Working on Cars and Working the Stage:
Lube Manager Gets a Break in the Music Biz

By Tammy Neal
NOLN Staff Writer

If you pull into a bay at Valvoline Express Care in Odessa, Texas, you might be lucky enough to meet the manager, Larry Castaneda. At first glance, Castaneda may look like any other lube shop manager in the country, and he has the experience to back up the gig — as he’s going on seven years at Express Care. But if you see Castaneda during a night out on the town, you might not recognize him because he’ll likely be working a stage instead of working on cars.

Castaneda is part of the musical group Nacho Galindo Jr. Y Su Conjunto Vencedor (which translates as Nacho Galindo Jr. and His Winning Band). This group — which is comprised of six members: Larry Castaneda, Raul Castaneda (Larry’s brother), Nacho Galindo Jr., Patricio Granado, Benito Loya, and Marco Marquez — plays Regional Mexican music.

Some of the biggest news for this Midland, Texas-based group is that they just landed their first record deal.

“We got signed on with a record label out of Houston, Texas, called Frontera Music,” Larry Castaneda said. “We got a three-year contract and within those three years we need to do three recordings.”

Nacho Galindo Jr. Y Su Conjunto Vencedor has already done their first recording. Their first record, titled “Amor Sin Palabras” (Love Without Words), was released last spring.

“Recording the first record was a good experience,” Larry Castaneda said. “It was really fun, and we recorded it here in Midland, although the next two we will be recording in Houston.”

So just how did Nacho Galindo Jr. Y Su Conjunto Vencedor land this record deal? “We had this group going, and we just started playing in a couple of places,” Larry Castaneda said. “The guys from the music label heard us, and they got in touch with us about signing the record deal.”

The group has been touring all across the country recently. “We perform nationwide,” Larry Castaneda said. “The past couple months we’ve been to Hollywood and Los Angeles (California), and we are going to Las Vegas soon.”

With all this traveling, one might think it would interfere with Larry Castaneda’s job at the lube shop, but “it’s pretty easy managing it,” he said. “I have vacation time, and I ask off in advance.”

Larry Castaneda said the thing he likes best about working at the lube center is working on cars. “I like the hands on,” he said. “Pretty much, I love cars, and that’s why I like doing it.”

And what does he like best about his music?

“I like being up on stage in front of all the people,” Larry Castaneda said. “It’s really fun.”

But when asked what is his favorite song to play, he couldn’t pick just one. “There are a lot of songs that I like to play,” he said.

Larry Castaneda plays saxophone in the band, which features other members on drums, accordion, guitar and bajo electrico (electric bass). Larry Castaneda said that he has been playing the saxophone since he was 16. Larry Castaneda said his ultimate goal for his music career is to garner a Latin Grammy.

“It’s been going pretty good, so we’re crossing our fingers,” he said.

On a side note, the group is making headway on this goal, as they won the 2009 Group of the Year award from their local Univision station. If you want to check out the music of Nacho Galindo Jr. Y Su Conjunto Vencedor, their album is available at Walmart and other retailers nationwide or on iTunes.

So whether you’re in a nightclub in California or a lube shop in Odessa, Texas, keep your eyes peeled for Larry Castaneda — he’ll be working one way or another.