ADD MY FACE BOOK!
JOHNNY “ THE STICK†VALENZUELA
BIOGRAPHY: DATED JULY 2007
Johnny “The Stick†Valenzuela is a percussionist that has traveled all over the world performing with various musical groups. Johnny has performed or recorded with Artists and groups such as:
JORGE SANTANA, WAR, TIERRA, REDBONE, LYDIA PENSE & COLD BLOOD, EL CHICANO, JAMES BROWN, DAKILA. SOUL SACRIFICE & MALO.
Johnny has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the US such as: The Houston Astrodome, The Rose Bowl, Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Orange Bowl, The Cotton Bowl, The Fillmore West, Winterland, The Greek Theater, Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavilion, Arco Arena, The San Jose Arena, The Sun Dome, San Diego Sports Arena, The Oakland Coliseum to name some. Johnny has also performed at showcase venues such as The House of Blues, Billboard Live, The Hop and countless others.
As a percussionist, Johnny is endorsed with REMO WORLD PERCUSSION, SABIAN CYMBALS, AUDIX MICS, ANVIL CASES & MAINLINE DRUMSTICKS.
Johnny recorded on the historical “LATIN LEGENDS LIVE†double CD, MALO’s SENORITA and Remo CD’s, TIERRA’S GREATEST HITS CD, EL CHICANO LIVE and DAKILA. Johnny has been rewarded with Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum Records for his efforts.
Johnny had also served as band manager for the Latin Rock group MALO & JORGE SANTANA through his Drumbeat Productions. He was Production Manager for TIERRA in the 80’s before returning to perform with the group as its percussionist in the 1990’s. Through DRUMBEAT PRODUCTIONS, Johnny and his wife Iris book acts and have done complete Special Events Productions throughout Central California.
Johnny is not only a musician, he is also a recording artist, record producer and Concert and Special Events Producer through DRUMBEAT PRODUCTIONS.
Johnny has worked with JORGE SANTANA on various projects and is proud to be a part of a new book entitled “VOICES OF LATIN ROCK†THE MUSIC AND PEOPLE WHO CREATED THIS SOUND recently released in October of 2004. This exciting book details the birth of the Latin Rock music scene in the Bay Area back in its beginnings. Carlos Santana wrote the forward for this book and its author is Jim McCarthy from England. Johnny says “This book will be a must have in any music collectionâ€.
Johnny and his family make their home in Fresno California and has received Proclamations & The “KEY to the CITY†of Fresno 3 times in the 1980’s, 1990’s and in 2000 where his company was honored with Drumbeat Productions Day on August 11, 2000. He was also honored for being a positive role model and for bringing great music and top talent throughout Fresno and Central California. All told Johnny and his band mates have received more than 30 Keys to Cities across the country including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Mateo, San Antonio, Miami, Denver, Phoenix, along with many others.
Both his two young daughters are into music as well as his two grown sons. His youngest daughter Julie, at age 14, was performing with a Youth Percussion Group called “We Got The Beat†that performed all over California. Now at 16, she has done some special promo work with REMO Inc. and was a featured Artist at this year's REMO NAMM Booth and Official NAMM Magazine. His 30-year-old son Michael recorded and produced his own CD and wrote most of the songs for it as well. 18-year-old daughter Christina an avid poem writer wrote a poem that was included in a national book of young poets in 2004.
Johnny is both proud and honored to have been a part of a musical force that started for him when he was attending Balboa High at age 17. As of early 2009 Johnny is tracking some tunes for an upcoming CD with local Fresno musician's as well as daughter Julie on a few drum tracks.
Go to http://www.drumbeat-productions.com/ for more on Johnny “The Stick†Valenzuela, Drumbeat Productions, and REMO Drums.