{"id":14,"date":"2012-08-16T23:39:36","date_gmt":"2012-08-16T23:39:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/generationesmeralda.com\/?page_id=14"},"modified":"2012-08-16T23:39:36","modified_gmt":"2012-08-16T23:39:36","slug":"bio","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/generationesmeralda.com\/?page_id=14","title":{"rendered":"Band Bio"},"content":{"rendered":"
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THE NEXT GENERATION<\/h3>\n

Perhaps best known for their hit disco remakes in the late 1970\u2019s of the songs \u201cDon\u2019t Let Me Be Misunderstood\u201d and \u201cHouse of the Rising Sun\u201d, and their original dance hits \u201cAnother Cha Cha\u201d and \u201cCes\u2019t Magnifique\u201d, the group Santa Esmeralda has reformed, and is now Generation Esmeralda featuring Jimmy Goings<\/u><\/strong>. The Band includes members of the original touring band: Tony Baker (The DeFranco Family, The Drifters); and Mick Valentino (Eddie Harris, Roger Smith, Jerry Goodman).
\nGeneration Esmeralda\u2019s sound is a savant mix of high-energy Latin rock dance grooves with melodic hooks, agypsy-infused Flamenco style and impressive guitar licks, augmented with a splash of Cha-Cha and punctuated by a driving 3 and sometimes 4 piece horn section.
\nWith band members Patrick Morehead on keyboards, Mike Rinta on trombone, Steffen Kuehn and Louis Fasman on trumpet, \u201cT\u201d Moran on drums Roberto Quintana on percussion and Ariane Cap on bass, this band delivers! The impressive performances showcased by this unique ensemble continues to bring joy to fans both young and old. The presentation is in the form of a CONCERT and runs 75 minutes to 120 minutes depending on the promoter\u2019s request. The show can also be customized to fit multi- Act or set break formats.<\/p>\n

HISTORY<\/h3>\n

The original concept of \u201cSanta Esmeralda\u201d was formed as a production project in 1976 by Jeanne-Manuel de Scarano and Nicholas Skorsky in Paris, France. Santa Esmeralda was inspired by the heroine of the same name from the Victor Hugo Classic \u201cThe Hunchback of Notre Dame\u201d. American musician\/vocalist Jimmy Goings recorded six of the group\u2019s seven studio albums, permanently replacing American singer\/saxophone player Leroy Gomez, who was used as lead vocalist for the first album titled \u201cSanta Esmeralda\u201d. That album featured the project\u2019s first international hit \u201cDon\u2019t Let Me Be Misunderstood\u201d, and the popular ballad, \u201cYou\u2019re My Everything\u201d. Creative differences lead to Gomez\u2019s departure in late 1977. Goings joined the project in December of that year, recording lead vocals for the already complete follow up album \u201cThe House of the Rising Sun\u201d, which garnered the project\u2019s second international hit with the title song. Showcasing a wonderful collaboration of French arranger Jean Claude Petit, brilliant Flamenco\/electric guitarist Jose Souc, and French studio guitarist Slim Pezin, the song\u2019s Gypsy infused Flamenco style soon became a Latin disco innovation around the world.
\nGoings was granted the rights to tour the concept and created his first touring band in January of 1978. The group hit the road immediately, touring with disco legend Barry White, and joining the resurgent tour of Carlos Santana. Santa Esmeralda quickly became international headliners, embarking on a world tour that included Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.
\nGoings went on to record two more albums for the Skorksy\/de Scarano team: \u201cAnother Cha Cha\u201d which was an original collection of songs with Goings making his first co-writing contributions on all tracks. The title song went on to become another world-wide disco hit. The album also contained the popular songs, \u201cGeneration\u201d, \u201cAnswer\u201d, and \u201cBack to the Beginning\u201d. The final album recorded with the team was \u201cC\u2019est Magnifique\u201d also titled \u201cDon\u2019t Be Shy Tonight\u201d, which contained the follow up hit \u201cC\u2019est Magnifique\u201d, and the radio hit \u201cDon\u2019t Be Shy Tonight\u201d.
\nSkorsky and de Scarano spilt up in 1980, and Goings continued his collaboration with Skorsky on the next two albums. The group reprised its original sound, on the cover version of another popular 60\u2019s hit, \u201cHush\u201d. On this album Goings also collaborated again with Jose Souc on \u201cWelcome to the World\u201d and \u201cWhat I Wanna Do With Your Love\u201d, and provided original arrangements for the cover songs \u201cNo Reply\u201d and \u201cStreet Fighting Man\u201d which were then transcribed and orchestrated by Souc. The final album of the collaboration came in 1982 with Jimmy Going and Santa Esmeralda \u201cThe Green Talisman\u201d. This collection returned to the concept album genre and produced the striking title tune \u201cThe Green Talisman\u201d as well as covers of \u201cSiboney\u201d and \u201cChildren of Sanchez\u201d, and the lush ballads \u201cSweet Fusion\u201d and \u201cEternal Light\u201d. Goings continued to tour through 1982 and the group disbanded officially in 1983.
\nWhile many greatest hits compilations followed, Goings put his touring aside in 1983 to raise his daughter, Genevieve, and later, his son Jesse. He continues working in the entertainment field as a music producer, talent representative, and event coordinator through his entertainment company, GFI Entertainment, located in the San Francisco Bay Area.<\/p>\n

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