Cruz Martínez
| Cruz Martínez | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Cruz Martínez |
| Also known as | CK |
| Born |
June 21, 1971 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Origin | Corpus Christi, Texas, United States |
| Genres | Cumbia, Tejano, Reggae, Latin pop, R&B, Regional Mexican |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, songwriter, composer, musician, concert producer |
| Instruments | Keyboards |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels |
Fonovisa (1995–1996) EMI Latin (1996–2006) Warner Music Latina (2007–present) |
| Associated acts | A.B. Quintanilla, Selena, Frankie J, DJ Kane, Abel Talamantez, Pee Wee, Alicia Villarreal, La Sombra, Kumbia Kings, Los Super Reyes, Kumbia All Starz |
| Website | http://www.superreyes.tv |
Cruz Martínez (born June 21, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Mexican American musician and a 5-time Grammy Award Winning record producer with multi gold and platinum records. He is a former member of the Tejano band La Sombra. In 1999 he co-created the cumbia music group Los Kumbia Kings with A.B. Quintanilla. In 2007 he created the band Los Super Reyes. He is married to Alicia Villarreal.
Martinez's interest in music began at the age of twelve when he learned to play the piano with the help of one of his uncles. By the age of sixteen, Martínez began producing music and programming computers in the studio for the family band. By age sixteen, Cruz had received his first Grammy nomination. He joined the Tejano band La Sombra. This creative talent prompted A.B. Quintanilla to approach Cruz Martínez to do the soundtrack for the film Selena, based on the life of the slain Tejano singer Selena who was also Quintanilla's sister. At the time, Cruz was working on putting together a band with friends and family known as "CK" (Cumbia Kings), which later became Los Kumbia Kings. A.B. Quintanilla offered to join the band, and the group was formed. Los Kumbia Kings received a total of twelve Grammy nominations and have set attendance records during performances at several venues. Aside from receiving much success with Los Kumbia Kings, Cruz Martínez also gained notoriety for his keyboard talents in the industry.
In 2004, Martinez produced, arranged, and wrote Alicia Villarreal's latest album, Cuando el Corazon Se Cruza which he received two Latin Grammys for Album of the Year in 2004, several 2005 and 2006 BMI songwriting awards, two Premios Lo Nuestro Awards for Best Regional/Mexican Album and Best Regional/Mexican Song and two Billboard nominations for Album and Song of the Year. As a producer/engineer, Cruz Martínez received two more Latin Grammys in 2006 for his Kumbia Kings live album Kumbia Kings Live. Martinez's latest project is Los Super Reyes. Cruz Martínez y Los Super Reyes have already had their hit single "Muévelo" reach the top of the radio charts in the United States, Spain, Japan, Germany and in Mexico. The group has since enjoyed major chart success and maintains a busy performance schedule in support of their recent record.Recently, Cruz was asked by Television giant TV Azteca / Azteca America to participate as a Judge for the 10th year anniversary of the reality show La Academia and to produce the winner´s album.
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