Opa Opa

About

Dear Friends,

I have spent the last 30 years in the Latin music world and am proud to say that I have endured the roller coaster of change - from the time when men used to bang out rhythms on wooden boxes in the streets of Limon, Costa Rica and vinyl LPs to the advent of iTunes and promoting your band on MySpace. It is the story of my life and needless to say, it has been an adventure!

First and foremost, I want to thank you clients, fans and friends, for your unwavering support of Opa Opa over the years. Our efforts would be futile if you were not there to listen, sing, dance and enjoy our music. As we move into 2008, I want to take this opportunity to pause and share with you the progress we have made as a band over the years. I would also like to renew our dedication to you, our audience, and share with you how Opa Opa is working to leave our imprint on the world.

Opa Opa was formed 20 years ago and includes musicians from all corners of the Caribbean and across the Americas. Our very name stems from the word Opa, which in itself crosses cultural lines. The word is used by Yoruba cultures to welcome you into a collective space, by the Greeks as a salutation, and various Latino circles as a shout of joy in times of celebration. Our motto is ¡pura música, pura vida, puro sabor! Which translates into pure music, pure life, pure gusto!

So not only do we provide our audience with the “Azucar”, as Celia would say, but our music has purpose. Our original songs were written to evoke healing, consideration and compassion. On our album Mojaditicos “No Soy el Mismo” tells of spiritual growth and the evolution of man. “Los 90” also on Mojaditicos, provides a discourse on the political state of the world in the 1990s which is still relevant today. On our latest album, Los Paisajes, the title track serves to unite the expatriated by highlighting the love we all share for our homeland. “Mujer Mujer”, on the same album, calls for an end to domestic violence and celebrates the beauty and importance of women everywhere. Love, pain, joy, fear, choices, politics – our music is a reflection of life.

Opa Opa’s mission is to bridge the gap between people through our music. For us, music is truly spiritual. There are so many things in the world that divide us, but music transcends age, race, gender, class, nationality, language… all barriers. We believe that through music you can touch the soul of a man. It is a universal language that has an innate ability to be felt, experienced and appreciated by everyone. Music is our gift of expression and we use it to enlighten, connect and inspire. We believe that we were given the gift of music to connect with you, and further provide you with a space where you can connect with the rest of the world.

Thus, we continue to rededicate ourselves to this overall goal and adjust our performance to support our mission. This year we have committed to the following:

• Opa Opa will use our passion for music to inspire our audience at each and every performance.
• We will continue to refine and expand our musical repertoire to encompass the best of original and popular Salsa, Cumbia, Bolero, Cha-cha, Corridos, Norteño, Merengue, Reggaeton as well as maintain a strong offering in R&B, Funk, Jazz, Latin Jazz, and the great American Standards.
• Punctuality, synergy and presentation are paramount. All of our band members are dedicated to playing their part to make sure that Opa Opa performs like a well oiled machine.
• Ultimately, we strive for consistency. No matter who or where, our audience can count on the high caliber of entertainment that Opa Opa provides.

So, here is where WE NEED YOU! Our goal is to take the respect and admiration that we have garnered in Los Angeles for the last 20 years and multiply that on a national and international level. We can only do this with your help as our music family. So, the proposition is as follows:
I am confident that this year will be monumental for us as a band and I thank you in advance for helping us make this a reality.

Oswaldo Bernard
Opa Opa

Available for Your

Anniversary Party, Awards Night, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Party, Bar/Lounge, Birthday Party, Club/Nightclub, Concert Venue, Convention, Corporate Event, Dinner Dance, Ethnic Celebration, Festival, Fundraiser, Grand Opening, Launch Party, Private Party, Prom, Religious Celebration, Restaurant, Sporting Event, Studio Session, Trade Show, Wedding Ceremony, Wedding Reception