After performing at leading venues in Nashville and New York City, Lee and Luis Hurtado are bringing their sound back to Amador this summer as part of Amador Arts’ TGIF concert series.
It started with a trumpet in Ione.
Then came a trombone in the middle school band, before a smattering of other brass instruments.
Yet nothing had a greater influence on Amadon Sons founders and Amador natives Lee and Luis Hurtado than the guitar. Their serendipitous introduction to the six-stringed melody-maker came at Amador High School, when a teacher pulled out his guitar during class. “My brother and I were instantly obsessed with it,” recalls Lee. “We thought it was the coolest thing ever, and literally from that day forward we didn’t stop thinking about it. We had our own guitar that year, and we just started playing and haven’t looked back.”
Born and raised across Amador County, Lee and Luis are homegrown artists in every sense. After developing their musical talents as members of the Ione Junior High School band, the Hurtado twins expanded their range by composing and performing music with a diverse selection of musicians, including stints in rock and cover bands. Crossing the genre divide repeatedly, Lee and Luis now exclusively perform original music, which draws on their diverse musical experiences and history.
“We’ve been playing music together for over 20 years,” says Lee. “Today we definitely lean into the modern country category, but we draw influence from across genres including country, pop, soul, and R&B.”
This season, Amador Sons made their debut local performance as part of the Amador Arts Council’s 24th annual TGIF concert series. The series not only provides free access to live music to Amador citizens of all ages and backgrounds, but simultaneously upholds the Arts Council’s core tenet to support local working artists. Lee and Luis’ innate talent and success showcase the value of arts education in our county and the potential for successful arts careers that abound in our special foothills communities.“Sometimes it’s easy to take the place where you grew up for granted, but when you come back you can appreciate it for what it is,” says Lee. “It’s really great to be able to play for our friends and family, and give everyone a show that’s not far away.” Though the brothers’ June 17 show at Sutter Creek Gardens marked their inaugural Amador performance, the Amador Sons has graced stages nationwide – including those in New York City and at Nashville’s renowned Whiskey Jam. Anyone can access a preview of the brothers’ soulful original sound on their website, www.amadorsons.com, or by following the group on Instagram under the handle @Amador_Sons. The Amador Sons will play in Amador City on July 23, as part of the Dancing in the Streets series, a free concert sequence supported in part by grants from Amador Arts. The duo will also be on stage at the Folsom Hotel Saloon on July 2.
Amador Arts invites all community members to attend the remainder of the TGIF concert series, which will run every Friday until August 19. Every concert is produced free of charge for attendees thanks to the generous support of community donors and Amador Arts Council supporting partners. A full event schedule is available here.
To learn more about the Amador Sons, the Amador Arts Council, or to support the TGIF series directly please contact Deja Douglas at (209) 256-8166 or via email at deja@amadorarts.org.