SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Nearly 40 years ago the Toby Beau band struck a chord around the world with their number one hit song “My Angel Baby.”
The song shot to the top of the charts and was number one on the Billboard top 100 in 1978.
“A few weeks after it hit they put us on the road with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band,” said Balde Silva, Toby Beau’s lead singer. “And we’re like what the hell is going on.”
Silva said over the phone, “Wow, we never thought this could happen to Valley kids in their early 20’s
“All of a sudden we were headlining the Forum in Los Angeles,” Silva said. “We played at every major stadium or arena in the country.”
Silva co-wrote and has not stopped performing “My Angel Baby” ever since.
And he will be back in the Valley to perform at Louie’s Backyard this weekend.
Their Friday and Saturday shows are the only Texas shows they have scheduled this year.
The Toby Beau band signed a record deal with RCA Records and went on to perform with The Bob Seger Band, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, ZZ Top and The Steve Miller Band.
“I graduated from Weslaco and met my wife in McAllen in 1973,” Silva said.
“I used to play at Shakey’s Pizza on Pecan Street.”
Silva, originally from Weslaco, now performs with his wife Renneta Silva as The Toby Beau Band.
“We are very excited to be playing at Louie’s,” Silva said.
“Since we are touring so much we never get to play for our friends anymore.”
The Toby Beau Band was originally formed by Silva and his friend Danny McKenna, from Donna in the 1970s.
The two friends co-wrote “My Angel Baby” in a hotel in New York.
The Valley band’s song went on to earn gold status and stayed on the Billboard top 20 for 13 weeks.
“I love the location and everybody knows Louie’s so we try to play there every year at least once,” Silva said.
Your stage name is Toby Beau?
Yes, I kept the name after the band broke up. The band broke up after the first album. And I finished the contract with RCA as a solo artist. They gave me the name Toby Beau.
Tell us little bit about My Angel Baby?
It was a complete surprise. We got signed by the rock group Kiss and they moved us to New York and they said now you have to start writing songs.
And one year went by when Danny McKenna was toying around with the guitar with these really pretty chords and we sat down and he wrote a verse and I wrote a verse and we wrote the chorus and we all agreed it was a great song.
We showcased it and RCA said that’s the one and the rest is history.
What advice do you give to up and coming music artists from the Valley?
When I was real young I always dreamed of being a rock-n-roller and all I could do growing up was sing, and I never stopped singing.
My advice to all the young people is never give up on your dream, but always be prepared when the dream comes knocking. It will come out of nowhere and you have to be ready. If you’re going to be a guitar player start taking guitar lessons and always be ready.
It was like one day to the next for us. One day we were playing at these greasy bars in San Antonio and the next day we were recording in New York where all the big headliners rehearse. It happens so fast that if you’re not ready you’ll miss it.
WHAT: Toby Beau will be performing their No. 1 hit song “My Angel Baby” and classic rock songs.
WHERE: Louie’s Backyard, South Padre Island
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17
