Cruz Martínez

Cruz Martínez (born June 21, 1972) is an American record producer, songwriter and musician. He is a former member of the Tejano band La Sombra. In 1999, he joined the cumbia music group Los Kumbia Kings, created by A.B. Quintanilla. In 2007, he created the band Los Super Reyes. He was formerly married to singer Alicia Villarreal.

Career Cruz Martínez's interest in music began at the age of twelve when he learned to play the piano with the help of one of his uncles. By the age of sixteen, Martínez began producing music and programming computers in the studio for the family band. By age sixteen, Cruz had received his first Grammy nomination. He joined the Tejano band La Sombra. A.B. Quintanilla formed the band Los Kumbia Kings in 1999, which Cruz Martínez would join and co-write and co-produce songs. Martínez also has a stepdaughter, Melenie Aidée Carmona Villarreal, who was born on April 10, 1999 to Villarreal and Arturo Carmona during their marriage. Martínez and Arturo Carmona maintain a good relationship with each other and have worked together.

Cruz Martínez's father, Félix Martínez, died on July 14, 2020 as result of COVID-19. Félix spent 16 days battling the disease and was taken to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas where he stayed for 6 days until his death. Cruz Martínez's brother, Daniel Martínez, died on January 10, 2022.

Cruz Martínez's uncles, Antonio "Tony" Guerrero Jr, Gavino Guerrero, and Cruz Guerrero, were members of the band La Sombra, which was led by Tony Guerrero Jr. Cruz Martínez and his cousins, the brothers Alex and Roy "Slim" Ramírez, were also part of their uncles' group La Sombra, which helped start their music careers. They were also together in the bands Kumbia Kings and Los Super Reyes, being original members in both bands. Cruz Martínez and his band Los Super Reyes performed at his niece Jazzmin Martínez's quinceañera at Corpus Christi, Texas in 2009 which aired on MTV Tr3s's Quiero Mis Quinces as episode 7 of season 4 on January 11, 2010.

Discography Albums with La Sombra Porque Te Quiero (1991) Mas Que Amor (1992) Iluciones (1993) Mas Que Todo (1995) Caliente Dulce Amor (1996) Alborotados (1997)

Albums with Kumbia Kings Amor, Familia y Respeto (1999) Shhh! (2001) All Mixed Up: Los Remixes (2002) 4 (2003) Presents Kumbia Kings (2003) La Historia (2003) Los Remixes 2.0 (2004) Fuego (2004) Duetos (2005) Kumbia Kings Live (2006)

Albums with Los Super Reyes El Regreso de los Reyes (2007) Cumbia con Soul (2009)

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result2005 Latin Grammy AwardsBest Regional Mexican Song "Na Na Na (Dulce Niña)" (A.B. Quintanilla and Kumbia Kings) (with A.B. Quintanilla and Luigi Giraldo) Best Engineered Album Fuego (A.B. Quintanilla and Kumbia Kings) (with Seth Atkins, Javier Garza, and Robert "Bobbo" Gómez III) 2008 Premio Lo NuestroPop Breakout Artist or Group of the Year Cruz Martínez and Los Super Reyesrowspan="1" Billboard Latin Music AwardsRegional Mexican Album of the Year, New Artist El Regreso de los Reyesrowspan="1" Premios Oye!Popular Field Best New Artist Cruz Martínez and Los Super Reyesrowspan="1" Popular Field Best Tropical by a Duo/Group or Solo El Regreso de los Reyesrowspan="1" 2009 Premios Oye!Popular Field Best Tropical by a Duo/Group or Solo Cumbia con Soulrowspan="1"