HAAM Musician Spotlight: Diego 'Bull' Avello

Diego “Bull” Avello, lead vocalist for the band “Bull y Los Búfalos,” took a leap of faith in 2011 when he left his small village in Spain and moved to the United States with $4,000 and a guitar.

After a short stint in Los Angeles and Mexico City, Avello applied for a highly-competitive “extraordinary abilities in the art of music” visa, which has allowed him to stay in the United States and build his career.

After his work visa was approved, Avello considered putting down roots in Los Angeles, but he found Austin to be a better fit.

“I liked the vibe in Austin, the people and the energy of the city,” he said. “I thought Austin would be good for my soul and I was right.”

Avello, who was accustomed to free medical care in Spain, was uninsured his first year in Austin. He worried constantly about getting sick or injured. But he soon learned about HAAM from a fellow musician and was eligible for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

“It was a huge relief when I got health coverage through HAAM. I knew I was covered if I had an emergency and that I could focus my mind and energy on my music,” Avello said.

Avello credits HAAM and its hand-on staff (who helped him navigate the complex process of selecting and signing up for health insurance) with helping him build a successful career in the United States. 

“Every time, I have a concern about healthcare or taxes, I always ask HAAM first. They always lead me to the right people,” he said.  

Since moving to Austin, Avello has had three songs featured on major TV shows and in 2019, his band won the award as the “Best Rock band in Texas” by the MXD Mag Rock Awards.  His band has performed at South by Southwest and a Spurs game in San Antonio. 

When the pandemic hit, Avello could not pursue any work outside of music because of his visa. But like many musicians with time on their hands, he spent his time writing new songs. He also paid it forward by recording a virtual HAAM Day show. 

Avello’s heart is in Austin and he has no regrets about choosing the city as his home base as he builds an international reputation for his music.

“Musicians in Austin keep it real. The music is pure. It also feels really good that the people of Austin take care of musicians,” he said. 

“Austin understands that music is a big part of our economy and our culture and that if musicians aren’t healthy, there won’t be any music.”