GNS NEWS 

Family and friends:

Welcome once again to The GNS Website . The winter has come and gone, leaving us the welcomed warmth of summer .

I would like to tell everyone of our friend and my brother Gabriel J. Solano's passing in April. Please keep Gabe and our family in your prayers . I will miss him until I see him again.

The GNS Band has recently gone through some changes. The Ramon Brothers, Joey and Jim, had to leave due to health problems. We miss them but also welcome our new members Bob Bennett on bass and Lanny Cable on drums. We will continue to work as hard as ever to make very good music .

The June 10th Detroit Festival of Arts Show at the International Institute's Old World Market stage was a wonderful night! The GNS Band, called The Frank Solano GNS Band for the show, rocked with the confidence of great warriors! Thanks to anyone who attended.

We would also like to thank our new friends, Estampa Baturra Folkoric Group from Zaragoza Espana. They were in Detroit for a week long tour of performances. On the evening we played, Friday, they gave The GNS Band all the energy humans can have, singing and dancing with us as only they can do! We appreciated their passion for our music, for our performance.

A special "shout out" to the hardest working woman in the world:

Ms. Odilia Avellaneda for her tireless work in organizing the week long tour of the Estampa Baturra Folkloric Group, and all the people behind the scenes who believed in her vision and her dream .

Happy birthday to all the Moonchildren who have birthdays this month, Sandra The Moonchild Diva, her nephew Neil, our friend Sonny Manick, singers/band leaders Raven and Bonnie, my late brother Gabriel, Joey Ramon, Glenn Danzig who turns 50, Sandra's late cousin Michael, her co-worker Beth, Geri at Equipment Brokers, Sandra's favorite dead actor Richard Rust and myself!

Hello to Ines G. Cotela from Espana, a very warm hello to all my new friends in life! Mr Josh....... you are a very good person . To my friends in Estampa Baturra Folkoric Group from Zaragoza Espana: thank you all very much , your friendship will always be in my heart. Hello to Rosario from Peru, Claudia from Colombia and Ms. Isabella, thank you for your energy.

We will be back to the studio working on Sandra Dziedziula, The Moonchild Diva's first CD release "Firstborn" which will be full of original music written by Sandra and in collaboration with other local musicians.

We will start work on The GNS Band's 6th release which will be called
"GNS: Still the Same," 12 songs, all original.

Till next time, enjoy the sunshine and the rain, look for rainbows and full moons, keep a warm heart, pray for and help those less fortunate!

Musically or otherwise, sending the love out, Francisco Solano

The GNS Band is looking for a new name. If you have a suggestion, please email us (click here)  thanks!

Upcoming shows, please mark your calenders and join us:

The GNS Band appearing at Shop Your Block Festival in Mexicantown

Friday, August 5^th

1:00 to 3:00 pm

Vernor/Junction

Holy Redeemer Church

4:00 to 6:00 pm

West Vernor/Springwells

Secretary of State’s Office

TAKE THE AFTERNOON OFF AND JOIN US!

Review of The Old Way Home, the fourth GNS CD

That beautiful Santana-esque feel permeates this album with a classic blend of Latino-infused rock, jazz, R&B and straight blues & ballads. Standout tracks include Sandra Dziedziula's lead vocals on the ballad "Moonchild," the harmonies and new age vibe on "The Love in Your Heart," the psychedelic atmospherics on "2840" and the funky "More Than Just a Party." There is a certain calming and relaxed effect you get when you allow the music to take you over. Bassist and vocalist Joe Ramon asserts that his wish is for the listener to enjoy the music by keeping an open mind and letting it be absorbed into your soul. Well said.

Review by EH in the July/August 2004 Jam Rag



Band Members

Joseph Gillis: keyboards, sequencer, vocals, and percussion
Sandra The Moonchild Diva http://www.geocities.com/moonchildiva/Moonchildiva.html

Elena Quezada: upright bass
Adam Enriquez,drums
George R., percussion
Francisco J. Solano: electric and acoustic guitars, Dobro and lap-steel guitars, vocals and percussion



Shows and Awards

International Institutes Noel Night
Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter 267 (Dearborn, MI)
Certificate of Appreciation Brighton School for the Performing Arts Celebration of Music - 2000
The Fourth Annual Mayor's Scholarship Ball Mayor Dennis Archer - City of Detroit 2000
Unity in the Community Festival 2004 Casa de Unidad Detroit, MI.
Benefit for the Ste. Anne Choir North
American Indian Association
The  American G.I. Forum Detroit, MI.
The Southwest Detroit Business Association
2004 Shop Your Block Festival