Inspirations
Guitarists...
One of the hardest working musicians I know. This classically trained guitarist also plays the Harp Guitar.TOP TEN. Triple Stops! His version of “The Perry Mason Theme” is one of my all time favorite performances. We went to Issoudun, France in 1995.
If Segovia was the grandfather of Classical then Chet is the Grandfather of Fingerpicking.
Acoustic and Harp Guitar Wizard and arranger for solo guitar. Multiple recordings.
One of the funniest quality players in the world and the son of Merle Travis. “See you at the Chet Atkins Fesival in July Thom.”
TOP TEN. His GuitSteel guitar changed the way I look at fingerlicken’. Ton of Licks.
I met Bob at the A.D.G.P.A. Festival in Italy in 2002 and was extremely impressed with his wit as well as his Lap Steel and fingerstyle percussive playing.
Heavy inspiration to me through their quality approach to transcribing and arranging.
Were both classical and classic rock fans.
I first heard him at Tommyfest in London Spring of 2008 and was blown away with his immaculate technique.
This student of mine has worked hard to create her own style of Radical Classical. She used to join Ruben and myself during our Flamenco shows.
Michael is the ONLY guitarist to win BOTH the Guitar Foundation of America GFA International Award AND Walnut Valley Festival’s Fingerstyle Composition in Winfield, KS.
His transcriptions are as daring as any I’ve heard or would attempt.
I've said before and I'll say it again... Mark has tremendously better technique but I simply know more songs than him. ADD... He is an award winning composer as well.
Taking multineck guitar to a new and inspiring level. A legend among Harp Guitarists.
Arranger of 'Stars and Stripes Forever' on solo guitar (recorded by Chet Atkins). He was an early eye opener for me. See you at CAAS!
Simply one of the nicest guys Ive ever met and one of the greatest pickers on nylon and steel. His concerts are full of spirit. Gospel guitar at its finest.
Legendary guitarist of The Ventures. His recordings cover some of the best songs ever written for surf and rock guitar.
TOP TEN. Undisputed best acoustic guitarist I have ever heard and an awfully nice guy! We’ve played together in five different countries!
TOP TEN This blind guitarist sings with so much soul and inspired me as a teenager with his “Malaguena” and “Pegao.” I opened for him here in Oklahoma City in 2002.
We met in 1994 at a NACA convention. His unique approach to Acoustic and 12 string amazes me to this day. Compositions and Tunings are unreal.
One of the most precise players Ive heard and just an all out fun guy to hang around.
Who can contest Hedges changing the curve of modern acoustic performance, composition and approach.
One of the very first songs I ever learned was “Mood for a Day” off the Yes album “Fragile”.
John Denver’s guitarist, Winfield’s 2000 Walnut Valley Festival Fingerstyle winner, Arranger extraordinaire.
Who do you call in Oklahoma City if Edgar is booked? A repetroire like Steph’s is as close as you can get including “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
My good friend Scott’s first CD “Once the Rolling Green” is a beautiful collection of original celtic pieces. He is head guitar instructor at UCO and OBU in OK.
TOP TEN. I’ll never forget heari ng and seeing Buster win at Winfield. There is not many nylon players that dig into a guitar with such intensity as him.
Arranger extraordinaire for solo guitar. He won Winfield in 1994 and I continuously refer him when people want to hear what a solo guitar is capable of doing.
One of the smartest individuals I know and a staple for Acoustic / Kentucky / Celtic composition and execution.
Solo Classical Guitar at its finest and just full of taste, soul and spirit.
Untouchable quartet who stands the test of time. Always open to a grand challenge.
Nato Lima and Antenor Lima showed me what a guitar duet was capable of in the mid 70s. Orchestral, traditional and piano pieces transcribed and performed flawlessly.
A very tasteful guitarist met in Francewith unforgettable technique.
TOP TEN. Hands down, one of the greatest singer, songwriter and individuals I’ve ever met. A huge inspiration to my musical abilities. He is extremely clever and completely tasteful.
Last count of hits on YouTube...17 Million. See and hear why.
Tony never ceases to enlighten my day with a joke or a great guitar piece. One of the best bar none.
You think you can't play because your having trouble with your fingers?...Click Here.
Rockin Acoustic Energy!
Early influence on me with his popular arrangements unheard on solo guitar in the 60’s.
I was surfing the web and came across him and his over 200 videos of some of the best solo guitar pop arrangements Ive ever heard.
His “Virtuoso Visions” and “Pure Magic” are a must for any solo guitarist. An early inspiration.
Led Zeppelin was one of my favorite bands of ALL TIME for the longest time.
Ruben was like the brother I never had. When we finally started playing together we realized we knew all the same songs and played them with the same stylistic feel.
This legend has played with everyone including Patsy Cline, Sonny James, Gene Vincent, Bobby Gentry, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and more.
One of the Coolest Guitar Players on the Rockin Planet. His “Prologue / Jet Song” from West Side Story is one of my all time favorite recordings! Big Band Sing at its finest.
Classical, gypsy Jazz, bebop, piano rags, bluegrass, country tele chicken pickin', blues, Sousa marches and everthing inbetween. I call him “King Richard”.
The perfect blend of Fingerstyle and Comedy. His show in Branson is Top of the Line.
TOP TEN. His transcription of Mussorsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” CHANGED my direction of what a solo guitar is capable of. Relatively unheard of here in the USA.
“Classical Gas” was the 1968 Instrumental of the year and is probably the most played ever on Radio. We all must have this one in our repetroire! Excellent song writer as well.
I personally love what one guitar is capable of when it comes to arranging a song for solo guitar.
Feel free to email me your favorite SOLO GUITARIST for consideration. edgarcruz@aol.com
Rock Inspirations...
Dream On, Rocks, Endurence!
Magnificent cross of Rock and Classical
Pioneer of Shock Rock. One of the smartest guys I’ve ever read about.
Crank up the ‘Fuzz Box’ and play them power chords Tommi. OZZY’s original band.
Ive always got a kick out of these Dream Police! “I Want You to Want Me”
Many rock hits from the late 60's. Ive recorded two versions of 'Light my Fire’.
The Band that truly brideged me from Rock to Classical. Kudos to Jeff Lynne!
Progressive Rock at its finest. Greg Lake wrote and sang classics like “From the Beginning”, “Cest La Vie” & “Lucky Man.” The album “Trilogy’ is an all time favorite.
0A‘Closer to Home’ was MY FIRST ALBUM.
‘Cross Eyed Mary’ is one of my favorite songs. Also Brick, Bouree and Aqualung
What do you get when you mix ROCK n ROLL with a Circus!
Progressive Rock at its Finest
Zep was my favorite band throughout the 70’s. Mark and I recorded ‘Stairway’
Earlier mix of Rock and Classical
I Love The Beatles, Bass Guitar, Ram, ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘Maybe Im Amazed’
TOP TEN Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall!
TOP TEN The best of classical, opera, rock and SHOWMANSHIP!
TOP TEN Anytime JUST Three guys can sound this good impresses me!
We all need to laugh at ourselfs AND at Spinal TAP. Eleven!
Musicians and Audiophile’s Dream.
I appreciated every phase they went through. Songs everlasting
THE BEST ROCK SHOW IVE EVER SEEN - TWICE ‘76 and ’89!
Every song is a sing along! In Oklahoma, not Arizona, What does it matter?
The Best Driving Force to hit ’78
TOP TEN Progressive Rock at its Finest
Other Musical Inspirations...
These guys have been MY FAVORITE Band being a world music act, a hot jazz quintet, a rollicking rock'n'roll bar band, a Tex-Mex conjunto, a sizzling blues band, a saucy cocktail combo, a deadly serious novelty act, a Latin orchestra and more.
Here is the only public video I am offering of Dad.
One of the top songwriters of all time. I saw his The Jazz Singer Tour.
Nuevo Flamenco, Spanish Guitars & Cantina Voices of Spain.
I am to Guitar what Liberace was to Piano - Classical to Pop. I love piano music.
I grew up listening to my dad’s trio sing these latin love songs of Mexico
Once one of my favorite musical artist of all time. Copacabana!
Showmanship at its finest and hilariuos as well.
We met at the Chet Atkins Festival in 1995 and I immediately admired thier musicianship. Beautiful Jazz guitar and vocals.
This is what you get when you mix Classical Music with Comedy. Brilliant!
Shannon has danced for me in many shows. Her Techniques and appearence always raises the bar for me.
The best covers of Western classics. Tight harmonies and flavorful arrangements.
I always got a kick out of 3 saxes, Bass and Snare!
The name alone speaks for itself. ‘You Are Everything” “You Make Me Feel Brand New”
One of the best songwriters in the world. One of my favorite concerts.
TOP TEN Influences in my career. Soul, expression, groove and more. ‘Innervisions’ is one of my favorite CDs of all time!
Musicals...
Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Oliver
My wife Danielle and daughter Sadie have been getting interested in...Wicked, Mamma Mia, Cats, Grease, Hair Spray, Most Disney soundtracks
Composers...
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Beethoven
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/beethoven.html
Chopin
www.chopin.pl/spis_tresci/index_en.html
D. Elfman
http://squaremusic.ffworld.com/elfman/?page#NAME?
Debussy
George Gershwin
Holst
Liszt
www.d-vista.com/OTHER/franzliszt.html
Mancini
Mussorgsky
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/mussorgsky.html
Orff
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/orff.html
Prokofiev
Ravel
Stravinsky
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/stravinsky.html
Tchaikovsky
www.geocities.com/Vienna/5648/Tchaikovsky.htm
Artists...
Heironymus Bosch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieronymus_Bosch
Pietor Brugal
http://www.abcgallery.com/B/bruegel/bruegel.html
Manuel Cruz Jr. III
Salvidor Dali
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Dalí
Fransisco Goya
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Goya
Rich Griendling
Norman Rockwell
Mary Kash WeltzHeimer
Frank Lloyd Wright
http://www.franklloydwright.org/
Special Thanks to CD Cover Artists... Marie Kash Weltzheimer (Opening Night 1 & 2), Paul Kruger (The ART of Edgar Cruz), Rich Griendling (Guitarras de Amor) and my brother Manuel Cruz Jr, III (www.manuelcruz.com) (Spanish Blood)