Members of local band In Crowd are pictured. The group, comprised of area musicians, was set to release its first original song. Submitted photo

In Crowd, a band comprised of area musicians, will release its first original song on Friday.

In Crowd was originally formed in 2016 as a house band for the InSpire Development Center, aka Spire Theater, in Jamestown, led by venue owners Angelo Valentino and Ylsa Maj, along with some of the region’s best musicians.

The next year the band was asked to play five hours of oldies at a car show. The band decided to go for it, learning more than 50 songs in a matter of two months. One of the standout songs in Valentino’s mind was the Ritchie Valens hit, La Bamba.

“People loved dancing to the Latin rhythm. I thought we should definitely do more Latin music,” he said.

Valentino then thought of another great Latin American performer with a connection to Jamestown, Desi Arnaz.

“It would be great if the band could play Babalu,” Valentino recalled, “but I would have to get one of those big conga drums like Desi played.”

After months of researching Latin Music, he learned that type of conga drum was a “Boku”, uniquely indigenous to Arnaz’ hometown of Santiago, Cuba. He found no one in the free world who still makes these elusive instruments. During this time he also found a deep appreciation for Latin music.

“So I brushed off some old high school geometry, took up carpentry and figured out how to build my own Boku,” Valentino said.

“He disappeared into the basement with a pile of raw lumber and emerged a few days later covered in sawdust, holding a drum that looked just like Desi’s” Maj said.

With Babalu drum in hand, and a newfound love of Latin music, the band decided to add more to the repertoire. So they started writing their own new style of Latin “boogaloo” music. Valentino calls the new kind of Boogaloo, “Newgaloo.”

“Bailara” is the first original song they will release with more in the pipeline.

The single being released to all major platforms on Friday was recorded live on the stage of The Spire. A lyric/translation video will also be released on Friday. The official music video will be released on Saturday. The music video is a cartoon, animated by Valentino, with a mix of some live action footage including members of the band.

Current members of the band are Angelo Valentino on vocals and percussion, Ylsa Maj on vocals and percussion, Steve Davis on keyboard and bass, Jeremy Bunce on guitar, Kyle Gustafson on trumpet, Drew Minton on sax, Jim Sturdivant on drums, and occasional contributor Kameron Staten on sax.

For more information on finding where to stream or download the single and view the videos go to. www.facebook.com/incrowdlive.