This month, Mark Guerrero visits with drummer, musician and Butch Rillera.  Butch is best known for being the key drummer in the 70s Native American/Chicano rock band Redbone. Butch comes from a family of musicians.  His older brothers Barry and Rick were in a seminal Orange County band in the late 50s called the Rhythm Rockers.  Richard Berry, who wrote the classic “Louie Louie” was lead singer in that band for a time and the Righteous Brothers also used to sing with them.  Butch, on drums, and his brother Barry, on guitar, played on the Righteous Brothers first album.  Butch’s brother Barry went on to play with the Righteous Brothers for over 30 years.  Barry was in the band when they opened for The Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl in 1964.

In the early 70s, Butch was the drummer for the legendary Native-American/Chicano band, Redbone, during the peak of their success.  He recorded and toured the world with them.  He later played for a time with the hit band White Trash featuring Jerry LeCroix. Mark’s interview covers Butch’s career but also that of his brother, Barry Rillera. For more on Butch Rillera and Redbone, check out Mark’s homepage:  www.markguerrero.com/23.php.

Tune in to Mark Guerrero’s Chicano Music Chronicles every evening this month at 7PM on the Chicano Radio Network (CRN), just click onto the button on the Latinopia website.