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.

Visit Edgar on the web at www.edgarcruz.com

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 is to see guitar literature grow to the proportions that piano music has and I would like to contribute personally to this expansion.