Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Lozano makes Thunder Road debut opening for Toby Keith

Joe Naiman

Writer

After 15 years in the United States Marine Corps, including 12 years stationed at Camp Pendleton, Chris Lozano moved to Menifee and started the Chris Lozano Band. In July he replaced Mike Austin as the lead singer of Thunder Road, and Lozano’s first concert with Thunder Road was when the band opened for Toby Keith at Pala Casino.

“It was amazing. It really was,” Lozano said.

Thunder Road played seven songs Sept. 17 at Pala’s Palomar Starlight Theater. “We had more, but they cut down our time which is fine. We got to spend more time watching Toby,” Lozano said.

Lozano was raised in the western Colorado town of Paonia, which is about 35 miles from Grand Junction. He joined the Marine Corps out of high school in 1998. Lozano was stationed in Hawaii from 1998 to 2001 and transferred to Camp Pendleton in 2001. He was an infantry instructor from 2001 to 2004 before being assigned to the Fifth Marine Division in 2004. Lozano reached the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) before he was medically discharged in 2013.

Lozano followed his discharge with becoming a Menifee resident. “I like it a lot. I really do. It’s a smaller area,” he said.

His post-discharge activities also included founding his own band. “I still play with my band every now and then, but my main priority now is Thunder Road,” Lozano said.

The other Thunder Road members are Bill Shapiro, Billy Furtado, Todd Lalonde and Paul Burkhart. “They asked me to play,” Lozano said.

“They’ve been together for a while and it was an honor being asked to play with them,” Lozano said. “I jumped on that right away.”

In the past Thunder Road has played in Las Vegas, often in conjunction with a rodeo, although the current bookings are all in California. Thunder Road has been performing for approximately 25 years.

Lozano had never previously seen Toby Keith in concert. “I’ve always liked him, wanted to; I just never had the chance to,” he said.

The Chris Lozano Band has performed with some noted country music artists. “I’ve had a chance to open up for Wade Hayes and Wade Bowen,” Lozano said.

Thunder Road had opened for Keith in the past, including in Las Vegas. “Thunder Road is just an amazing band, amazing opportunities for me,” Lozano said.

The Palomar Starlight Theater has a seating capacity of 2,251, although the seats are not attached to the ground and seating may be modified. “This is one of my bigger concerts I’ve ever done,” Lozano said.

The concert also allowed Lozano to be part of Toby Keith’s opening act. “It was like a dream come true. I always wanted to open up for him,” Lozano said. “It was really awesome.”

Lozano also saw Keith in concert for the first time. “It was everything I thought it would be. He’s an amazing guy,” Lozano said.

Lozano didn’t meet Keith at Pala. Lozano’s father, who is ill, attended the concert and Lozano left with him rather than stay when the rest of the band met Keith after the concert.

What additional opportunities Lozano will have are to be determined, but he relishes his debut performance with Thunder Road. “It was an amazing way to start it,” he said. “It was a dream come true.”

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].

 

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