Many young people dream of having a career in music. As a teenager, Benny Cruz was one of them. So in 1976, he formed a band with his sister Rose and his brother Mauro. They learned a few songs, and got their first gig in a graduation party in Detroit. Things were going well, but after a short time onstage, they found that they'd played through their entire repertoire. When they admitted this to the crowd and tried to step down, the people shouted out "That's OK, play them again!" Little did he know then 30 years later, he'd still be playing.

Today, with Mauro on guitar and Benny on keyboard and vocals, "The Cruz Brothers Band" remains a family band, playing an infectious mixture of Latin rhythms and Santana-influenced guitar. But Benny's sister has been replaced by his son Julian Cruz and nephew Juan Patino on drums and congas respectively. They grew up with music, often going on tour with Benny, working as his road crew. When they became teenagers, they made a natural transition from roadies to musicians, with some help from Benny and Mauro. Empowering others to achieve their dreams is a big part of Benny's philosophy - toward music, business, and life in general. It's a lesson he learned in part from his own father.

The Cruz family moved from Arizona to Detroit in 1966. Benny's parents were migrant workers, laboring on farms in the west, and in the steel mills of Detroit. But they wanted their children to have a different kind of life. They strongly emphasized the importance of education when their kids were growing up. But when Benny had reached working age, his father encouraged him to go to work in a migrant camp. So Benny worked as a farm worker in California for a time, just long enough to realize (as his father had known he would) that this wasn't the future he wanted. Shortly afterward, he started college, earning a Bachelor's of Music, teacher certification, and eventually a Masters. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education at Wayne State University, and a school principal at Hope of Detroit Academy in Detroit. His brother Mauro also took their parents' lessons to heart, and currently supplements his career in music with a job as a school principal. Their "day jobs" as educators often combine with their love of music: before performing on tour, they like to offer workshops to local students, trying to spread the love of the music they play. "One of my goals is to cross cultural barriers and bring this music to new cultures," Benny explained.

Benny also tries to teach students some of the lessons he's learned in his life and career. "Work hard to achieve your dreams," he says, "but always have a backup plan." He recommends that aspiring musicians educate themselves, pursuing a professional career that allows them the time and freedom to perform. This combination of the inspirational and the practical is evident in Benny's approach to music, too. He took business courses to master the art of marketing his band, developing a network of contacts, and negotiating favorable contracts - something he highly recommends to young musicians. "I've seen a lot of talented musicians go by the wayside because they didn't learn how to run a business properly," he explained.

Benny has avoided this fate, achieving a successful career in music. And he's done it through a mixture of talent, charisma and business savvy. He tries to continually adapt to the emerging styles within Latin music, incorporating new rhythms and diverse styles into his music. "It's important to give the audience what they want. If they feel entertained, if you can make them feel like part of your music, you're guaranteed another performance." To make this connection, he said, "it helps to involve the audience from the beginning, to get them clapping and dancing, or singing a chorus. You have to touch an audience, to make them flow with the energy of your music, an energy which they give back to you. When you connect in this way, the best word to describe it is…magic."

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