Radio Mundial
Jean Shepherd - Vocals, Electric Guitar, Cuatro,
Richard Shepherd - Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars,
John Uman - Congas, Timbales
Eric Bolivar - Drums
Patrice Blanchard - Bass

Fronted by the dynamic brothers Jean and Richard Shepherd, Radio Mundial deliver a fresh blend of Latin inspired rock and funk that has the entire industry buzzing. The band originally caught the discerning eye of Chris Blackwell [Founder of Island Records; credited with the discovery of Bob Marley & the Wailers, and U2] and Gary Kurfirst [Manager of the Talking Heads, Ramones, and Live] back in 2004 and were immediately signed to their eclectic roster of talent.

After 2 successful European Tours in ‘04 and ‘05 Radio Mundial returned to the States and began work on their new album with Grammy-nominated producer Andres Levin of Yerba Buena. The result, “Momento Eterno,” represents everything good about contemporary Latin Music coming out of America . Fresh, energetic and revolutionary, Radio Mundial’s new album speaks to the ever growing population of Latinos growing up here in the US .

More proof that the band’s star is rising came in late 2005 when legendary mentor and collaborator, Carlos Santana, covered the Radio Mundial track “La Raiz,” renamed it “El Fuego” and designated it as the 2 nd track on the new platinum Santana album “All That I Am.”

Having shared the stage with Santana and other well knows artists on various occasions, Radio Mundial are world renowned for their high-energy live performances and on-stage charisma that ignites dancing like lighting does wild fire. They have played to packed houses across the world from The Troubador in LA, to WOMAD in Reading, England, to SOB’s New York, Roskilde in Denmark, to the Black Cat in Washington DC, to Caliente in Zurich, Switzerland .

Radio Mundial’s success lies in their innate ability to meld the rhythm of the Latin-world with the streets and beats of Brooklyn producing a new harmony that’s universal in spirit and sound, yet uniquely original in style and substance. No matter what your nationality, language, age, or musical preference Radio Mundial’s sound will suck you in.

The Latin revolution is here and Radio Mundial is poised to lead the way.

For further Information please contact Julian Hickman (julian@palmpictures.co.uk)

8 Kensington Park Road. London W11 3BU.
Tel: 020 7229 3000. Fax: 020 7221 9988. www.palmpictures.com

AMG REVIEW OF RADIO MUNDIAL'S LA RAIZ

by Thom Jurek

Radio Mundial (World Radio) is a musical collective originally formed by Puerto Rican/Peruvian vocalist and guitarist Jean Shepard and Chilean Swedish DJ and producer Andy Delano. After a couple of hit 12"s on the RX label, Jean's brother Richard joined the band on lead guitar, and Radio Mundial also added Celer Linares on bass, Geraldo Flores on congas, John Uman on timbales, and Andy Cenisi on drums. Based in New York, Radio Mundial has issued its debut full-length on Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures label, and one can equate this with the discovery of the Wailers. This is Latin-inspired funk and roll -- son and roll is more like it. Here the music of the Andes meets the street music of Brooklyn's neighborhoods meets the folk and popular styles of Puerto Rico meet the old trad styles of Havana and the sass of its nightlife as it careens into the Caribbean heat; the result is dancefloor music of the highest order where ska, reggae, steaming funk, and a polyrhythmic assault take on rock & roll in a free for all of skittering, joyously raucous, largely acoustic-based music where anything goes. And best of all? It's pop music. One listen to "La Raiz" or "Cuarto Sin Ventanas," with their triple-timed rhythms and raw Spanish soul played out against a 12-string guitar, an army of hand drums, a popping acoustic bass, and four-part harmony that will blow your mind, and you'll be buying this set for your friends and neighbors. This is the only record necessary for a block party on a hot summer night. There's "Tambor" or the dubbed-up "Hold On" to get a slippery groove cooking, or the jazzy house of "Pure Vida" and the tough, streamlined street funk cum R&B of "Thieves" to make it blast off into the stratosphere. It all goes out with the jumping, popping, sexy as hell "Me Voy," with four guitars playing counterpoint, synths washing in the backdrop, and timbales kicking it in the foreground as the vocals trade sung and chanted lines. This is an amazing record. Blackwell's still got it when it comes to signing the talent.