(instrumental dance music) - [Dara] When you hear their music, it makes you just- (instrumental dance music) Wanna get up and dance.

(instrumental dance music) If you ask Tommy Lopez, flutist for the band Flute Praise, he'll tell you it feels like- (Tommy claps) - That feel.

(instrumental dance music) - [Dara] That rhythm is called clave.

And when you hear it, you can help but move.

There's a rich history that comes with that infectious sound.

- Clave, believe it or not, is the original root African rhythm that came from Africa through the Caribbean and became part of Caribbean music.

Whether it's Haitian or Puerto Rican or Dominican or Cuban, it's there.

(instrumental dance music) - [Dara] Lopez is a proud Puerto Rican born and raised in Harlem, New York, which he says helped shape his love for music.

- Everything I play, even the smooth jazz, for me, I have to have a feel of clave.

So in terms of my Latin roots, that's all part of what I play.

You know, no matter what style I play, you'll feel that underneath it.

(groovy instrumental music) - [Dara] Since Lopez was a child, music has always been a part of his life.

- I started playing flute in fifth grade, and I went on in the sixth grade, stayed, continued to play, all self-taught.

- [Dara] When it was time for him to go to high school, he attended a performing arts school where he met a young lady just as ambitious as he was.

(Nancy sings in Spanish) - I was there for voice.

I realized after a few days, this guy is not the same guy that everybody had been talking about.

This guy's different.

- [Dara] So different that a few dates soon turned into love.

Then a marriage that inspired them to start performing together across New York.

- We had opportunities to minister in different churches, and we would go.

Tommy would actually play piano for me, you know, while I sang.

- [Dara] After doing this for a while and giving birth to their son David, they decided it was time for a change.

One that would take them away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

- We received the opportunity through my job to come down here.

We came down within five days.

We had enrolled our son in a private Christian school.

We had bought our first house, and we were coming to Charlotte.

(uptempo flute music) - [Dara] Over the years, he's played with several different musicians, and has even gone solo.

But there's something special that happens when he performs with his wife, Nancy.

- I have seen seniors who are like this with Alzheimer's.

The moment I start to play, they are like flowers, they blossom.

They'll tap their feet.

They'll even sing some of the lyrics of the music I'm playing.

And then as soon as the song is over, they go back.

It's unbelievable.

(instrumental dance music) - Music is love.

Everybody knows that.

Music is peace, music is harmony, music is everything.

So just having it, and you know, big open space, the way it's set up is just literally saying, everybody, come on.

Come on down.

- [Dara] Similar to the Lopezes, Juanita Antioco and her family moved from New York to North Carolina with hopes of slowing down their lives.

- It was a needed transition.

Too much hecticness going on up there.

So came down here for a decent change of pace and not regretting it.

- [Dara] As her family continues to get settled into their new home, Antioco who has Panamanian roots says the music from Flute Praise will help her cherish the home she left behind from.

- Time I walked in through the front, I was already like, oh, let's go!

Let's go.

So yeah, it's awesome 'cause I haven't listened to that kind of music in a long time, but it brought it back.

It really did.

I'm happy that I am here.

- [Dara] It's moments like that that remind Lopez of the power of music.

- Music has that effect on people.

It helps us to create an atmosphere.

We want to create the atmosphere, a family-oriented atmosphere, a peaceful atmosphere, a joyful atmosphere.

- It's fun.

- A tranquil atmosphere.

- [Dara] After 35 years of making his mark on Charlotte through music, Lopez wouldn't have it any other way.