Ozzie Melendez
Osvaldo Melendez Jr, known professionally as Ozzie Melendez, was born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents from Orocovis, Puerto Rico (father) and Rio Grande (mother). His mother Olga was a working woman, his father, Osvaldo Melendez, an electrician. Melendez's parents named him after his father. Ozzie grew up in Lindenhurst, Long Island, and is the youngest of two.
Ozzie Melendez | |
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Melendez playing | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Osvaldo Melendez |
Also known as | Ozbone |
Born | Brooklyn, New York |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Trombone |
Associated acts | Marc Anthony, Willie Colon, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez |
Melendez began playing the trombone at the age of 9 at the E.W. Bower Elementary School, excelling at his craft and receiving many accolades, one of them being 'The Louis Armstrong Award', then became a member of the "All State Band" and soon after was chosen to become part of the McDonald's Tri-State Jazz Ensemble. He then went to study at the Berklee College Of Music.
Career
He has been a highly regarded session player[1] since the mid-1980s. Ozzie began touring internationally with Emmanuel and Willie Colon through the 1980s. He still tours with Willie Colon. Melendez has performed all over the world as a vocalist, trombonist, composer and music director as well as playing on Broadway shows, movie sound tracks, commercials, and TV shows. All of his work has put him on the top of the “must work with list[2] that has garnered him studio time with some of the biggest hit makers of today. He has worked on Gold and platinum records that belong to Mariah Carey, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Joel and Marc Anthony. On top of working on top-selling albums, he has toured with Celia Cruz, Willie Colon, Diana Ross and Marc Anthony.
Most recent activities
Melendez has toured with Marc Anthony since 2002 and Willie Colon since 1990, while filling in dates with Blood Sweat & Tears and Diana Ross since 2017, he also found time to release his own musical adventures. His album released in May 2017. He states that the style of music in this album should be considered an alchemy of music and its recipe was his life's work of musical experiences. The title is The Fusion & The Alchemy Of Music.[3]
Album credits
- Lead vocals: Ozzie Melendez
- Written by Aurora Weston
- Executive Producers: Aurora Weston & Ozzie Melendez
Produced and mixed by @coastcityvibes Coast City Vibes Lyric Video by @solerpower007 Adriana Soler Drums/Percussion @jessie.caraballo Jessie Caraballo Guitar @guinimusic Mario Guini Bk Vocals @jeanmusica Jean Rodriguez Trumpets Vinnie Cinquemani Trombone @Ozbone Ozzie Melendez Mastered by Chris Gehringer Sterling Sound NYC
Album credits
- 2017 The Way I Hear It | Michael Cavanaugh | Horn
- 2016 Groovin' | Peter White | Trombone
- 2016 Louie Vega Starring...XXVIII | "Little" Louie Vega | Trombone
2015 Los Duo, Vol. 2 | Juan Gabriel | Coros, Trombone 2013 3.0 | Marc Anthony | Trombone 2013 Eclipse | Elements of Life | Horn Arrangements, Soloist, Trombone 2013 The Complete Album Collection | Paul Simon | Trombone 2012 Love This Giant | David Byrne / St. Vincent | Trombone 2011 Mad Styles & Crazy Visions 2 | "Little" Louie Vega | Trombone 2011 Original | José Alberto "El Canario" | Trombone 2010 Asalto: Reloaded | Eddy-K | Trombone 2010 Historias de Amor | Angel Lopez | Trombone 2009 718 Sessions | Danny Krivit | Trombone 2009 Ananésworld | Anané | Horn Arrangements, Trombone 2009 Down the Wire | Spyro Gyra | Trombone 2009 The Last | Aventura | Trombone 2009 The Real Thing | Vanessa Williams | Trombone, Contractor 2008 Everybody Get Down | [http://www.funkfilharmonik.com Funk Filharmonik | Writer, Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Trombone, BK Vocals 2008 Asalto Navideño: En Vivo Puerto Rico 1993 | Willie Colón | Trombone 2008 El Malo, Vol. 2: Prisioneros del Mambo | Willie Colón | Producer, Musical Director, Arranger, Bass, Coro, Drums, Strings, Synthesizer, Trombone 2008 Gravity at Last | Ayọ | Trombone 2007 All That I Am | Sandy Zio | Trombone 2007 Blame It on the City | Eren Cannata | Trombone, Horn Arrangements 2007 Decades, Vol. 1: Love Songs of the 70's | Donny Osmond | Main Personnel, Trombone 2007 El Cantante | Marc Anthony | Trombone 2007 Juega Billar | 8 y Mas | Trombone 2007 Lust: A Personal Collection by Louie Vega | "Little" Louie Vega | Guitar, Soloist 2007 Percussion Maddness Revisited | Luisito Quintero | Trombone, Soloist 2007 Ten Songs About Love | Eran James | Trombone 2006 A Public Affair | Jessica Simpson | Trombone 2006 Hey Man, Merry Christmas | John Signorello | Trombone 2006 Ketukuba | Africando | Trombone 2006 La Nueva Combinacion | Transito | Trombone 2006 Percussion Madness | Luisito Quintero | Main Personnel, Trombone 2006 Playin' Favorites | Peter White | Trombone 2006 Sigo Siendo Yo: Grandes Exitos | Marc Anthony | Trombone 2006 Soy Diferente | India | Trombone 2006 The Underdog/El Subestimado | Tego Calderón | Trombone 2005 Atrevete a Olvidarme | Brenda K. Starr | Trombone 2005 Connected: Mixed by Jay-J | Horn 2005 Defected in the House: Eivissa 05 | Simon Dunmore | Horn 2005 Defected in the House: International Edition, Vol. 2 | Horn 2005 From Law Suite to Love Songs | Len Leeds | Trombone 2005 My Lives | Billy Joel | Trombone 2005 Nightlife | Paul Taylor | Trombone 2005 On Your Level: The Ultimate Quality Soulful And Funky House Selection | Horn 2004 Common Ground | Barry Danielian | Main Personnel, Trombone 2004 Little Things | Toby Lightman | Trombone 2004 On the 6/J.Lo | Jennifer Lopez | Horn, Trombone 2004 Rasin Kreyol | Emeline Michel Main Personnel, Trombone 2004 Solohits: Salsa and Dance Latin Hits Remix | Trombone 2003 Confesiones | Obie Bermúdez | Trombone 2003 Don't Get It Twisted | Son Callejero | Trombone 2003 Latin Grammy Nominees 2003: Latin Pop and Tropical | Trombone 2003 Look Again | Nelson Rangell | Trombone 2003 Martina | Africando | Trombone 2003 Music for My Peoples | Huey Dunbar | Trombone 2003 Siguiendo la Tradicion | Los Soneros del Barrio | Trombone 2002 2002 Latin Grammy Nominees | Trombone 2002 Billboard Hot Latin Tracks: Best of Tropical 2001 | Trombone 2002 Caraluna | Bacilos | Trombone 2002 SB4 | Son by 4 | Trombone 2002 Thalia |Thalía | Trombone 2002 The Shadow of the Cat | Gato Barbieri | Trombone 2002 The Time Is Right | 3-2 Get Funky | Trombone 2002 Transparente | Luis Enrique | Trombone 2002 Un Gran Dia en el Barrio | Spanish Harlem Orchestra | Trombone 2001 En Otra Onda | Tito Nieves | Trombone 2001 Intenso | Gilberto Santa Rosa | Trombone 2001 J.Lo | Jennifer Lopez | Trombone, Horn 2001 La Negra Tiene Tumbao | Celia Cruz | Trombone 2001 Libre | Marc Anthony | Trombone 2001 Plays Swing, Sweet and Sentimental | The Ben Grisafi Big Band | Trombone 2001 Por Tu Placer | Frankie Negron | Trombone 2001 Say You'll Always Remember | The Ben Grisafi Big Band | Trombone 2001 Songs from the Black House | John Carlin | Trombone 2001 Un Chico Malo |Charlie Cruz | Trombone 2001 Yo Si Me Enamore | Huey Dunbar | Trombone 2000 Asi Soy | Charlie Cruz | Trombone 2000 Best Kept Secret | Ralph Irizarry / Timbalaye | Trombone 2000 Calle Nueva | New Street | Trombone 2000 En Vivo Desde el Carnegie Hall | Lucecita Benitez | Trombone 2000 Galeria Caribe | Ricardo Arjona | Trombone 2000 Mandali | Africando | Trombone 2000 Mi Gran Sueno | Dominic | Trombone 2000 Pru | Pru | Horn 2000 Son by Four | Son by 4 | Trombone 2000 The Groovesmith | Omar Hakim | Trombone 1999 Dejame Entrar | Ley Alejandro | Trombone 1999 En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall | Danny Rivera | Trombone 1999 Gotcha DLG (Dark Latin Groove) | Trombone 1999 Imagínate | Charlie Cruz | Trombone 1999 Inconfundible | Víctor Manuelle | Trombone 1999 Lo Que Llevo Por Dentro | Frankie Negron | Trombone 1999 Un Poco Mas | Corrine | Trombone 1998 1998 Latin Grammy Nominees | Trombone 1998 Dale Cara a la Vida | Tito Nieves | Vocals (Background) 1998 Demasiado Corazon | Willie Colón | Trombone 1998 Let's Go Do What Happens | Francis Dunnery | Trombone 1998 Mi Propia Aventura | Charlie Cardona | Trombone 1998 No Me Compares | Frankie Negron | Trombone 1998 San Bonan | Bakithi Kumalo | Trombone 1998 Sir George Collection | Trombone 1998 These Are Special Times | Céline Dion | Trombone 1998 Tjader-ized: A Cal Tjader Tribute | Dave Samuels | Trombone 1998 Un Estilo Propio | Johnny Rivera | Trombone 1998 Vincent Laguardia Gambini Sings Just for You | Joe Pesci | Trombone 1997 Extrano Sentimiento | Patricia Loaiza | Trombone 1997 I Like It Like That | Tito Nieves | Vocals (Background) 1997 Mi Confidente | Corrine | Trombone 1997 Mi Encuentro | Yolandita Monge | Trombone 1997 Reconfirmando | Andreu Johnny Almendra | Trombone 1997 Regreso Al Futuro | Jomar | Trombone, Primary Artist 1997 Sobre el Fuego | India | Trombone 1997 Songs from The Capeman | Paul Simon | Trombone 1997 Swing On | DLG (Dark Latin Groove) | Trombone 1997 Tempo (Remixes+Versoes) | Pedro Abrunhosa / Pedro Abrunhosa & Os Bandemónio | Trombone, Soloist 1996 Celebremos Navidad | Yomo Toro | Trombone 1996 Dark Latin Groove | DLG (Dark Latin Groove) | Trombone 1996 Electric Lady | Nora Nora | Trombone 1996 Tempo | Pedro Abrunhosa / Pedro Abrunhosa & Os Bandemónio | Trombone, Crowd Noise 1996 Tony White | Tony White | Trombone 1995 Arrebatame | Roy Tavare | Vocals 1995 Souled Out | Tower of Power | Composer, Horn Arrangements 1995 Think With Your Heart | Debbie Gibson | Trombone
- 1994 Esta Aventura | Emmanuel | Arranger, Trombone
- 1994 Frio | Robi Rosa | Trombone
- 1992 Don't Call Me Buckwheat | Garland Jeffreys | Trumpet, Trombone
- 1990 Stiletto | Lita Ford | Vocals (Background)
Adverse Times | Carl Fischer / Organic Groove Ensemble | Trombone Deluxe Edition | Richie Cannata | Composer, Horn Arrangements, Trombone Richie Cannata | Richie Cannata | Composer Te Voy a Enamorar | Rik Indio | Trombone
References
- Fitzharris, Dustin (2017-05-18). "Musician to the Stars, Ozzie Melendez, Finally Takes Center Stage". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- Fitzharris, Dustin (2017-05-18). "Musician to the Stars, Ozzie Melendez, Finally Takes Center Stage". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
- "'The Fusion & The Alchemy Of Music'". OzzieMelendez.com. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- "Ozzie Melendez - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- "Ozzie Melendez". Discogs. Retrieved December 12, 2017.