL CHICANO and - By Frankie Firme ~ Contributing Editor Published on LatinoLA: September 16, 2011

“2004 Latin Grammy Submitted Nominee, Te Cheetah Announces Plans to Record Music Slated for Selena, La Reina de Tejano Music”
While on a promotional tour in Texas for the Johnny Canales Show, Christopher Troy and his Writing Partner, Zac Harmon were signed to a publishing deal with Michael Jackson/ATV Music Publishing. They had a series of charting hits with several popular artists such as Karyn White, Cherelle, Rhonda Clark, and Alexander O’Neal just to name a few.
During that time both gentlemen were fortunate to have a meeting with Selena, her Father and Family to discuss her next big project which was her “English Pop” album/CD. At the conclusion of the meeting, Christopher and Zac agreed (at the family’s request) to return to L.A. to begin working on a collaboration with Selena; whose music had won the hearts of fans across the United States and Mexico.
However, just days after arriving back to L.A. while working on the project, they were notified of the tragic death of Selena. Recently, Christopher Troy was electrified with the remarkable talent of Latin Recording Artist, Te Cheetah and has invited the Artist to join forces with him to complete the music that was never given a chance to be graced by the legendary “La Reina de Tejano Music”, Selena.
Te Cheetah has embraced the opportunity (given to her by Christopher Troy) to record this music and had this to say about the upcoming project “I’ve been given the honor to start and finish the music that was prepared for Selena before she passed on. I will do everything possible to keep her spirit alive in the music… No one will ever replace her! However, I promise that I will do my best to honor the music that was slated for Selena”!
In respect to Selena’s family, Te Cheetah has already spoken with Selena’s Father and has asked for their blessing and encouragement on this project. In addition, Te Cheetah will donate 25% of all CD sales to the Selena Foundation.
For further information regarding Te Cheetah and this project please visit www.Techeetah.net or e-mail, Colormyworldmusic@gmail.com. For booking and promotions, please call SJR Media Group, LLC at 720.237.9448. - By Cheryl Lucero LatinLifeDenver.com

“2004 Latin Grammy Submitted Nominee, Te Cheetah Announces Plans to Record Music Slated for Selena, La Reina de Tejano Music”
While on a promotional tour in Texas for the Johnny Canales Show, Christopher Troy and his Writing Partner, Zac Harmon were signed to a publishing deal with Michael Jackson/ATV Music Publishing. They had a series of charting hits with several popular artists such as Karyn White, Cherelle, Rhonda Clark, and Alexander O’Neal just to name a few.
During that time both gentlemen were fortunate to have a meeting with Selena, her Father and Family to discuss her next big project which was her “English Pop” album/CD. At the conclusion of the meeting, Christopher and Zac agreed (at the family’s request) to return to L.A. to begin working on a collaboration with Selena; whose music had won the hearts of fans across the United States and Mexico.
However, just days after arriving back to L.A. while working on the project, they were notified of the tragic death of Selena. Recently, Christopher Troy was electrified with the remarkable talent of Latin Recording Artist, Te Cheetah and has invited the Artist to join forces with him to complete the music that was never given a chance to be graced by the legendary “La Reina de Tejano Music”, Selena.
Te Cheetah has embraced the opportunity (given to her by Christopher Troy) to record this music and had this to say about the upcoming project “I’ve been given the honor to start and finish the music that was prepared for Selena before she passed on. I will do everything possible to keep her spirit alive in the music… No one will ever replace her! However, I promise that I will do my best to honor the music that was slated for Selena”!
In respect to Selena’s family, Te Cheetah has already spoken with Selena’s Father and has asked for their blessing and encouragement on this project. In addition, Te Cheetah will donate 25% of all CD sales to the Selena Foundation.
For further information regarding Te Cheetah and this project please visit www.Techeetah.net or e-mail, Colormyworldmusic@gmail.com. For booking and promotions, please call SJR Media Group, LLC at 720.237.9448. - By Cheryl Lucero LatinLifeDenver.com