Gene Romero

During his tenure with The New Mexx Band he met a singer whom he had listened to when he was a teenager — Rosie Hamlin of Rosie and the Originals. Rosie lived in Los Lunas for a few years and moved back to California recently. He did a few gigs with Rosie and the band and they asked Gene to join the group, because as luck would have it again, the bass player was leaving. Gene has come around full circle it seems — only now he’s playing with a real Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame star, Rosie and the Originals.

Gene Romero — AKA “Purple Cactus Vato” — bass guitar, vocals, songwriter. Gene has a wide variety of musical influences and has played with some of New Mexico’s finest musicians.

Purple Blues Band — early 1960s

Doc Rand, dancer, singer
Randy Castibbo, drummer
Pete Cockroft, trumpet
Max Peralta, sax
Ray Cruz, lead guitar
Gene Romero, bass guitar

Freddy Williams & The Keynotes Blues Band — mid 1960s

Thee 6 Chekker 9 — top 40, late 1960s

Freddy Chavez, lead vocals, keyboards
Rolando Baca, lead guitar
Ralph Gonzales, drummer
Severo Flores, sax
Gabby Gabaldon, trumpet
Gene Romero, bass, vocals

Roberto Griego and El Nuevo Sonido — New Mexico music, early 1970s

Los Romanticos — Latin trio, mid 1970s

Adelso Lemus, requinto, vocals
Nazario Alba, guitar, vocals
Kay Kay Baca, singer
Gene Romero, bass, vocals

Los Bohemios — Latin trio, late 1970s

Alberto Mann, requinto, vocals
Octavio Borrego, requinto, vocals
Nazario Alba, guitar, vocals
Gene Romero, bass, vocals

Jerry Jaramillo & Brown River Band — country, 1980s

Southern Comfort Band — country, early to mid 1990s

Los Hermanos Baca — Tejano

Max Baca Jr., bajo sexto, vocals
Jimmy Baca, accordion, vocals
Benito Gonzales, drummer
Gene Romero, bass, vocals

New Mexx Band — variety, mid 1990s to 2000

Tommy Eylicio, lead and rhythm guitar, vocals
Will Patterson, keyboards, lead guitar, vocals
Don Candona, drums, vocals
Gene Romero, bass guitar, vocals

Gene Romero