Brothers give flavor to the Spanish guitar

Markens Leger and musical partner Adrian Mykahl Hill came together to form their musical group, APT.3, after becoming roommates in Las Vegas.

Leger, who was born in Haiti and came to the United States as a refugee with his family, was quickly inspired to play the Spanish guitar.

“I heard the entertainer, Charo, first play the Spanish guitar and I was captivated by its beautiful sound,” he said. “So I quickly switched from playing the piano to the Spanish guitar, and it helped me become a better musician.”

According to Leger, he woke up one day at his childhood home in New Jersey and told his mother that he was going to Las Vegas to find other musicians he could play with. His younger brother was a University of Nevada, Las Vegas architecture student at the time, and Leger was on a mission to expose his talents.

“We want to make music for the entire world,” he said. “I taught myself how to play the
Spanish guitar in a kind of soulful and bluesy way. We write all of our own music and we practice consistently. Every song we play is different, and just because we use the Spanish guitar, each song (still) has a different sound.”

Although he has mastered the flamenco sound of the Spanish guitar, Leger insists that he is open to all things inspirational.

“I don’t discriminate against anything or anyone,” he said. “If it sounds good, or I think it is beautiful, I will go for it.”

Leger credits his parents with instilling the free spirit that gives him such a positive outlook on life.

“My father is a preacher, and always happy no matter what is going on in life,” he said. “He always looks at the positive side of everything, and even if someone does him wrong, he tries to help them be a better person. My mother is the same way. (If) they are strong enough to be the way they are, then there is nothing I can’t overcome.”

Thinking about his birthplace — the Western hemisphere’s first free black nation — Leger is optimistic about its future.

“Haiti is getting better,” he said. “My father is there right now. People think that all the funds that were raised when the earthquake disaster happened didn’t go to the people of Haiti. Honestly, I don’t think anything happened to the money; everything takes time in life. It is said it will be about 10 to 15 years to rebuild Haiti. It is going to take some time — but in the meantime we will continue to bring some beauty to the world with our music.”

Music enthusiasts can hear the Spanish guitar of APT.3 at this year’s 6th annual Las Vegas Culture Fest Sept. 24 on the Fremont Street Experience. For additional information on APT.3, call 702-502-5278.