Lead singer turned pro at age 6

ROYAL CITY - The lead singer for Alto Voltaje, which takes the Royal City SummerFest stage Saturday night at 7:30, is excited about the opportunity.

Even Barajas was raised in Royal and still lives here. He did K-12 here, graduating in 2005. He played football and soccer and wrestled. More importantly, he sang in the chamber choir.

Music has been a part of Barajas's life from as far back as he can remember. He was about six when he became a professional singer in his native state of Michoacan, Mexico.

"I'd walk into a store and say, 'If I sing you a song, can I have a piece of candy?'" Barajas recalled. "They'd say yes, and I'd sing, and they'd give me a piece of candy."

These gigs were not exactly sanctioned by Barajas's family. He was living with his grandparents at the time, and his parents didn't know.

"My grandparents used to get mad at me because I'd wander off," he said.

Barajas was 9 and living in Royal when he started to play drums. For 12 years he was the drummer for his father Javier's Grupo Barajas. It was an experience he will always cherish.

"I enjoyed it very, very much," he said.

Barajas's younger brother Jose is also a musician. He learned bass from Javier and plays with the now internationally known Canarios de Michoacan, which played the SummerFest two years ago.

"Music is his livelihood," Barajas said approvingly.

Alto Voltaje was formed about a year ago. It has done numerous free gigs along the way.

"New bands have to suffer to get known," Barajas said. "Sometimes you spend money from your own pockets to get to play."

The members of Alto Voltaje are friends. They met over the years on the Hispanic music trail. They are all accomplished musicians.

The drummer is Javier de Luna, originally from Dallas, Texas, now Wenatchee. Pedro Vasquez, of Oaxaca, Mexico and Moses Lake, plays bass.

Mario Jimenez of Jalisco, Mexico and Moses Lake plays bajo sexto. It is a 12-string acoustic guitar.

Ray Martinez of Texas and Wenatchee plays the accordion, which is the heart of the Modern Norteño music of Alto Voltaje. Barajas rates him a 10.

The principal reason Barajas is excited about Saturday's opportunity is that he is appreciative of the existence of the Royal community.

"I'm really grateful for the schools we have and the bonds between people of different cultures," he said.

He noted Royal is one of very few communities that features Hispanic musical performance. There are likely to be a Mariachi and dancing horses at the parade on Saturday.

Barajas has worked for various farmers. They have been mentors to him. They are the ones he turns to when he needs a hand.

"They've always treated me very well," he said.

Several community members, Barajas noted, stepped forward to help his family during its toughest moment, the death of his father six years ago.

"It is a wonderful community," Barajas said. "I'm looking forward to singing for them."