Gregg was born and raised in the Cajun country of south Louisiana--a direct descendant of the original Cajuns--where he began singing in his home church at the age of eight. By the time he was 18, he was singing professionally. His phenomenal voice, which has been compared to Sam Cooke and Luther Vandross, took him from the bars and clubs of the bayou country to some of the finest resorts, casinos, and hotels throughout the nation. He had an exclusive performing contract with Donald and Ivana Trump and a million dollar recording contract. By 1986, Gregg was on the brink of stardom in the music industry.
At The Crossroads
But along his journey to the top, Gregg made some bad choices that directly affected his career and his personal life. He never reached the pinnacle of musical success. But God had other plans for him. By the end of the eighties, Gregg had exorcised his personal demons and completely turned his life around. For you see, he wasn't destined to be a pop star, or whatever the flavor of the month was in the mainstream music industry - he was destined to sing the blues! He began to listen to his heart, and returned to his first love, R&B, soul music, and the blues.
Experience It!
There is a presence about Gregg Martinez that music industry people discovered long ago. It commands attention, and draws people in. People everywhere are not only entertained, but inspired, uplifted, and encouraged. He has performed across the U.S. and has also toured in South Africa, Taiwan, Malaysia, England, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Wales.
Discography
He has released seven recordings, Wonders Never Cease-1991, Love Has A Voice-1993, They That Wait-1997, For The Ages-1999, All The Days-2001, Christmas-2002, Bring Down The Thunder-2004, and now the brand new 2006 release on Seaul Records, Big Bad Daddy, featuring nine of Gregg's original songs. It will prove to be his finest moment as an artist. As Gregg Martinez is more than just a singer, this is more than just music; it is a teacher of life. He is truly, a voice for the ages.
Notable Appearances
Gregg has shared the stage with such notable mainstream and R&B artists as Stevie Wonder, Foreigner, BTO, Dobie Gray, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and gospel artists such as Shirley Caesar, Jars of Clay, and MercyMe. Gregg and the Rolling Thunder can be seen and heard at selected venues and festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
It has been said that some of the greatest musical artists "fall through the cracks". They are not the latest trend or the flavor of the month. Gregg Martinez is one of those artists. He is one of America's greatest hidden treasures.