Rosco Martinez
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Rosco Martinez

Band Rock Blues

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"At SunFest A Comeback - SunFest Shootout Winner Rosco Martinez Band to Open for Outlaws"

If ever the phrase "career comeback" applied to a South Florida musician, Rosco Martinez, a local Latin psych rocker who once toured with Prince, Stevie Wonder and Robert Plant (correction Page Plant phase), may fit the bill.

The Plantation singer-songwriter, who fronts the Miami-based Rosco Martinez Band, last week won the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek's Rock 'n' Roll SunFest Shootout. The battle-of-the-bands-esque contest treated his rock outfit to a cool $2,500 and opening-act billing for '70s Southern rock stalwarts the Outlaws May 5 at the annual West Palm Beach music festival.

"I didn't think we were going to win, or we weren't prepared to, anyway. I hate contests, to tell you the truth," says Martinez, who bested more than 20 other rock bands over four weeks of competition. "What's strange is that I've done this before, when I used to headline SunFest in the late-'90s. It's strange and cool to be doing the festival again."

The rocker, who landed a small measure of success on Billboard's Hot 100 for his Latin-infused pop-rock track "Neon Moonlight," spent the '90s collaborating with luminaries such as former Frank Zappa keyboardist-turned-producer Peter Wolf, ZZ Top, and Jaco Pastorius drummer Bobby Economou. After headlining SunFest, he released a Spanish-language album, "Cubalinda," before dropping from the national circuit in favor of playing locally.

Martinez says he devotes most of his time writing songs – about 300, in fact, which are planned for a future album – and playing South Florida gigs with a rotating roster of bandmates (the current lineup includes drummer Andy Gugliuzza, bassist Conrad Kabuki Itchener and percussionist Joe Hernandez ). In his sets, Martinez plays a combination of bluesy psych-rock originals and classic-rock cover songs, so he's especially stoked to open for the Outlaws.

"I love those cats," Martinez says. "I think it's going to be a really awesome crowd. It's great grooves and a funky-good pairing with a bunch of veteran Southern rockers."
- Sun Sentinel - Philip Valys


"County Grind's Picks for Local Acts Taking The SunFest 2012 Stage"

“Martinez virtuosic guitar licks and vocals call to mind the monstrous howl of Chris Cornell. They will allure crowds of all ages, from fans of Jimi Hendrix all the way through followers of Soundgarden. ” - Broward Palm Beach New Times - Alex Rendon


Discography

Music CD / Record Releases
Bendita La Fe - Universal Records 1998
Aqui Estoy - BMG U.S. Latin Records 1994 (Latin Top Billboard Charts)
Rosco Martinez - Zoo/BMG Records 1994 (USA Top Billboard Hot 100 Charts & Top 40 Mainstream Charts)
Bandera - Island Records 1989

Soundtrack
The Perez Family Soundtrack - RCA Records 1995

Photos

Bio

A unique blend of psychedelic rock, soul and blues with some spicy Latin rhythms. Creating quite a buzz wherever they play with their infectious grooves.

Engaging audiences with his high octane shows and passionate playing. Rosco’s musical history is well documented. From his debut release on Zoo/BMG Records. The single "NEON MOONLIGHT" made the hit trackers top 100 of the year. Produced by the legendary Peter Wolf who has worked with many well-established artists such as Santana, Chicago, Frank Zappa and many others. With special guest star Vinnie Colaiuta playing drums.

He was later signed in London by Universal Records where he released a spanish CD called "Bendita La Fe" which features on a few numbers, producers Desmond Child and Robby Rosa. Desmond has worked with some of the biggest artists in the industry such as Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and many others. Robby Rosa was responsible for the production and writing of Ricky Martin's biggest hits.

Rosco also can be heard on the soundtrack of the motion picture film "The Perez Family" starring Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina and Anjelica Huston.

His guitar wizardry and vocals are both sensual and wild and leaves audiences in awe at every show.

Rosco has toured extensively in the U.S.A. and Europe. He has shared the stage with many great artists: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant during their Page Plant phase, ZZ Top, Prince, Dave Matthews, The Cure, Stevie Wonder, Stephen Stills and The Neville Brothers to name just a few.

Currently Rosco is working on his new record and is looking forward to going back out on tour.