- Inspired music was: Jazz and Salsa Music, Bob James, Dave Grusin, Dave Brubeck, Joe Sample, Chick Corea, Eugenio Toussaint, Herbie Hancock, Papo Luca, Jeff Lorber, Eddie Palmieri, Ruben Blades, Ray Barreto, Hector Lavoe, Weather Report, Sonora Poncena, Irakere…
4. When did you decide to go into music as a career – was there a certain point, a crossroads, a moment when you realized music would be your future? Why or how did you know?
-I was 13 years old when I started to play guitar and 15 when I decided to go to music school for a career to be a music professor and also where I learned to play drums. At 18, I had my first gig as a drummer.
5. When you first started out, were you supported by your family and why? Do you think that is important? Why?
-No, I was not supported by them; my mother, aunt and cousins wanted me to be a C.P.A or an Architect. My father was neutral. I said, I study music or I won’t study anything at all, so it took them awhile to agree with my decision. My cousins and my aunt were mad at me for a long time.
MUSIC STYLE/ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
6. What is your genre/subgenres? Example: Santana: Rock/blues-rock/Latino guitar-rock Emilio: reg Mex/Tejano/Tejano-country
-Latin Jazz – Susie Hansen, Poncho Sanchez, Rebecca Mauleon .
7. Describe your music - are you a pop crooner, an Afro-Cuban trad group, a rock fusionist? In other words, what is your signature sound? Some artists hate classifications/formats, but it helps to understand what an artists thinks his/her music is all about. In other words, think where your CD would be placed in a record store, or what radio station would be playing your CD.
-It is a mix of salsa and Latin Jazz. As Latin Jazz, on a Jazz Radio Station.
8. What have been your signature songs or top hits? What have been what you consider your landmark or best albums and why? (Please attach a separate and complete discography sheet)
-N/A
9. How is your music different from others, or what distinguishes you from the pack? Do you think you have influenced other artists - if so, how?
-This is my first Album with this style of music, which has yet to be heard.
10. Describe your most recent album, where did you get the songs, what are they about? Producer? Guest musicians?
-I recorded 10 songs; 6 cover songs with lead vocals and 4 instrumentals of which I wrote 3 original songs (1.Tampico Beach Samba, 6. Fiesta Mambo and 10. Baila Mi Cha Cha Cha) 2. Déjà Vu is featuring Stefani Montiel, 3.Feel Like Making Love featuring Leslie Lugo, 5.Pobre Diablo featuring Marcos Orozco, 7. Overjoyed featuring Rebecca Valadez, 8. Algo Mas featuring Evelyn Molina and 9. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes featuring Judi DeLeon and 4. Is an instrumental; a song from the motion picture “Tootsie”, written by one of my idols, Dave Grusin titled “It Might Be You” .
-I produced the album and I was fortunate enough to have some of the best players in San Antonio, like Pete Ojeda, Henry Brun, Jaime Dela Rosa (from Tampico and recorded bass there), Mike Baez, Georgie Padilla, Bert Ybarra, Jason Jones, Ed Sherry, Gabriel Pintor, Val Maltos and Gilbert Garza. I’m truly blessed with all of their great talent.
PERSONAL/INTERESTING FACTS:
11. What do you do to relax? Any hobbies?
-Listen to music, most of the time jazz at any style, from Fusion, Bossa Nova, Smooth Jazz, Latin Jazz etc. and hobbies: go to the movies(action, suspense, comedy my favorites).
12. Please list any newsworthy extracurricular activities - benefit work, acting/writing credits etc. (please attach separate awards/recognitions sheet)
-Performed/Recorded with recording artists like: Joe Lopez, Jimmy Gonzalez, David Lee Garza, Marcos Orozco, Ram Herrera, Charlie Wood, George Morin, Henry Brun, Judi DeLeon, Milly Corretjer, Paul Vidal, Miles Pena, and Guianko.
-As a Producer/Arranger for: Charlie Wood, George Morin, Marcos Orozco, Acmed Tuesta.
-I was chosen to arrange a song that won first place here in San Antonio for the prestigious festival OTI in 1990. We went to Miami, Florida to compete in the national competition. That was a great experience.
13. Outside of music, who have been the most influential people in your life?
-Francisco Jimenez, Hilda and David Gonzalez, and Reynaldo Gomez.
14. Who have you been listening to that you considered an interesting or hot new group?
-Nobody new.
GENERAL PHILOSPHY
15. What is the role of the producer in the studio? Does he execute your vision? Or is he responsible for keeping the artist focused? Is he supposed to help you break new ground?
-I, myself as the producer of my album, definitely helps, because I’m also a musician, and that is a bonus. In my case I wrote all the music for all the musicians, which makes it so much easier. But then it also helps that the recording engineer is a musician too, and it makes the recording process go that much smoother and faster. For example: Bert Ybarra, he was the engineer of my album; it makes the job for the producer, the musicians and the singers much easier. He is great.
Now with that being said, it doesn’t mean that any other producer that does not have all of this music expertise can’t do it that easy; it just means that they have to hire outside help.
16. What is the role of a record label or what is a label supposed to accomplish for an artist?
-For my new CD, it is released on my own record label: OGC Records. Now that the economy is in a recession, it is hard to get picked up by a major label and new artists are having to release their records on their own independent record label. But, the record label is really in charge of paying for the studio time, posters, videos, manufacturing and distribution.
17. What mistake(s) have you made in your career that you like to share, so that others can learn from your experience?
N/A
18. What is the ultimate purpose of music? To entertain, inspire, affect or educate?
- All of the above. Music represents a basic function of human existence. And because of that, the value of music is an instructional tool for extra-musical purposes.
19. Why is, or has music been so important/rewarding to you?
-Music is everything to me. I started learning Acoustic Guitar when I was 13, then when I was 15 I attended at the Faculty of Music at the Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas (1975-1981). I’ve been playing music professionally since 1978, performed as a drummer with a lot of famous artists in the 80’s back in Tampico, Mexico, and many different cities in the United States. So it has been a wonderful ride. When I knew back at that time that this was what I wanted to do, I knew that I would do fine, despite my family’s disagreement. I remember well in 1975 when my cousins were telling me that I was going to be a “mariachi de cantina”; three years past by and I got the best job as a drummer at the best Hotel in Tampico at that time. I was able to buy a new refrigerator, stove, furniture for my mom’s house and they went one day and said “hey aunt Chelo”, who got you all this stuff? And said out loud “ el mariachi de cantina”. So, they couldn’t believe how much money I was making at age 18! They were in their early 30’s already professionals and I was making more money at that time then them, imagine that.
20. Anything else you can add, that you feel readers may want to know about you, your band or your vision, please feel free to add.
-I’ve been a San Antonio native since 1986; I came to perform for a three month period at the Arneson Theater on the riverwalk with Ramiro Cervera’s Orchestra. That same year I met my now Compadre, dear friend and awesome musician, David Gonzalez and his wife Hilda Gonzalez. They gave me the great opportunity to stay at their home and work together until one day I met band leader Nino Palacios from group Paraguay “Los Paranas”. And then I started performing and traveling around the US with them for about 2 years, and on September of 1987 we performed at the Hershey Hotel in Hershey, Pennsylvania for three weeks when I met Lori, my wife now for 21 years; we have a beautiful daughter Diana who is 20.
I formed my band ESCAPE in 1992 and we have been playing in many different clubs and venues throughout San Antonio. At this time we play once a week at “The Old San Juan”. I feel real fortunate to have great musicians and singers thru all of these 17 years. The current members of my band are Leslie Lugo on lead vocals(witch I play in her band also), Alvaro Mendoza on congas, bass and lead vocals, and Mike Baez on drums, tambora and timbales.
Since 1999, I’ve been teaching piano, music theory and drums at Third Stream Music with owner Guitarist and Jazz Grammy nominee Charlie Wood, performing also in his smooth jazz band as keyboardist and musical director. Recently: Doing opening acts for Spyro Gyra, Bonney James and Kenny Garrett(charliewoodjazz.com).
And I am also performing with band Kopia, playing fun stuff : 80’s, classics and latin rock. (kopiamusic.com)
CONTACT INFO:
BAND MGR: BM:PM: PR: BA:
RECORD LABEL: OGC Records
WEBPAGE, MISC: www.oscargcruz.com & oscarcruzandescape.com
Pls list any webpages, fan clubs, newsletter address, etc.
LEGEND: Cellular 210-269-7744 W/O work office H home P Pager VM voice mail EM: email:ocruz4@satx.rr.com
BM: Business mgr PM: Personal mgr PR: pub rel BA: Booking agent
PLS RETURN TO: Ramiro Burr/Billboard Guide: FAX 801-991-210-250-3405, EMAIL: musicreporter@gmail.com, or MAIL: PO Box 15747, SA, TX 78212
For questions or comments, contact Burr at 210-822-3429.
www.ramiroburr.com |
