| Los Bad Apples featuring DJ Chicken George will bring its high-energy blend of Latin hip-hop to U.S. military bases in Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE, February 5-22. The group's distinctive sound is a sultry mix of hip-hop, reggaeton, cumbia, samba, flamenco, bossa nova and salsa.
The diverse backgrounds of the band's members come together in a fusion of musical genres, cultures and languages. Lead singer Anita Benner, who originally trained as a classical pianist, sings and writes original songs in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Benner is joined on vocals by emcee Zeale, who is critically-acclaimed for his freestyle rapping abilities. In 2007, Zeale was a finalist in the World Rap Championships. Los Bad Apples bass player Aldo Ramon previously played with Latin pop legends The Kumbia Kings and Menudo, while guitarist Greg Jones brings his distinctive Brazilian and Latin jazz background to the group's repertoire. Complementing this musical gumbo is popular Austin DJ, Chicken George, with his masterful mix of "jazztronic" rhythms and eclectic hip-hop.
According to Benner, Los Bad Apples has much more than musical performances planned for the tour. "We’ll be working with award-winning filmmaker, Lisa Kaselak, to film a music video featuring footage from the concerts we perform on the Armed Forces Entertainment tour," she explained. "In addition, we will be filming a documentary centered around the theme of 'Chasing Dreams.' With this documentary, we hope to capture the stories and aspirations of American troops far from home.
"We want to do whatever we can to help inspire empathy, concern and appreciation for our troops and ensure that support continues when they come home," Benner continued. "This documentary is one way in which we hope to accomplish this."
Los Bad Apples has opened for Duffy as well as Grammy winners Ludacris, Ozomatli, Oscar D'Leon and Me'Shell Ndegeocello. In February 2009, the band will release its first full-length CD, Los Bad Apples, and soldiers attending their performances will be the first to own and preview this debut album.
"Los Bad Apples puts on an electrifying performance that always leaves their audiences asking for more," said Army Captain Erik Ogilvie, Armed Forces Entertainment circuit manager for Southwest Asia. "The diverse cultural influences reflected in their music translates into a live concert that literally offers something for everyone."
To learn more about Los Bad Apples, visit www.losbadapples.com.
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Armed Forces Entertainment is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment.
Founded in 1951, Armed Forces Entertainment brings a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually, embracing the best of Americana that stretches across all genres of entertainment. Visit www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
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