Music runs in the blood of many, and there is no exception with the members of The Band Imagine. Its musicians have been gained and lost throughout the past two decades, but the band is going strong and playing up a storm.
The current band is composed of drummer and vocalist Luis Jose Rodriguez, bass guitarist and back-up vocalist David Alvarez, keyboardist and back-up vocalist Joe Sanchez, lead guitarist and vocalist Neto Vasquez, Keith Gustafson on saxophone, and Linda Gustafson on sax, flute, clarinet, and back-up vocals. Rodriguez’s wife Lori assists with social media and communications.
Vasquez originally started the band more than 20 years ago. He said the name originated from his family band. He had gotten sick with colon cancer around 2007, and the band started playing at the Relay for Life cancer walk. He said they came up with the name “Imagine,” and it stuck with them.
“We play everything,” Vasquez said.
Their favorite thing to play is traditional Cumbia and Mexican music, and they also mix it up with country and classic rock. They love playing for all ages in the community.
“We keep that tradition of music they grew up on,” Alvarez said.
All band members are lifelong musicians. As a teen, Rodriguez was in a band called The Midnight Special, Alvarez was in Transistor Banana, Sanchez had the Joe Sanchez Orchestra at the age of 13, and Vasquez was part of The Valiants. Linda and Keith had their musical beginnings in Chicago, with Linda starting on piano at age 4, and Keith playing with names such as Glen Campbell and the Glen Miller Band. Keith and Linda are the newest members; they joined about seven years ago.
“The two saxophones made us better,” Vasquez said.
The Band Imagine decided to slow down a bit and had intentions of retiring in 2025.
“We don’t want to play every weekend,” Vasquez said.
Yet, it was hard to slow down, they said, because people kept calling them, and the band struggled to turn down gigs.
They used to play different areas, but now they stay local, and Superior is the farthest they go. Vasquez’s wife Sally passed away in June 2024, and he said he almost gave up the band at that time. He said after 52 years married, the loss was very hard on him, but his son Ernie pushed him to keep going.
Sally was not only the manager of the Vasquez Family Band and Neto and The Band Imagine, she helped with planning, with music, and acting as a critic at band practice. She was valuable to them, and the loss was major, but Vasquez came back after some time away and is entertaining the crowds once again.
The band continues to play local events that are important to them, such as Cinco de Mayo and church fiestas.
Along with the gigs, they often have six to 10 hours of rehearsal with every venue, Rodriguez added.
“We believe in practicing and doing the best we can,” Alvarez said.
The band members primarily learn to play by ear. Keith and Linda read music, and Sanchez does a little, but the rest of them don’t read music; they listen and learn the chords.
Sanchez said the internet lets you look up every song now, making the music and lyrics easily accessible, but Vasquez said when you look it up, it’s sometimes wrong.
“We’re not a jukebox,” Alvarez added. “It won’t be exactly like the record. It’s our version.”
The band members are all in their mid- to late-seventies, with the exception of Sanchez, who is 90. But his bandmates say he acts the youngest and is surrounded by ladies at their events. Alvarez said they get along very well. They make mistakes, someone jumps all over them, and they learn from it.
“We’re like a family,” he said. “Fate brought us together.”
Memories are created with each event. Rodriguez said they do a lot of benefits for the senior center, and Vasquez added they enjoy playing at Haven Health nursing home.
“It gives you a good feeling,” he said.
They recalled an event in Superior playing for a group of female bikers who kept them on stage for hours. Rodriguez said his arms were cramping that night.
They also recalled playing at an Oracle steakhouse. Sanchez said there was a group of ladies who line-danced to everything they played.
“We come from diverse training and experience,” Linda said. “Yet, we meld our individual skills to create the most unique and high quality sound called Imagine.”
The band is scheduled to play upcoming events such as: the Apache Leap Mining Festival & Carnival in Superior, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament church fiesta, Miami Evenings in the Park, a Second Friday event at Bullion Plaza in June, and a possible “Senior Prom” event for senior citizens in Miami. To track these events, follow The Band Imagine’s Facebook page and check the Globe Miami Times event calendar online.
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