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 Date: Saturday, September 9
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Venue: University
Theatre, Univ Texas Dallas
EDGAR CRUZ has been named Oklahoma’s Best
Performing Artist / Acoustic Guitarist three years in a row and has
received numerous civic acknowledgments for his contributions to
various charitable events. He has recently begun performing with
orchestras, choirs and various musicians. Each year he performs over
200 concerts and has played throughout America, Europe and South
America. He has been a headliner at The Chet Atkins Festival in
Nashville, TN since 1995 and is a strong icon at most festivals in OK
including Sunfest, Festival of the Arts, Paseo Festival, Global
Oklahoma and more.
Those who have witnessed Cruz’s performance
immediately become entranced at the precision, speed and complexity
with which his fingers strike the strings of his guitar to create a
symphony of sound unusual to just one instrument. Bohemian Rhapsody,
The William Tell Overture, Malagueña, In the Mood and MacArthur Park
are just a few examples. Twelve CDs are currently available including 3
live recordings. They cover moods from Latin, Classical, International,
Rock, Jazz, Mariachi, Romantic and Christmas. An instructional DVD for
advanced arrangements is due in 2004. For booking and recording
information visit Edgar on the web at www.edgarcruz.com or call (405)
773-3427
...Excerpt from Edgars 'Those Were the Days' [1992] CD
Like most guitarists, I began playing Rock 'n Roll by ear. Prior to the
time I entered college, I played the Mexican bass with my father who
has been playing for resturant customers for more than four decades. As
a result of his years of experience playing for diverse audences from
all walks of life, with all tastes in music, Dad taught me the secret
of successful marketing - you simply play what your audence wants and
they'll pay you well. When we approached an older couple, we would play
something like "Somewhere My Love" or, for infants we'd play
"Rock-a-Bye Baby;" older children enjoyed "La Bamba;" and
country/western fans could hear "El Paso."
Still unequipped with an extensive repertoire, I would sit down with my
father's guitar during breaks, and slowly work up some of those popular
songs I knew I needed to learn eventually in order to work as a solo
guitarist. One night during our regular engagement, my father was
needed at a private function and asked if I would like to stroll the
resturant myself... my first BIG career break! I remember walking to
the first table prepared to play any of the 20 songs I had memorized. I
asked those sitting at the table what they wanted to hear and like
most, they responded, "Play whatever you like." I believe I selected,
"If I Were A Rich Man." The next thing I knew, I was handed my first
tip - a $5 bill. This was quite a salary increase compared to the
$3-an-hour job I had at the local cafeteria, washing dishes and mopping
floors. It was then I knew my career was off to a great start! I got my
first solo engagement at my aunt's Mexican reaturant. Remember, it's
who you know that counts! When I introduced myself to club owners who
didn't know me, I would always audition with my most challenging and
aggressive selections such as, "Classical Gas,"Malaguena," or "The
William Tell Overture."
Since I had never studied classical guitar in my youth, I was
determined to focus my energies in this area when I entered college.
Shortly after I started my technical training in guitar, I was faced
with a dilemma. I was challenged to please my instructor with classical
music while making a living pleasing my audience with popular music -
much to my teacher's dismay .The more I watched my father please people
through the variety of music he performed, the more I realized my
desire to bring this happiness to the masses with my own selections.
One episode that made this realization even clearer was during the time
I was preparing for my senior recital. I was painstakingly working on
Frank Martin's "Quatre Pieces Breves," a twentieth century guitar
composition. It was coming along very slowly, so I put it aside one day
to learn Chet Atkin's "Yankee Doodle Dixie." The time I spent learning
the latter provided to be a much better investment! Today, I have more
than 400 songs in my repertoire, which consist of popular requests and
personal favorites. My dream isto see guitar literature grow to the
proportions that piano music has and I would like to contribute
personally to this expansion. Sources: Edgar Cruz's website: www.edgarcruz.com
University of Texas: http://ah.utdallas.edu/season0607/cruz.htm
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