ASA CRUZ (pronounced `ay sah `crooz) was formed in the spring of '98, when two rival Los Angeles area singers Bryan Hopkins (D.O.T.) and Daniel Bautista (Jericho) decided to form a new band using the concept of dual lead singers. After attracting the interest of drummer David Ingraham (Bruce Dickinson, Tribe Of Gypsies), the band looked no further than Bryan's next door neighbor, bassist Rich Hansen (Graven Image, Takara), and the band ASA CRUZ was born. Starting with a solid foundation of guitarist/vocalist Daniel Bautista's song backlog, the band immediately started writing new material and doing shows in the LA area. A management deal with Global Elite Mgmt. was soon to follow, and the band soon embarked on a two-week tour of the Pacific Northwest.

A production deal was to come about from this meeting, and Rick took the new band under his wing, believing that ASA CRUZ was to be his next "million dollar band". Opening slots were offered to the band while touring the Northwest from acts like Cheap Trick, Meredith Brooks, and Super Diamond. While on tour in late January '99, the band experienced a serious set-back when their touring truck and trailer hit some black ice, and overturned on a highway in the middle of nowhere on the way to a show in Bend, Oregon. All the equipment was totaled, being flung from the trailer after being hit head on by an oncoming truck. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. The equipment was destroyed, some being vintage and priceless, but the band was not.They went on the next night using borrowed equipment, and rocked the house to an amazing crowd at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland.

This tour yielded a chance meeting with Seattle area producer Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Blind Melon, Temple Of The Dog, Alice In Chains), who immediately saw great potential in the band and the songs they were writing.

The band soon went back to Seattle to record with Rick at his state of the art facility, London Bridge Studios. After recording a four song CD in Seattle with Rick Parashar, the band started shopping their demo, receiving much acclaim and music industry interest for their poppy yet poignantly crafted songs. The band has since been busy doing industry showcases in their native Los Angeles, and have toured throughout the entire Pacific Northwest during the winter of '99, building an ever increasing following of listeners.