ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The HAAPI Festival is this Saturday in St. Pete. It’s a gathering of vendors, artists and musicians representing the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
On the list of performers is Tampa Bay band FLO-RAW. But what makes FLO-RAW unique is not only their performances, but the people who make up the band.
If you step inside the Lao Arts and Cultural Center, you’ll hear the band rehearsing, which made up of all family members.
FLO-RAW is founded by three musicians: Bobby, Ty, and Lilee Vongvenekeo.
“We play a lot of our music, a lot of the covers, as well as some Thai music,” said Bobby.
The trio are father, son and daughter of Lao, Thai and Vietnamese descent. That means practice time is also family time.
The group formed two years ago after Ty left football to pick up a guitar, and Lilee left volleyball to start drumming.
“When I tell (people), they’re like, ‘Oh, who’s in your band?’ I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s my family,’ and they’re like, ‘Oh that’s so cool!’” Lilee said.
This is Ty and Lilee’s first experience with a band, let alone a family band. But not for their dad.
“I’m actually second generation. My kids are third generation,” Bobby said. “My uncles, my dad, they formed in the ‘70s and the ‘80s. We’re literally a generational band.”
The original founding members of FLO-RAW, featuring Bobby Vongvenekeo (bottom right) and his father (top right). (Photo Courtesy: The Vongvenekeo Family)
This photo taken years ago is a variation of that band. On the bottom right is Bobby, above him is his father. The rest are uncles and cousins.
“As I got older, I’d see my grandfather play, I would see my great uncles play, I’d see everybody play,” said Ty.
Years later, Bobby’s uncle now watches his nephew and his nephew’s children continue the family tradition.
“My grandpa, he grew up playing the drums as well. So I believe it’s kind of in my blood,” said Lilee.
“They’re a reflection of who we are,” said Bobby. “Myself being a father, my wife cheering us from the side, having my son and my daughter playing — it’s that connection. It’s that chemistry.”
Chemistry that gets practice time and family time down to a science.
“You’re doing what you love with the people you love more than the world,” said Bobby.
The HAAPI Festival runs from 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. at Albert Whitted Park in St. Pete.
Eugene Buenaventura
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