The majority of Dos Santos members hail from musical families. Alex Chavez, from Midland, Texas, with Mexican heritage, is a fourth-generation musician. Villareal-Carillo, from Panama City, has a musician father. Karagianis is a third-generation musician from Peoria, Illinois. Garza's father was a musician and concert promoter. Garza was born and raised in Chicago. Vale, also a Chicago native, is the only permanent member who isn't the child of a professional musician but grew up in his hometown's Puerto Rican community absorbing varieties of salsa. All were accomplished musicians prior to joining Dos Santos.
Alex Chavez, in addition to fronting Dos Santos, is in a trio that plays huapango music (a family of Mexican music styles) and is an associate professor of Anthropology at Notre Dame and has authored a book on the cultural significance of huarango.