David Cadriel - Lead Vocals

David Cadriel is originally from El Campo, Texas. David joined Grupo Excito in 1997, but after a short time off he has returned. He's now assumed lead vocals for Grupo Excito. David is co-owner of Cadriel Coatings, in which traveling is a huge part in his business. David's
musical influences include, Jay Perez, David Lee Garza, Rascal Flatts, Mercy Me. He enjoys Coaching, Watching sports, Barbecuing & spending time with his family. He has contributed his skills at cook-offs such as the Beasley Bash & Fort Bend County Fair of 2008. David is a avid
mountain climber and recently picked up the hobby of Jet Skiing.

Christina Ballejo - Vocals

Christina joined Grupo Excito in 1998 as the lead vocalist.  Christina is from Wharton, TX and is a sales representative.  Her musical influences include Little Joe, Selena, Mariah Carey, and Reba McEntire.  She developed a taste for Tejano while singing with her High School choir.  The success of other female artists in the genre inspired her to pursue a future in music.  She is joined by several relatives in her family who are also musicians, and she is strengthening her talents by studying to play piano and percussion.

Roel Rodriguez - Keyboard, Bass Guitar, Vocals

email:roel@grupoexcito.com

Roel co-founded Grupo Excito in 1991 with his father. Roel is from Wharton, TX and works as a software developer for an automation and controls company. His musical influences include his father, David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales, Roberto Pulido Y Los Classicos, and George Straight. Being around musicians as he grew up, it was no accident that he followed the call. First running sound fro a local conjunto when he was 13, he began learning how to play the drums, then the bass guitar. With these first steps, he has continued to learn to play more instruments which now include the guitar, keyboard, and accordion. Through the years, he as assumed the duties as needed for the band, moving from sound engineer to bassist, pianist, accordionist, and vocalist. Roel currently also serves as the recording engineer at the Grupo Excito recording studio.

Christina Hinojosa - Drums

Cristina recently graduated from High School and has been playing drums since she was three. Tejano music is in her blood as her father and inspiration is Juan Jose Hinojosa from Los Fabulosos 4. She was very invloved in her school band and has placed in Region and Area Band, Region and Area Jazz Band, and received ones on her Solos and Ensembles. She is influenced by many styles of rock and tejano bands such as Selena, Mazz, Los Fabulosos 4, La Mafia, Roberto Pulido, and Laura Canales. Tina is currently attending college where she is majoring in Music Studies. When she is not playing music, she is hanging out with her friends and family.

Ray Guajardo - Bajo Quinto

Originally from San Benito, Ray has his roots deep in Tejano music. Ray has been a musician since the age of 15, where he started playing with his father with Los Sensacionales de Ray Guajardo. At the time, he played bass guitar, and then later learned to play the drums. Ray’s musical influences include his father, Jesse Serrata, Steve Jordan and also Big Lou. Ray left “El Valle” in search of better opportunities near Houston. There he joined up with Los Monarcas, where he returned to the bass guitar. While with Los Monarcas, he recorded 4 albums and also appeared on the Johnny Canales show. Always in search of a new challenge, Ray joined Grupo Excito seeking to play more of the tejano music he has grown to love. He has also contributed his skills as a songwriter, and many of those songs are featured on our CD.

"Wally" Rodriguez - Bass Guitar, Vocals

Guadalupe "Wally" Rodriguez co-founded Grupo Excito in 1992 after deciding to make the jump from conjunto to tejano music. He started his music career playing in the ranches of the Rio Grande Valley with a close friend. In 1957 he joined with, the then 12 year old, Oscar Hernandez as lead vocalist in a new conjunto. In 1958, he joined Los Tres Ases de Ricardo Guzman again as lead vocalist, then started playing the newly developed Electric Bass Guitar developed by Fender Guitars. After a short stint with Gilberto Garcia of Los Dos Gilbertos he joined Ernesto Guerra y El Conjunto Del Valle under the Falcon Records label. He also performed on many recordings as a studio musician with Falcon Records. In 1965, he joined with Mague Casares Y Su Conjunto to form a new band under the Bego Records Label (founded by Paulino Bernal). This new conjunto had much success in the next few years, that took them on several national tours. In the middle of one of the tours, Wally decided to leave Texas, and moved to Ohio. The cold winters and long distance from family forced him back to Texas in 1978. Settling near Houston, he joined with a local conjunto for 10 before deciding to start his own Tejano band named Grupo Excito.

Jorge Hernandez - Percussion, Public Relations

email:jorge@grupoexcito.com

Jorge, aka Cookie, is the newest member of Grupo Excito, and has taken the role of auxiliary percussionist. His musical background is Tejano and Norteno. Jorge grew up as a local DJ playing at local festivals and events in the Houston area. His greatest talents include performing and motivating the audience, and his love of Tejano music led him to Grupo Excito. He has also taken on the role of public relations, and is his new duties include handling merchandise and promotions.

Tim Guajardo - Sound/Light Engineer

Tim aka Timo hails from Needville, TX. His musical background is founded with his family, where both his father, and uncles play music. Timo plays guitar in his off time, and is also an avid computer guru.

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phone: 979-532-8564 or 979-533-0597

email: roel@grupoexcito.com