GALLUP, N.M. — Shawndey and Tawnya Gomez learned life lessons growing up around the church and their father's hair shop. Both places were spots where locals gathered to worship and talk about the issues of the day. They were places where Shawndey and Tawnya — nicknamed 'Dey and Nite' and identical twins born 12 minutes apart — learned to interact with the public. And also places where they became hooked on music.
"We started singing at a very young age when we went to church in Gallup," Tawnya explained.
The Gomez family, father Jay and mother Shirley, and brother, Jayson, 32, attended Gallup's First Assembly of God Church.
"For us, that and the hair shop were important. But it was church where we really, really sang and got involved in music," Tawnya said.
Shawndey Michael and Tawnya Monique have gone on to an adult life largely spent in the entertainment field. Now 30 years old and Hollywood, Calif., residents with resumes that boast performances in Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Australia and in practically every state of the United States, the Gallup High School graduates come back to 'G' town as often as possible, Tawnya said. Feature roles in the Native American-themed film, "More Than Frybread," about a cooking competition among the 22 tribes in Arizona, proved that singing and playing instruments — Shawndey the piano and Tawnya the acoustic guitar — isn't their sole strong suit.
"I first saw them at a James and Ernie event at the El Morro Theatre a few years back," Travis Hamilton, producer of 'Frybread,' said, referring to the popular Chinle, Ariz.-based comedy duo. "I auditioned them and it turned out that they were amazing. They were always prepared, could always make changes as directed on the spot. It seems to be not that big of a step for a performer to jump from the stage to the screen. I needed twins in the film and how many twins are there in the world? They also were a great attraction to keep some of our extras on the set for another day," Hamilton joked.
The twins, who are part Mexican, part Yavapai Apache, admit that growing up in the Indian Capital was sometimes tough. With their long hair and drop-dead gorgeous looks, the two can turn on the backslapping charm at the drop of a hat. But they're also shrewd performers and have learned to be equally astute when it comes to the business side of entertainment.
"We never feel completely successful because we always feel like we have to achieve more," Shawndey said. "We consider ourselves very down to Earth. We don't feel like we've succeeded in our own minds. We like getting to share the experiences with each other."
Growing up in a close-knit family on the north side of Gallup, it was Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Carole King, The Beatles, Karen Carpenter and DeBarge who shaped their musical interests. That influence parlayed the two into engagements like singing the national anthem at a San Francisco 49ers football game, singing background vocals for songstress Alicia Keys and rapper Soulja Boy and a breakout world tour with pop star Hillary Duff, far cries from the homecoming queen, Cinderella pageants and prom court days of Gallup.
"I am very proud of them, more than proud," Jay Gomez, 56, said. Jay owns and operates Pro Cuts in Gallup and also is an adjunct instructor of hair at the University of New Mexico-Gallup. A drummer and pianist who followed ZZ Top, Acoustic Alchemy and Stevie Wonder, Jay still remembers his time spent in Lake Tahoe and San Francisco.
"You know, I was trying to get my music a little further out there," he said. About his daughters, Jay Gomez added, "More than anything else, I am very happy and proud that they're good people, too."
Mom Shirley Gomez says it was definitely Jay's side of the family where Shawndey and Tawnya got their musical and entertainment skills. A Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., hairstylist, Shirley said, "They were singers in church and believers in Christ. Yes, I'm very proud of them. Their resilience has long surpassed mine. His side (Jay) of the family for sure was where the music gene came from," Shirley said.
Shawndey and Tawnya debuted their self-titled CD in 2009 that was partially produced in New Mexico. On it, the two showcase their supreme writing talents, with Tawnya's focused vocals and ability to stretch notes particularly evident. A follow up CD is set to come out this fall.
Information from: Gallup Independent, http://www.gallupindependent.com