The Big Sound: Full House: TYT
The Big Sound
TYT brings back the funk.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
Keith Hames knows how to get a crowd fired up. During the last song at a recent Sly McFly’s gig, Hames whipped the crowd into a frenzy during TYT’s jammed-out version of the James Brown classic “Sex Machine.”
In a phone interview, the large, energetic lead vocalist and percussionist of the San Jose-based funk, R&B and Latin group says that he has been playing music for years.
At age 12, Hames started his first group with the great name of Funky Bubble Gum #2. In the late ‘70s and ‘80s, Hames was singing for regional reggae bands like Peace, One World and Thaddeus. Then, three years ago, Hames decided to try something different with TYT (which stands for Today, Yesterday and Tomorrow).
“We started as an R&B, old school funk outfit, and we integrated Latin music into the band,” Hames says.
TYT started to play more Latin music with the addition of vocalist Esmeralda Del Carmen a couple of years ago. Carmen, a former member of the Cuban music group Son Santa Clara, sings lead vocals on a Selena medley and some Salsa and cumbia tunes.
But, Hames, says his group still plays classic old school like his personal favorite, “Back in Love Again” by L.T.D.
TYT plays Saturday at 9pm, Sly McFly’s, 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. 649-8050.
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