Kenny Marquez
Encyclopedia
Kenny Marquez is a noted guitarist
, who gained fame in the 1980s
as a member of the "Chicano rock
" band Renegade
.
As one of the members of the multi-million selling rocker quartet, Renegade, Kenny Marquez is known for his outrageous banter and behavior that helps the band distinguish itself with their signature sound and cutting-edge presentation. Within the latin community, Renegade and its members have been referred to as "Chicano Rock Gods.
at USC Medical Center
. His mother was a product of the radical 60s
and 70s
. Involved in the protests and boycotts of the day, Marquez often saw his mother on TV, participating in sit-ins and playing her guitar. Marquez's mother taught him how to play "House of the Rising Sun" on the guitar at the age of six or seven.
While attending Jr. High, Marquez enrolled in Guitar class to see what he could gain. Playing everything from hard rock tunes to John Denver
's "Lady," Kenny Marquez got noticed for his talents as a musician. He notes, "People called me the human jukebox
at school. I could play anything. I've had that ability as long as I can remember."
Marquez appeared regularly in school theatrical productions (He loves "Annie Get Your Gun
"), and was often featured as a soloist
at concerts and plays. Although the high school
he attended was considered a "rough one," Marquez credits the music as a way to stay out of trouble and create a persona for himself. "I'd bring my guitar to school with me everyday," he says. "But I was popular with ALL the various cliques in school because I could play anything." Marquez tasted his first band experience during his sophomore year. "I played with a band whose guitar player hung with an older kid by the name of Michael Anthony who went on to play in Van Halen
. Tony Cogiano gave Kenny tips on playing lead guitar and by the time he was in his teens, the band was playing The Whiskey and Gazzarri's
and at the same time, gaining limited experience in the recording studio.
Soon Renegade drummer/vocalist Luis Cardenas
and Kenny were coming up with songs on the spot. "It was very cool and strange at the same time, "says Marquez. "It was like our minds were in the same place and I felt like I had known Luis my entire life." Along with band members Danny David Flores and Tony De La Rosa
, Renegade was coming together quite nicely.
Within a month the guitarist who had introduced Marquez to Renegade had left to pursue other interests, so for the time being, the signature Renegade double lead guitar licks fell to Marquez. "It was a turning point in my life," he says. "I began to practice my butt off, day and night. I'd watch guitar players and sit for hours with my axe, rolling my fingers and working on licks blind folded. I became almost militaristic in my routine."
hosted event at the Conga Room
, in Los Angeles for record sales in excess of 30 million units worldwide.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, who gained fame in the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
as a member of the "Chicano rock
Chicano rock
Chicano rock is rock music performed by Mexican American groups or music with themes derived from Chicano culture. Chicano Rock, to a great extent, does not refer to any single style or approach. Some of these groups do not sing in Spanish at all, or use many specifically Latin instruments or sounds...
" band Renegade
Renegade (band)
Renegade is an American rock n' roll band composed of Luis Cardenas, Kenny Marquez and Tony De La Rosa. Although each member hails from the United States, the band is widely recognized as being the first Hispanic or "Chicano rock" band to gain acceptance in the United States. Throughout Latin...
.
As one of the members of the multi-million selling rocker quartet, Renegade, Kenny Marquez is known for his outrageous banter and behavior that helps the band distinguish itself with their signature sound and cutting-edge presentation. Within the latin community, Renegade and its members have been referred to as "Chicano Rock Gods.
Early years
Marquez was born in East LAEast Los Angeles (region)
East Los Angeles is the portion of the City of Los Angeles that lies east of Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles River and the unincorporated areas of Lincoln Heights, west of the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles and City Terrace, south of Cypress Park, and north of Vernon, California and...
at USC Medical Center
Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center
Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, also known as County/USC, by the abbreviation LAC+USC, or by the name Los Angeles County General, is a 600-bed public teaching hospital located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California...
. His mother was a product of the radical 60s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
and 70s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
. Involved in the protests and boycotts of the day, Marquez often saw his mother on TV, participating in sit-ins and playing her guitar. Marquez's mother taught him how to play "House of the Rising Sun" on the guitar at the age of six or seven.
While attending Jr. High, Marquez enrolled in Guitar class to see what he could gain. Playing everything from hard rock tunes to John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
's "Lady," Kenny Marquez got noticed for his talents as a musician. He notes, "People called me the human jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
at school. I could play anything. I've had that ability as long as I can remember."
Marquez appeared regularly in school theatrical productions (He loves "Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
"), and was often featured as a soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
at concerts and plays. Although the high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
he attended was considered a "rough one," Marquez credits the music as a way to stay out of trouble and create a persona for himself. "I'd bring my guitar to school with me everyday," he says. "But I was popular with ALL the various cliques in school because I could play anything." Marquez tasted his first band experience during his sophomore year. "I played with a band whose guitar player hung with an older kid by the name of Michael Anthony who went on to play in Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
. Tony Cogiano gave Kenny tips on playing lead guitar and by the time he was in his teens, the band was playing The Whiskey and Gazzarri's
Gazzarri's
Gazzarri's was a nightclub on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is most notable as the location where The Doors, and Van Halen were featured house bands for long stretches before being discovered...
and at the same time, gaining limited experience in the recording studio.
Becoming a Member of Renegade
Content, but not really advancing his career or skills at any great speed, a High School pal brought Kenny a cassette of a band he was playing with and asked if he'd like to come to the rehearsal studio to meet the band. "We jammed all night and I thought it went pretty well," remembers Kenny. "After we finished and I was packing up my Marshall amp, the band's producer suggested that I leave the amp and come back in a few days to jam a little more. I didn't really know these guys, but something between myself, the drummer and the producer meshed. So I agreed and before long, it was official and I was a Renegade."Soon Renegade drummer/vocalist Luis Cardenas
Luis Cardenas
For the Colombian road cyclist see Luis CárdenasLuis Cardenas is an iconic Latin-American drummer who achieved considerable popularity in the late 1980s with both solo work and as a member of the rock band Renegade.-Luis/Renegade History:...
and Kenny were coming up with songs on the spot. "It was very cool and strange at the same time, "says Marquez. "It was like our minds were in the same place and I felt like I had known Luis my entire life." Along with band members Danny David Flores and Tony De La Rosa
Tony De La Rosa
Tony De La Rosa is a noted bass player and guitarist, who gained fame in the 1980s as a member of the rock band Renegade.As one of the members of the multi-million selling rocker quartet, Renegade, Tony De La Rosa's solid and prolific bass playing and songwriting skills helped propel the band into...
, Renegade was coming together quite nicely.
Within a month the guitarist who had introduced Marquez to Renegade had left to pursue other interests, so for the time being, the signature Renegade double lead guitar licks fell to Marquez. "It was a turning point in my life," he says. "I began to practice my butt off, day and night. I'd watch guitar players and sit for hours with my axe, rolling my fingers and working on licks blind folded. I became almost militaristic in my routine."
Renegade Today
The band attribute their multi-million success to the fact that egos have never gotten in the way of Renegade's vision. "We feed off each other. It's a very healthy and creative working environment." And regarding Marquez' signature energetic on-stage performances, he adds, "I'm very hyper when we play. But I'm hyper when I'm sitting around watching TV. I'm just one of those guys with a lot of bottled-up energy." The band was honored in August 2001 at a David HasselhoffDavid Hasselhoff
David Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
hosted event at the Conga Room
Conga Room
The Conga Room is a Los Angeles, California, nightclub that focuses on salsa and Latin music.-History:Early on, it broadened its musical repertoire beyond salsa to spotlight popular artists in other genres: rock en Español , world beat The Conga Room is a Los Angeles, California, nightclub that...
, in Los Angeles for record sales in excess of 30 million units worldwide.