Latin Band La Mafia to Entertain Troops in Kosovo and Bosnia on USO/AFE Tour

Latin Band La Mafia to Entertain Troops in Kosovo and Bosnia on USO/AFE Tour

WASHINGTON, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston-based Latin band La Mafia will travel on its third USO/Armed Forces Entertainment (AFE) tour to Kosovo and Bosnia July 6-11 to perform free shows for troops stationed far from home. The band also will "meet and greet" military personnel, tour job posts and pose for pictures with service members. This marks the third USO tour for the band. In November 2005, they performed a USO show for troops stationed at Fort Carson, Colo., and held a January show for troops stationed in Germany and the Netherlands.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031119/USO )

One of Latin music's most versatile and influential bands, La Mafia is best known for its unique style, crossing contemporary pop sounds with traditional Mexican influences. La Mafia recently released its 36th album, "Nuevamente," on the heels of its critically acclaimed 2005 release, "Para el Pueblo," which won the group the 2005 Latin Grammy in the "Grupero (Group) category." The group also recently released a greatest hits CD, "La Historia de La Mafia: Los Exitos." Members include vocalist Oscar de la Rosa, keyboardist/accordionist Armando Lichtenberger, Jr., drummer Joe Gonzales, keyboardist/vocalist David de la Garza, bassist Tim Ruiz and guitarist Ivo Bove.

For more than two decades, La Mafia has been performing together and traveling the world in support of their albums. Released in 1981, the group's debut album garnered both critical and commercial success. However, it was their first release on CBS International/Sony Records that propelled the group to stardom. "Estas Tocando Fuego," released in 1991, sold more than one million copies. Their follow-up, "Ahora y Siempre," went triple platinum in 1993. The group received numerous accolades, including the 1996 and 1997 Grammy Award for "Best Mexican-American/Tejano Music Performance."

About the USO: For more than 65 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been providing morale, welfare and recreational services to U.S. military personnel and their families. The USO is a nonprofit, charitable organization, relying on the generosity of the American people to support its programs and services. The USO is supported by Worldwide Strategic Partners AT&T Inc., BAE Systems, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Military Channel, S & K Sales Co. and TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Other corporate donors, including the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-0600), have joined thousands of individual donors to support the USO. For more information on the USO, please visit our Web site at http://www.uso.org/.

Contact:
Reggie Borges, (703) 908-6471
rborges@uso.org

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031119/USO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: USO

CONTACT: Reggie Borges of USO, +1-703-908-6471, or rborges@uso.org

Web site: http://www.uso.org/

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