The Last Bandoleros

The Last Bandoleros mix driving Texas dance-hall beats with sweet four-part harmony and inviting melodies. The band initially came together when San Antonio native Jerry Fuentes met Derek James and invited him to jam with his friends Diego and Emilio Navaira, sons of Tejano legend, Emilio Navaira (Sr.).

Having toured extensively with Sting, The Mavericks and Dwight Yoakum, The Last Bandoleros were invited to perform on ABC’s Good Morning America last summer prompting their album “Live from Texas” to soar to #6 on the iTunes Country Chart.

The Last Bandoleros’ musical influences are as varied as the elements that forge their sound.

“I grew up idolizing Texas legends Dough Sahm and Flaco Jimenez,” recounts Jerry Fuentes, “and, at the same time, I wanted to learn every song in the Rock canon including those by The Beatles and The Eagles.”

“Our dad turned us on to Van Halen and ZZ Top,” says Diego Navaira. “And, we were obviously surrounded by Tejano music from birth,” adds Emilio Navaira.

Derek James remembers his mother playing show tunes on the piano at home, “to herself, and whomever was in the house. Then, I saw Martin Sexton one night at the Knitting Factory, and went back for the next two nights! That’s what really gave me the fever.”

The Last Bandoleros have sold-out Wolf Trap’s The Barn as headliners and opened for Canadian chanteuse Feist at Webster Hall in New York City. They also performed as backing vocalists and instrumentalists on the Sting’s “57th & 9th’ album backing the rock icon on The Jimmy Kimmel Show as well. The band was invited to travel to Hamburg to sing and play on German legend Udo Lindenberg’ MTV Unplugged special. 

HITS Magazine called The Last Bandoleros’ music “Tex-Mex meets harmony-rich Beatlesque pop, with a healthy dollop of boy-pop charisma” adding “the musical verve and joyous energy on display are irresistible.”

People Magazine included them in their “Ones to Watch” feature while Entertainment Weekly highlighted them on their “Breaking Big” list.

TasteOfCountry.com called their song “Where Do You Go?” “instantly catchy” while CMChatLive.com described it as “bright,” “explosive” and “memorable.”

Country music web site theboot.com described The Last Bandoleros’ infectious sound as a “unique mix of British pop, country-rock and Tejano, plus a healthy dose of Latin flair.”

The Last Bandoleros combine their unique cultural experiences with top musicianship and a special camaraderie to deliver exuberance and joy, both essential and contagious.