photo: D. Marie Photography
And God said, let there be music and passion and merrymaking. So he created William ‘Chillie’ Portela, a veritable deity himself amongst musicians.
Chillie Willie’s impeccable sense of rhythm and timing on various percussive instruments has been a complement to other Tucson artists such as Salvador Duran and Spirit Familia. Chillie’s band has performed throughout the Southwest and Mexico, entertaining thousands as an opening act for iconic musical greats such as Tito Puente, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and various other celebrated greats including: Chuck Mangione, Tower of Power and Spyro Gyra.
Whether performing as accompaniment or front man on his latest project with Mambo Dulce, Chillie’s strong sense of self, genuine smile and appreciation for others lends itself to a natural ability for bringing people together. Boasting the talents of Malik Alkabir, Frank Lopez, Glenn Gross, Mick Burton, Rodney Burton, Moss Worthington, David Perez, James Hunt, DJ, Cal and Toby, the band creates straight up, spirit lifting, foot stomping music jubilation infused with a zest for life and “one-love.”
Chillie, who recently signed with Tate Music Group, says he learned his art from “decades of listening, mimicking, improvising and interpreting Latin percussion sounds like that of Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Poncho Sanchez, and Airto and incorporating that with my own feelings of artistic expression.”
He views the music he makes as storytelling and the tunes inspire one’s body to get up and dance, sing or drum along. This month provides plenty of opportunities to experience his grooves.
On Saturday, May 14, 2nd Saturdays’ Scott Stage hosts his band from 6:45pm-8pm downtown. Later that night at 10pm, they will perform at The Onyx, 106 W. Drachman St. Starting Sunday, May 22 and following on subsequent Sundays, Chillie takes up residence at The Onyx, 4pm-8pm. The Hut also features the band on June 7.
Chillie Willie Groove’s “Only The Beginning” CD will be released this summer. Follow him on Facebook and YouTube. For bookings and more information contact Chillie at 270-4145 or chilliewilliegroove@yahoo.com.
matt323
