Alejandro Escovedo

Ex-member of San Francisco punk rock band the Nuns and a founding member of the early roots rocking outfit Rank and File (as well as a member of the True Believers, an early 1980s power pop band he started with his brother Javier), Alejandro Escovedo's solo music mixes Latin, country and post-punk influences to create his own patchwork quilt version of Americana. And it works. Back in the 1990s, Escovedo was named "Artist of the Decade" by No Depression twang-zine. He is related to Pete Escovedo, the percussionist for Carlos Santana's band as well as Shelia E., the '80s pop star and former drummer for the artist currently known as Prince. Escovedo was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2003, but received treatment that was paid for from money raised from benefits thrown by his friends, fans and members of the musician community. He continues to record and put on infamously amazing live performances.