Vocal Archives - Farolito Music

On Borrowed Time | En Tiempo Prestado

FM Admin — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 13:35:56 +0000

A collection of Spanish and English songs of love, hope and resurrection describing José Rubén De León’s walk of faith as he contends with the death of his beloved mother.

Featuring: José Rubén De León with J. Javier Gutiérrez guitarist and Donald Walker Jr. saxophonist.

Music can be a source of inspiration and motivation, even empowerment for some. For actor, vocalist and composer José Rubén De León, music comforted him during his mother’s year-long battle with liver cancer, healed the pain when she died, and today, continues to be a way he strengthens his faith in God and reaches out to others.

In loving memory of his mother, Araceli, who died Aug. 4, 1996, at the age of 68, De León wrote and produced a compact disc, “On Borrowed Time/Tiempo Prestado.” This collection of Spanish and English songs of love, hope and resurrection describes De León’s walk of faith as he sought to come to terms with losing his beloved mother. BUY NOW »
“Producing and recording this compact disc was a labor of love,” says De León. “Music consoled me during the various stages of my mother’s battle with cancer. The first song on the compact disc, “The Lord is My Shepherd,” helped ‘let go.’ I would play this song almost every time after visiting with my mother.”

The music, inspirational and hopeful, comes alive as it demonstrates the very struggles Christ exhibited on the cross – doubt, fear, anger, hope, love and faith.

The song “Face to Face,” inspired by Psalm 91 and Araceli’s words “I want to see God face to face to thank him for all He’s blessed me with,” demonstrates De León’s faith in a very loving and personal God. The refrain reads:

Face to face my Lord, I long to see you
For you have been my refuge, my fortress
You’re the one in whom I trust, You answer me when I call
And you call me by my name, I want to cling to your side
And find shelter under your wings

In the title song, “On Borrwed Time,” De León reminds us that although we do not control the hourglass, the Lord is faithful and will come for His beloved.

On borrowed time, you do survive
But when you hear sweet music playing
That’s when I come to take you by the hand

The music from “On Borrowed Time” is more than just a tribute to Araceli, it has assisted in De León’s own emotional and spiritual healing. “People who have lost loved ones can relate to this album; it provides comfort and hope,” De León said.

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Christmas Carols | Villancicos

FM Admin — Tue, 21 Jan 2014 05:18:22 +0000

A collection of bilingual Christmas Carols from Spain and Latin America.

Featuring: José Rubén De León and guitarist, J. Javier Gutiérrez.

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Colección de Canciones Populares Antiguas por Federico García Lorca

FM Admin — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 05:16:31 +0000

(Run Time: 60 Min.)

A song cycle of 13 Andalusian folk songs collected, arranged, harmonized and popularized by Federico García Lorca, one of Spain’s most celebrated writers, that reflects the cultural and musical heritage of the Spanish peoples.

Featuring: José Rubén De León with flamenco guitarist, José Perello.

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Simplemente Lara

FM Admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 13:35:56 +0000

(New recording | Remastered)

A collection of 22 popular and nostalgic canciones by one of Mexíco’s most celebrated composers of the 1930s and 40s, Agustin Lara. Lara’s songs evoke a golden age, a sense of place, a way of life and are part of the romantic mood we remember when we think of Mexican boleros, smoky night clubs, and dancing cheek to cheek under a star-lit tropical sky.

Featuring: José Rubén De León, Aaron Ellington Prado on piano and George Prado on upright bass.
Produced by José Rubén De León
Engineered and Mixed by Joe Treviño
Running time: 68 minutes

Simplemente Lara is José Rubén De León’s tribute to Agustín Lara, Mexico’s most celebrated composer of the 1930’s and 40’s. The acclaimed San Antonio vocalist and actor has recorded 22 masterful renditions of Lara classics, with the accompaniment of father-and-son jazz duo, bassist George Prado and pianist Aaron Ellington Prado. Selections include the ever-popular “Veracruz,” “Noche de Ronda,” “Solamente una Vez,” “Granada,” and many more.

The CD is also a compilation of the songs performed live in De León’s hit musical revue Simplemente Lara, which continues to sell out venues across Texas. It was by audience demand that the recording came into existence. De León has said both the CD and the show have created “a wonderful opportunity to showcase the music of Mexico’s Golden Age, appealing to the Hispanic community and to all who love romantic music.”

Because the show Simplemente Lara includes dramatized anecdotes from Lara’s intriguing life, vast amounts of research went into discovering the man behind the music, the stories that informed his lyrics, and the history of the music itself. De León’s interpretation of the music is thereby personal, unparalleled, and incredibly profound.

Where the casual listener might hear a list of love songs in Lara’s repertoire, De León understands the complexity beneath the lyrics: “Lara started playing piano in the bordellos at age 13. He wrote songs of salvation for these women he wanted to rescue, but at the same time, he became a womanizer who wanted to keep them all to himself.” De León delivers the lyrics as an actor reveals one’s true character, and he delivers the music as though he were Lara’s chosen student.

Although a number of skilled artists have covered Agustín Lara’s work, some with highly-produced arrangements, De León’s bare, unembellished interpretations come closer to Lara’s original style, in which simple piano improvisations carried the heavy words of the man known as “El Músico Poeta.” Pianist Aaron Ellington Prado, who represents the youngest of three generations of musicians contributing to this album, artfully borrows the piano stylings and flourishes Lara often presented on live, Mexican radio.

Reviewers have described De León’s voice as “an attractive, velvety baritone flecked with a faint burr.” Since Agustín Lara was known more for his composing skills than his singing ability, Simplemente Lara is a worthy tribute certain to delight listeners while sweeping them into a realm of romance and nostalgia.

Simplemente Lara was recorded at San Antonio’s Blue Cat Studios with Grammy Award-winning recording engineer Joe Treviño.

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Bengali Lullaby

FM Admin — Mon, 22 Jan 2001 05:17:25 +0000

(Run Time: 32 Min.)

Bengali Lullaby is a traditional chant from India that touches one on all levels, gently allowing for the soothing and nourishing of body, mind and spirit. The peaceful and hypnotic lullaby is sung in Bengali, English and Spanish and plays continuously for 32 minutes. Perfect for massage with infants and children. Also ideal for meditation, relaxation, energy work and dance.

Featuring: José Rubén De León, Verónica Del Carmen Ramírez G., Robert Ibarra, Madalyn Blanchett, Coral Nunnery and Eric Casillas.

Special Bulk Order Pricing:
• 10 CDs – $59.99
• 20 CDs – $109.99
• 30 CDs – $134.99

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