Events
BY JOVANNA AGUILAR
Yelba performs bilingual party music at venues in The Woodlands area Since 2001, The Woodlands performer Yelba has specialized in weddings, corporate entertainment and fundraisers. Though Yelba Heaton is originally from Nicaragua, she has been a resident of The Woodlands for over 25 years. The bands Heaton performs with also include her husband and bass player Roy Heaton; keyboard player Rangel Morao; drummer Luzbel Jimenez; and saxophone and vocal performer Hiram Figueroa. This interview, conducted with Yelba Heaton, has been edited for length and clarity. What inspired you to become a musician? When I was really little, my whole family sang. My dad would serenade my mother and play guitar, and sing her all these old songs in Spanish that I basically learned to play by watching his ngers on the guitar
and then trying to mimic them when he got done. What led you to start performing in Houston? I was going through a horrible divorce back in 2001. When I started at that point I’d only sang at church. And I was so sad that one of my church- mates said, “Yelba, let me go get you Thursday [and] just bring your guitar. I’m going to take you to an open mic night.” ... And I showed up at this little bar in Houston. ... I was like, ‘Oh my God, when it’s my turn, what am I going to do?’ So I sang in Spanish, and nobody else could sing in Spanish. What is Yelba known for? So, although I love to sing love songs and things that will make people just feel emotion, what we are known for is high-energy, dance music, in English and in Spanish. What venues does Yelba perform at? We are at Bualo Run; we’re at the Hyatt Centric coming up here [Aug. 16]. ... And we’re at Ego Cuisine where people make reservations way in advance.
COURTESY YELBA
How have you incorporated your Latin culture into your music? There are very few bands that can play Latin music mixed in with American music with the same players, and that’s what makes us so popular because The Woodlands has got a huge Latin community, and so we cater ... to the people that want Mark Anthony, Celia Cruz and Selena.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 2024 6 PM - MIDNIGHT THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY MARRIOTT MARRIOTT MARRIOTT HOTEL HOTEL
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ♦ DINNER & DANCING COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS RUNWAY SHOW BY SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
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Benefiting Interfaith of The Woodlands
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THE WOODLANDS EDITION
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