I was born Edward Adam Lopez on the 10th of January, 1976 in an area of north San Diego known as Oceanside, California. I was a bicentennial baby. I'm still waiting for my award in the mail. Everyone knows me as Adam. Edward is my father's name and Adam is my Grandfather's name on my Mother's side. No one has ever called me by Edward though. Most of my family probably doesn't even know that's my given first name. I've been fascinated with guitars and music all my life and there's a long history of working musicians on my Mother's side. Uncle Al was my first guitar hero. I always had a toy guitar as a kid, and even drums at one point but they mysteriously disappeared early on in the childhood. I'm pretty sure another guitar was found in it's place. When I was about 7 my parents enrolled me in guitar lessons with a man named John Pramas. John was always super good to me and I recently found out he was a Boston Conservatory grad and member of the Boston Pops. Even though I now know, and can admit that I didn't take full advantage of John's wisdom, I do know that he really confirmed my own hunches that I really did have guitar and music hardwired into me from birth. He would go on to show me how to get what I heard inside of me to the outside so that I could free myself thru my guitar and music. I would "study" with John on and off for about 4 years. I use the term "study" loosely, for as much as John gave to me, there was certainly the potential there for me to extract far more from him. If I only knew then what I know now........
I was exposed to every form of American music as a child and even some non American music. I remember buying Bob Marley's Exodus on cassette when I was maybe 11. Music was a constant in daily life. The first famous guitarist I wanted to be was Chuck Berry and then maybe it was Scotty Moore. I would go on to devour guitar magazines learning about as many of the guitarists as I could. Like most other kids learning guitar I would pass thru Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, and many of the 70's and 80's era rockers and "alternative" acts like The Smiths, The Alarm, and Echo & The Bunnymen. Between Chuck Berry and Scotty Moore, I remember a lot of A.M. radio and top 40. So even though I couldn't name a lot of the guitarists I was hearing at that time I was still listening. Looking back I was greatly touched by people like Robert White, Eddie WIllis, Joe Messina, Reggie Young, James Burton, and countless others. I was also exposed to people like Luther Perkins, Don Rich, and Roy Nichols among others. Naming names almost seems to be unfair as there were so many whether I knew them by name or not that really influenced what I love to do. Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Jeff Healey, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the list goes on and on. It's depth and variety I'm still catching up on now besides discovering new players. At this point my favorite and most important influences on guitar have been Danny Gatton, Brent Mason, Brian Setzer, Arlen Roth, Jim Campilongo, and others mainly noted for playing "Telecaster style" guitar.
Up until the age of about 16, the guitar was my main musical focus. At that point I became interested in learning to sing and write songs. So for the next 12 or so years, I put down the electric guitar and focused on becoming a singer/songwriter who's guitar was a vehicle for his songs. People like Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Sam Cooke would become singing influences, as well as songwriting influences. This was during the early/mid 90's in San Diego where a singer/songwriter boom was taking place. I was completely lucky to be there during this period. Shree, Steve Harris, Gregory Page, and Carlos Olmeada would be successful local artists that would have a major impact on me. It was during this boom that Jewel became the talk of the town for becoming a major label star. It was also her vacating her weekly spot at the Inner Change Coffeehouse that would provide me my first break. I took over her weekly gig shortly after graduating high school. Actually, it was shortly after graduating high school and dropping out of the local junior college. San Diego at that time had an open mic or gig for most everyone most every night of the week and I took full advantage. It was the best way to learn all facets of my crafts. I would also start venturing regularly into Hollywood where I had what I still feel to be surprising success. I was still a teenager and getting picked for weekly showcases thru open mic nights and even some gigs. I was and am very grateful.
Being a born & bred SoCal kid, I was also well rounded and always active in sports and other activities. This was great as it always gave me something else to do when I needed a break from the music scene. Anyone that's been a part of any music scene knows how rough it can be, even when it's good, it still can be tough.
Between those early days of night after night performances, traveling, and on the job education, I've had many more successes. I've done some self recorded and released albums that have been great learning experiences. The Revolution Starts @ Home and 2006's Stranded In Babylon were also somewhat successful for me as an independent artist. The Revolution Starts @ Home gathered some regional press, college radio, and even acted as the catalyst for my first dealings with major record labels. Stranded In Babylon would do all that and more on a much larger scale. Nationally (and even internationally) I was recognized in more press, more radio, traveled to more states, played more festivals with larger acts, and gained more insight into the workings of reality and the music business. Most of all, those two albums helped my confidence that not only could I do it with a little help from my friends, but that I could do it on my own terms and not have to starve along the way.
It's now 2009 and I've been doing this for most of my life. There have been many great times, people, and music along the way. Sharing the bill at the Pacific Beach Block Party with the likes of Lee Rocker, Reverend Horton Heat, and many others back in 2003? was memorable. As the "Adam Lopez Band" I was honored to have not only Everett Evansky on bass, but Harold Mason on drums. Harold came up as a young drummer during Motown's heyday in Detroit. He had spent several years touring with most of Motown's famous acts including a few years backing up Stevie Wonder. He even recorded a side or two with him. That was something I'll never forget and always cherish as Harold drove himself to the gig which was almost 2 hours from his home, and refused to take any money for the trip saying that he just enjoyed sharing my music with me. Nor will I forget nights like that one in a club in Santa Monica. As the night wore on the small crowd got smaller until only two people remained, Norwood Fisher of Fishbone (and friend) stayed until the very end dancing their asses off simply because they liked the music. Running into various famous acts around Hollywood at gigs I've played has always been fun. Even if they're not necessarily there to see you, at least you didn't scare them off! Being part of festival bills with names like B.B. King and Buddy Guy is an amazing honor. Being welcomed by many of Tulsa's great musicians was encouraging. Rocky Frisco, Dustin Pittsley, Jesse Ayecock, Brandon Holder, and really everyone. Tulsa has a rich music history and is still full of amazing talent and it's nice to feel respected amongst these great musicians. There are many more cherished memories and life experiences I've been fortunate enough to have because of music.
As of now, I'm getting back to the music I loved as a child. The music (and guitar) that made me dream and gave me hope that I would someday grow up and out of my surroundings. The music that inspired me to just live life and rock out.
I hope to share this new music with everyone soon! It's 2009 and I feel like the journey is just now beginning. That's a good feeling and I'm grateful for it all.
Adam
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