Cruz Martínez

Cruz Martínez
Birth name	Cruz Martínez
Also known as	CK (Cumbia King)
Born	June 21, 1972 (1972-06-21) (age 39) Chicago, Illinois
Origin	Texas
Genres	Cumbia, Tejano, Reggae, Latin pop, R&B
Occupations	Keyboardist, Record Producer, Songwriter
Instruments	Keyboards
Years active	1984-Present
Labels	Fonovisa (1997-1999) EMI (1999-2006) Warner Music Group (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, 1972 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Mexican American musician and multi gold and platinum record producer. 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.

Career

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^{[citation needed]}. By the age of sixteen, Martínez began producing music and programming computers in the studio for the family band. By age nineteen, Cruz had received his first Grammy nomination^{[citation needed]}. 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^{[citation needed]}, 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^{[citation needed]} and have set attendance records during performances at several venues^{[citation needed]}. Aside from receiving much success with Los Kumbia Kings, Cruz Martínez also gained notoriety for his keyboard talents in the industry^{[citation needed]}.

In 2004, Martinez produced, arranged, and wrote Alicia Villarreal's latest album, Cuando el Corazon Se Cruza which received a Latin Grammy 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^{[citation needed]}. As a producer/engineer, Cruz Martínez received another Latin Grammy 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 and in Mexico^{[citation needed]}. The group has since enjoyed major chart success and maintains a busy performance schedule in support of their recent record.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Albums With La Sombra

• 1984: Mi Guerita Coca-Cola
• 1984: Where's the Beef?
• 1985: No Hay Derecho
• 1985: Eres Tu-Muchachita
• 1985: Sombra Love
• 1986: Botoncito De Cariño
• 1986: All I Could Do Was Cry
• 1987: From the Streets of Chicago
• 1987: La Rebelde
• 1988: Strikes Again
• 1988: Chicago's Wild Side
• 1989: One of a Kind
• 1989: The Chi-Town Boys R Back
• 1990: Good Boys Wear White
• 1991: Porque Te Quiero
• 1992: Intocable
• 1993: Ilusiones
• 1994: Caliente Dulce Amor
• 1995: Mas Que Todo
• 1997: Alborotados
• 1999: Todo Me Recuerda a Ti

Albums With Kumbia Kings

• 1999: Amor, Familia Y Respeto
• 2001: Shhh!
• 2002: All Mixed Up: Los Remixes
• 2003: 4
• 2003: Presents Kumbia Kings
• 2003: La Historia
• 2004: Los Remixes 2.0
• 2004: Fuego
• 2005: Duetos
• 2006: Kumbia Kings Live
• 2007: Greatest Hits

Albums With Los Super Reyes

• 2007: El Regreso De Los Reyes
• 2009: Cumbia Con Soul

See also

• La Sombra
• Kumbia Kings
• Los Super Reyes

External links

• Los Super Reyes MySpace
• FuryStreet MySpace
• Cruz Martínez at the Internet Movie Database
• Q&A Sessions: Cruz Martinez, nocheLatina - Dec 2009

Persondata
Name	Martinez, Cruz
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 21, 1972
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death