We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriel “Gabrielito” Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Gabriel “Gabrielito”, how do you think about risk?
Ive always wanted to be a part of something. I just never felt like I fit anywhere. Id be invited to the dinner but no place at the table. It wasn’t until I started taking risk that anything significant happened. There’s something about making a hard decision and seeing it through that makes you appreciate being the soul decision maker. Like they say, “To whom much is given much is expected. I was tired of waiting…I made a decision I wasn’t going to settle and Instead, got into action. The risk I took was action. Action gave me the confidence to take more risk. The more I do, the luckier I seem to get, the lower the risk becomes till there is none or until I take another calculated risk.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Gabriel Gonzalez is a multi-talented artist whose career spans decades of film, music, videos, commercials, theater and live performance concerts. Internationally recognized for movie roles from his childhood work in Mexican cinema to cult classic films as well as countless mainstream commercials, tours, and stage productions. Gabriel captivates audiences with his dynamic stage presence and larger-than-life vocals that make each performance a memorable experience.
He began his career in show business at the age of seven appearing in numerous top grossing films in Latin America featuring La Sonora Santanera and famed comic Resortes. By age 8, he recorded his first album. Gabriel has toured and shared billing with some of today’s most iconic artists across Mexico, Cuba, and the US including Camilo Sesto, Lalo Guerrero, Juan Gabriel, Los Van Van, QUETZAL, Cubanismo, Lila Downs, Los Lobos and many more.
Most notably, he toured with the Tony award-winning musical, In the Heights by acclaimed composer Lin-Manuel Miranda as a principal character of the 2011-2012 North American National Tour. Gabrielito’s latest projects include working in the Salsa community with bands such as Boogaloo Assassins and the Los Angeles-based La Verdad.
A member of SAG-AFTRA, Actor’s Equity Association, BMI, and ASCAP, Gabriel is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
*not sure what could set me apart….but I love what I do, I don’t work with hobbyist. I enjoy creative conversations…always.
I always try to top myself. Im excited to see how much the industry has changed. More opportunities. Excited about all the possibilities. This is our moment!!
*How did I get here?
I was sorta thrown into it at a very early age. It hasn’t been easy. Had to overcome so much. I consider myself successful because I have longevity. I know this business and now the business knows about me.
I overcome challenges one at a time.
Lessons learned:
I learned not to take anything personal. Emotions have no place in business.
“Don’t complain, Don’t explain”
The Business of rejection.
I learned it takes aprox 100 “NO”s for every 1 “YES”
A fool with a plan does better than a genius without one.
Mind your manners
“People will forget what you did for them, the words you said…..they will never forget how you made them feel”
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Monday : Wed start off early breakfast at Ilianas in Boyle heights for some authentic Mexican breakfast. Then we shoot to Venice beach and rent a couple of electric bikes and bike past the Pier. We would turn the bikes in and head to Santa Monica Promenade for some window shopping.
We would sit down TRUE FOODS Restaurant Something light because were going out tonight!!
Later in the evening we end at the world famous Floridita Cuban Restaurant Hollywood for an authentic Cuban experience Complete with Salsa Dancing. (Every Monday night a killer live Salsa band)
Tues: We meet up at DTLA Urth Cafe for brunch. We head down to Melrose for some very cool window shopping at the boutiques. We’d hit a few thrift shops. Drive to Hollywood Blvd Catch a movie at the Kodak Theater and have dinner at Wolfgang Pucks, if we have enough energy , Id take you to DESCARGA speakeasy club. Super happening on Tuesdays, live band and a few cocktails before we take an UBER home.
Wednesday: We would go to DESCANSO botanical garden in La Quiñada we would end up at AMERICANA to have lunch at the CHEESECAKE FACTORY and do some lite shopping. If time permits We could head down to VERSE in Toluca Lake, Super hip and great food and drinks.
Thursday:.Spend the day at WII Spa in DTLA We will then drive to little Tokyo to our favorite Ramen spot “SUHIRO”
Walk around, There’s a cool Thrift shop and plenty to see. Plenty of Dives to pick from.
Friday: We would hit the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) or LA BREA TAR PITS
end in Pasadena There’s an amazing Indian Restaurant “ALL INDIA CAFE”
Saturday:
lets have lunch at PERCH DTLA rooftop
Walk the art district. make our way to OLVERA STREET DTLA for some fruit and snacks.
visit the PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES . Let’s go home and rest. Tonight we end in ALHAMBRA at THE GRANADA
for dancing and cocktails.
Sunday We do brunch in COSTA MESA at THE COUNTRY CLUB..
Then We would take a drive all the way up the coast to where the 1 PCH ends going North and back , catch the 10 freeway get on the 110 north get off on 6th street and drive through DTLA one last time, cross the newly built 6th street bridge . Take a few pics and spend the rest of the day laughing and looking through pics.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Id like to acknowledge My family, My wife and my 4 awesome kids, My mom, Sisters, My bandmates, The promoters who place their trust in the work we produce through the years. Especially the public that has supported me and made it possible to stay on Stage and in demand. A whole dance community has been so amazing. I am so grateful for their love and support. They continue to go to my shows. I am truly blessed in that way. I consider many of them dear friends. It is because of them I work as hard as I do. THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND SOUL.
Website: www.laverdadband.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cantante101/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-gonzalez-123a9062/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/gabrielitos
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1gabrielgonzalez/
Youtube: THE REAL LA VERDAD BAND
Other: Tik TOK @gabrielito y la verdad Instagram @thereallaverdad