What a treat to meet the artist behind more cross-genre iconic licks than I can count. Fellow Bronxite, Eddie Martinez, surrounded by platinum records, without a trace of a New York accent, was fun, whip-smart, thoughtful, articulate, inclusive, with stories to spare. Inspired by the Beatles, Hendrix, and Beck, Eddie started out when his neighbor, Nile Rogers, lead him to his first professional gig with Mother Night. Eddie took us through his time with LaBelle, game-changer, rocker, Nona Hendrix, Blondie, at the height of their heyday, cross-over to jazz with Lenny White and then Stanley Clarke and George Duke, She’s The Boss, with Mick Jagger, getting to play with Beck, and at Live Aid, Tina Turner, his years with Robert Palmer, so many gold nuggets there, Addicted to Love to Simply Irresistible, Run DMC (Guitar World ranked Eddie’s contribution to Rock Box Number One on its list of The Top Uses of Guitar in Hip Hop, David Lee Roth when he was it, with Crazy From The Heat. We talked his time with Joe Cocker, Lou Reed, meeting John Lennon and Yoko (playing with her), then Ringo, playing with Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, we would’ve needed hours to get through his complete discography.

Eddie’s solo album, Akosua, is a mind-blower. The cut, Majestic, with his killer vocals to match his thrilling guitar, is on heavy rotation in my kitchen. The LP is a masterful treat, available on iTunes and Amazon Music.

Loved every moment in Eddie’s good company. Heartfelt thanks to Carmine Rojas for introducing me to his old, my new, dear friend. Eddie Martinez is a rarity in rock, and in life––brilliantly talented, knowledgeable, sweet, gracious, gentleman. A gem.

Eddie Martinez Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 9/29/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/39OnrGT

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt