Ross and Friends to rock at Hal’s

4/16/2012 8:00:00 AM by Salo Otero

One of  Laredo’s most popular  musical  groups,  Ross and Friends,  have a return engagement at Hal’s Landing Restaurant and Bar.  It is  a fundraiser  to benefit  the South Texas Food Bank mission of feeding the hungry. The event is on Tuesday May 8 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the popular north Laredo nightspot next to the Laredo Energy Arena on 6510 Arena Blvd. Hal’s Landing proprietors  Tom and Marianne Lamont, who also help other Laredo non-profits  throughout  the year,   sponsor  the  music.   The admission  price of  $10 per person  goes  to the South Texas Food Bank, which  distributes supplemental food to 25,000 families per  month, including 7,000-plus elderly, 6,000-plus children and 500 veterans and their  widows. Also,  there will be raffle items that  include gift certificates. Tickets are available by calling 324-2432.

“We are  blessed to have the Lamont Family as  advocates  to  our very important mission,” said Cindy Liendo Espinoza, South  Texas Food Bank chief development officer. “The numbers of people we help is just staggering.”   Ms. Lamont added, “We are just trying to do our  part to help in these difficult  economic times and the South Texas Food Bank certainly  is one of the organizations that  affects the biggest crosssection of Laredoans.”

Laredoan Ross Swisher and his group entertained  at a similar South Texas Food Bank-Hal’s Landing event  one year a go. “We had a very good time then and are expecting  the same again,” Swisher said. “We love to support charities, especially  the food bank.”

Swisher, a graduate of  St. Joseph  Academy,  started  a musical group of teenage friends  in 1969. It evolved into Ross and Friends, a group who plays music from the 1950s to the present.   One observer noted,  “They do a great job of entertaining. People have a good time when Ross and Friends are on the  program.”

Ross, who sings and plays guitar,   is joined by Carlos Longoria on bass, Rick Rios on drums, Ramiro Lopez, keyboard and most recently  the comeback of   vocalist T.J.  Ruiz.   Swisher said of  Ruiz, “I call him the  Davy Jones (the late Monkees  singer) of Laredo because of his size and talent.  I’ve known him  since 1968.  He has rejoined us and everybody  is excited.”

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