Black:Guayaba

by David Jeffries
Puerto Rican powerhouse Black:Guayaba came together in 2000. Members Gustavo González ("Gust"), Javier Morales ("Javi"), Carlos Ortiz ("Toro"), Carlos Colón, and Gabriel Calero ("Gaby") spent four years playing their rousing brand of rock in bars before they became serious about seeking a record deal. With more than enough original material for an album, they hooked up with the Ole label and producer Bob St. John, who had previously worked with Ricky Martin, Extreme, and Collective Soul. Their debut, Lo Demás Es Plástico, appeared in 2006 with a combination of alternative rock and power ballads that harked back to the '80s. The hit singles "Lejos" and "Despacio" set off a chain of events that would find the band playing headlining gigs throughout Puerto Rico and celebrating a 2006 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal.