Raised in a family were musical talent is taken for granted; somehow I had to break the mold, rise through, and shine brighter.

My family consists of singers, pianists, drummers, violinists, guitarists, composers, cellists, saxophonists- what a mouthful! In fact most of them play two or more instruments and are composers as well.

I began learning violin at the tender age of four with a private lesson teacher and rapidly progressed at Parker Elementary Music Academy and Lanier Middle Schools Symphony - participating in both All-City and All-State Orchestra throughout those years.

Then I did one of the most stupid things I had ever done in my life and possibly my only regret. I quit. At the end of eighth grade, I gave up on violin. I had had enough of practicing hours a day, playing what I believed to be a “girly” instrument and decided I was too cool for it. So I threw it all away thinking that was the end of music in my life.

Little did I know that music would become the one thing I can’t live with out.

Less than a year after I quit violin, my church needed a bass player and the music director asked if I was interested. Reluctantly I said yes. That same day he taught me just the basic notes I would play, leaving the rest up to me.

My first bass was purchased at a local Pawn Shop and then sold almost immediately to get the Ibanez BTB 5 string I still play with today. I taught myself all the notes on the fret board including the B string. While up on stage at church I would make up fill-ins and would just add my own style to the songs out of boredom.

I soon teamed up with a cousin of mine who sings and plays the piano to form a contemporary Christian band.

I ended up teaching myself the piano in one night; out of frustration. One day I had been playing with the church band and I didn’t know the songs. I learned to play in order to follow the pianist just by looking at what they were playing.

In no time at all I was receiving compliments on how I played my instrument.

The saxophonist at my church suggested I join the jazz band at school. I did so in my junior year. I also won the All Star Bassist Award at the Willowridge High School competition that same year. And I have also been offered a full ride scholarship playing bass in the jazz band at Texas Southern University.

And on top of that, I joined a new rock band named Distinct Motive. My close friend Raymond Martinez established the band and called me in to be the bassist. Both Raymond and I are the composers and songwriters and it has been almost a year now that we’ve been a band. My band recently won a Battle of the Bands sponsored by Gorilla Productions at Fitzgeralds. We’re competing at the finals May 27 at Fitzgeralds Upstairs.

There are three official bands in my family now, not including the solo artists. One of the bands, Cuervo formed by my cousin Elton Salazar, is pretty well known in the Spanish rock scene.

There is never a moment that I am not involved musically either at church, school, my band or just for the heck of it.

Every night I spend listening to all types of music ranging from smooth jazz to post-hardcore screamo, I do this in order to learn as much as I can and to incorporate it in my playing.

God blessed me with a gift and I intend to use it.