This month Mark Guerrero interviews legendary guitar stylist Gabriel Manzo on his decades-long musical career playing and discussing the tracks on Manzo’s acclaimed CD “Manzo Rally.” Gabriel Manzo is a unique musician vocalist, accomplished in many genres including Latin Rock, Jazz, Rock, Blues and Funk. He is lead guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, musical director of the seminal Latin Rock band MALO 1980 to 2016.
In his diverse career Manzo has toured with the Bo Diddly band, the Pete Escovedo band, the Gabe Christopher band and the Jorge Santana band. He has recorded with Bill Spooner, Leonard Hayes , Vernon Black, Jorge Santana and many others and has opened for various artists including Fleetwood Mac , Buddy Miles , Canned Heat , Elvin Bishop , Luis Gasca , Sapo , Dakila and Country Weather. Socially committed, he has played numerous rallies headed by United Farm Workers founder and champion Cesar Chavez.
Gabriel Manzo founded the faith-based Latin Rock band BUENO and was co-founder, guitarist/songwriter for flamenco group Guitarras Y Congas, recording the acclaimed CD “Chiles.”Gabriel has also received two certificates of honor from the city of San Francisco in recognition of his contribution to the birth, life and history of Latin Rock music. He appears extensively in landmark book “The Voices Of Latin Rock” by Jim McCarthy and Ron Sansoe (2004).