Los 5 is a recently contracted Latin pop band that was discovered during their evening performance in the Lowes Hotel lobby in Downtown Hollywood. One of the five members happens to be Hector Rodriguez—their bass guitar player, a junior at Downey High School.

Before heading out to the Hollywood hotel, Rodriguez asked his friend Frank Macias, to accompany him. The two took the Metro, completely oblivious to what was in store in their near future.

“Their music is different,” Macias said, “I do think that they have the potential to be successful.”

After being interviewed by a scouter from Capitol Records, the group had a scheduled meeting with Ron Fair, a record producer that has been in the music industry for over thirty years.

It only took one meeting to change the lives of these five aspiring musicians. Consequently, Los 5 took it upon them to collaborate with the Pace Program, a program offered to musicians trying to gain publicity. They agreed to perform for Northern California schools during lunches and assemblies.

One of the band’s original songs Vive con Amor (Live with Love), talks about surpassing the hardships that life confronts people with and always believing in love and the power the universal feeling has. So far, their fans seem to enjoy this track the most.

“I’ve been playing with these guys for only three months,” Rodriguez said, “and they’re like brothers to me.”

The band includes Juan Pablo Casillas on lead vocals, rapper Matt Rey, lead guitarists Ismael Cano, drummer Luis Gustavo and bass player Hector Rodriguez. Because each member is Latino, incorporating Hispanic melodies in their songs is a priority.

After performing more than fifty shows for different schools, Los 5 officially has an established fan base.

“It’s so weird going to another high school and hearing girls scream our band’s name or sneaking out of class to just say hi to me and give me a hug,” Rodriguez stated.

In contrast to the screaming fans, Rodriguez has vowed to stay humble and finish his junior year at Downey High School.

“It’s unfortunate that Hector won’t get to experience all the senior activities like any other seventeen year old,” Principal Tom Houts said, “but I’m more than sure that he will enjoy his music career taking off.”

Having the luck of being in the right place at the right time has helped Los 5 distinguish them as a band. Because nothing is set in stone, anything could happen, but as the determined bass player put it, “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I’m going to do my best to make it happen.”