Santa Lucia started with a vision to create an exciting sound that evokes the early days of Latin Rock (Santana, War, Chakachas) while adding their own blend of funk and rock with a young and fresh mix. The music ventures off to a lot of different areas with an addictive combination of Nuyorican boogaloo, West Coast style funk and the ever present Cuban grooves.

Santa Lucia formed in Vancouver at the end of 1999. At the heart of the group is Nicaraguan singer/songwriter German Cantillo. German started out in San Francisco finding success playing in a few different Latin funk groups. He moved to Canada in 1991 and toured throughout the praries with a group called Sanzibar, the biggest cumbia-rock band in Winnipeg. At the time he was playing alongside other bands playing traditional Latin music like Cumbias, Salsa, nortenas, etc. German started to write original material for a new project and his vision produced Santa Lucia LFR (acronym for Latin Funk Rock, reflecting the group’s musical style) with a Latin sound unlike any other.

German moved to Vancouver in search of the right blend of musicians to help bring his vision to life. This wasn’t easy for the Latin boy living in Canada, but through friendship, talent and hard work he found the missing pieces in long time friends Byron Russell (sax), and Mario Zetina (latin percussion).

SANTA LUCIA IS:

German Cantillo - lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
The leader of Santa Lucia. German has played in many Latin funk ensembles over the years. He is educated in songwriting development, and has completed numerous singing/vocal-training courses. German has also taken private flute lessons from Toronto’s Al Cooton.

Anthony “chiko” Misomali - drums
Born in Malawi, Africa; transplanted to Vancouver, BC via a few year stopover in Glasgow, Scotland. Chiko started a band called Dying To Be Violett, who would eventually change their name to “Bif Naked” and make a splash in the Vancouver music scene. Since leaving Bif Naked, chiko has worked with many artists including: superstar Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne, members of Prism, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard and Kick Axe. 2008 brings a new chapter to chiko’s drumming world…back on the road with booty shakin’ Latin Funk Rock band Santa Lucia LFR.

Mario Zetina - Latin percussion
Born in Guatemala near the famous Mayan ruin of Tikal. He attended the National Conservatory of Music, then played in a pop/rock band, Opus 3, which won an award as Guatemalan Band Of The Year in 1975. After immigrating to Canada in 1982, he co-founded Salsa Brava and Flamenco Heresy and led a trio, Son del Sur also co-founding with German a dance band named El Combito. Mario has performed at most of Vancouver’s festivals, including the Vancouver Folk Festival and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Ryan Conroy - bassist/songwriter
Montreal born, he studied upright bass at the University of Alberta and shifted back to electric bass to further studies into urban music, in particular the funk sounds of the ‘70s. As a bass player he is known for a mighty deep pocket, for old-school grooves and for using a variety of techniques and effects. As a songwriter and producer he is known for crafting cutting edge urban music, combining old- school vibe with modern formats.

Byron Russell - alto sax/clarinet
Born in Richmond, B.C. where he began his musical training at a young age specializing in jazz. Byron is a multi-talented player, adding piano and clarinet, which he plays with his jazz ensemble “Third Stage.” He has been in Santa Lucia from the beginning, leading the horn section that adds punch to the music.

Brad Muirhead - trombone
Composer and arranger, Brad has recorded and toured extensively with his own groups Primal Orbit and Brass Roots as well as Vancouver’s three most important large jazz ensembles: the NOW Orchestra, Hugh Fraser’s VEJI, and the Hard Rubber Orchestra and many other original music projects.

Brian Davies - trumpet
Brian has participated in many groups including VYSO, Cambie Street Brass Band, Urbana, West Van Youth Band, and numerous Funk and Latin bands. Brian progressed and decided to take a risk and applied to the Conservatorie van Amsterdam, and was accepted into first year. Brian immediately began playing with Matsumoto “Santi” Kazushi’s 11 piece modern jazz orchestra IKKI and remained the lead player until moving back to Vancouver in 2005.