Occupation(s) singer, songwriter Role Singer Name Carmen Espinoza-Rodriquez | Years active 1993 – present Instruments vocals Genres Country, Jazz, Blues | |
Born Muleshoe, Texas, United States
July 16, 1970 (age 53) ( 1970-07-16 ) Labels Past label(s) Hacienda Records 2001-2002 | ||
Carmen espinoza rodriquez and david lee rodriquez performing with michael martin murphey
Carmen Espinoza-Rodriquez (born July 16, 1970 in Muleshoe, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter. Carmen attended Texas Tech in Lubbock and West Texas A&M University in Canyon and received her degree in the study of Montessori Education in 1997.
Contents
- Carmen espinoza rodriquez and david lee rodriquez performing with michael martin murphey
- Biography
- Honors and awards
- Albums
- Single Releases
- Compilations
- Special Guest Appearance
- Television Appearances Video Documentaries
- References
Biography
She is one of ten children of Camilo Espinoza, Jr., and Maria Guadalupe Orozco Espinoza. Her first performance was at the age of six with her father, who performed with Bob Wills, Marlon Brando, and The Lennon Sisters. Her love for music and stage grew. In high school, she received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for vocals.
Soon after, she was asked to be the lead vocalist for Hacienda Records artist, Algo Simple. After a twelve year span with Algo Simple, she decided to go solo. It was at this turning point when she was recommended by CMA Award winning singer-songwriter Susan Gibson (writer "Wide Open Spaces") to appear on a PBS video documentary. Inspired, she recorded an original composition and shot a video entitled America that has since been featured in two PBS documentaries; Celebrate America! and Southwest Expressions. Past members of her band include Robin Brannon from the Christian vocal group Acappella (group). Carmen was invited to record and perform as a special guest with the WTAMU Jazz Ensemble. During this time, she was approached to go on tour with Texas X-press, an outreach touring troupe for the outdoor musical drama Texas Legacies. It was during the tour that she was asked by the executive producer of Texas Legacies to take on the lead role (and was the first minority to be offered a lead role) as Maria Hinojosa' in Texas Legacies. Carmen accepted the role for the 2003 season. Since then, she has shared the stage with country artists including Lee Roy Van Dyke, Steve Wariner, Restless Heart, Holly Dunn, and Michael Martin Murphey.