Gilbert Velasquez

Gilbert Velasquez, born in Seguin, TX and raised in San Antonio, TX. President of "Velasquez Productions Inc.", has been a part of "Tejano Music" since the mid-1970s. He began performing as a guitarist in the early-1970s and finally jointed The Royal Jesters in 1974 recording the album The Band. From 1976 to 1979 Gilbert toured Europe, the Far East and beyond with a band called SugarJammer, bringing tejano music to thousands of our military troops overseas. After returning to San Antonio again in 1979 Gilbert joined the David Marez band People, finishing the 1970s with this popular group at that time. In 1980 he was asked to join Latin Breed and thus began his quarter century affiliation with this legendary band. In the 1980s Gilbert worked closely with the newborn TTMA to begin what we know today as the Tejano Music Awards. Gilbert's input ranged from writing rhythm charts for a multitude of artists who performed at this show during those years, to working as a house engineer and a mixing engineer on live recording dates.

The Next Level

Also, in 1980 Gilbert began working as a studio musician at Amen Recording Studios. Gilbert quickly became involved in production both as an arranger and as a recording engineer. In the early-1980s Gilbert worked as a staff producer for Cara Records. He recorded/produced groups at that time including Mazz, La Mafia, Selena y Los Dinos, Bobby Naranjo y Dirreccion, and Charro Band. In 1988 he produced the landmark CD Breakin' the Rules for Latin Breed. He also recorded/produced Tejanos for Hunger featuring virtually every Tejano artist of the time.

The 1990s brought an ever-growing roster of recording/producing accomplishments for Gilbert, his reputation as a top notch producer/engineer reached beyond the boundaries of Texas as he traveled to Monterrey and Mexico City to work for record companies such as Universal Mexico, EMI Mexico, Balboa Records and Discos MCM, although this music is largely norteño and grupero, "I was so proud and humbled, at every turn musicians would refer to the work I did for Tejano music," says Velasquez.

"The Band"

In 1988, Gilbert formed a group of studio musicians that included Chente Barrera, Jerry De La Rosa, Speedy Villanueva and Joel Guzman which was the group heard on so many recordings at that time (Laura Canales, Ram Herrera, Jean LeGrand, Stephanie Lynn, Jay Perez, Latin Breed,etc.). This group of musicians would eventually become the Jay Perez band. He worked with Jay as musical director for the next two years, producing Jay's first two hit CDs.

Velasquez Music Studios

In 1995 Velasquez finally opened Velasquez Productions Inc., a production house that features a full digital/analog recording studio, rehearsal space, pre-production suite and Velasquez Music Publishing. He has weathered the storms of criticism, time and age, but continues to produce all genres of music on an international level.

Gilbert is currently on the Board of Governors of the Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy (National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences).

Gilbert has been awarded a total of eight Grammy / Latin Grammy Awards for his work on various projects as a producer/engineer. He has also won a total of nine Tejano Awards, three Tejano Academy awards and one TEMA award. In November of 2006 Velasquez was inducted into the Tejano Root's Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to Tejano Music.

In 2007 he was presented the Tex Mex Gibson Special Achievement in Music Producing award. He continues to be a part of the Gibson Guitar family.

A complete listing of the literally hundreds (thousands?) of recordings will be updated soon.

Awards/recognition

9 Time Grammy/Latin Grammy

Discography

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