Vallejo

The core of the modern rock sextet Vallejo rests with three brothers: A.J. Vallejo on vocals and lead guitar, Alejandro Vallejo behind the drums, and Omar Vallejo on bass. Raised between El Campo, TX, and Birmingham, AL, the siblings launched the Vallejo Brothers in 1990, later recruiting guitarist Bruce Castleberry and adopting the band name Vallejo. Their 1995 relocation to Austin, TX, produced a deal with TVT Records, which put out Shining Sun in 1996 and Beautiful Life in 1998. The group then expanded with percussionist James "Diego" Simmons and guitarist Heath Clark. A new contract arrived in winter 1999 with Emilio Estefan's Crescent Moon label, distributed via Epic Records. They earned best rock band honors at Austin's 2000 Music Awards. Their third album, Into the New, arrived in August 2000 in tandem with a national tour, and their route through southwest America extended through the end of 2002.