Oscar Lopez
Encyclopedia
Oscar Lopez is a Chile
an-Canadian
folk
and nouveau flamenco guitarist. He has won many awards from the Latino community.
Lopez moved to Canada in 1979 and settled in Calgary, Alberta. He began pursuing music as a career, becoming a popular draw on the Canadian folk festival circuit, and released his debut album, Hola, in 1989. Several of his albums have been nominated for Canada's Juno Award
s, and 2000's Armando's Fire was his first Juno win, for Best Instrumental Album. He has recorded on the Narada
label. He was also named instrumentalist of the year by the Prairie Music Awards. Classical Soul broke the Latin Charts during the first few weeks.
Although he has continued recording, Lopez had not toured or performed in several years due to a battle with depression
. As a result, Spirit of the West
recorded a tribute song to Lopez, "Come Back Oscar", on their 2004 album Star Trails
. On July 24, Lopez appeared on stage with Spirit of the West at the Calgary Folk Music Festival
to perform the song.
In 1997 Lopez began playing with James Keelaghan in a group known as The Compadres. In 1998, he co-produced the album, "Volcán: Tributo a José José
", a tribute album dedicated to the iconic Mexican singer Jose Jose
. They recorded a self-titled album that year and toured Australia in 2005. In 2007 they recorded another album, ¿Buddy Where You Been? and toured various venues including Hugh's Room in Toronto where they appeared on October 16.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an-Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and nouveau flamenco guitarist. He has won many awards from the Latino community.
Lopez moved to Canada in 1979 and settled in Calgary, Alberta. He began pursuing music as a career, becoming a popular draw on the Canadian folk festival circuit, and released his debut album, Hola, in 1989. Several of his albums have been nominated for Canada's Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s, and 2000's Armando's Fire was his first Juno win, for Best Instrumental Album. He has recorded on the Narada
Narada Productions
Narada is a record label formed 1983 as an independent New Age music label and distributed by MCA Records. Now a fully owned subsidiary of EMI, Narada evolved through an expansion of formats to include music from other styles including world music, jazz, Celtic music, new flamenco, acoustic guitar...
label. He was also named instrumentalist of the year by the Prairie Music Awards. Classical Soul broke the Latin Charts during the first few weeks.
Although he has continued recording, Lopez had not toured or performed in several years due to a battle with depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
. As a result, Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West are a Canadian folk rock band, who were popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s before evolving a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences which made them one of Canada's most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.-Early years:The band began...
recorded a tribute song to Lopez, "Come Back Oscar", on their 2004 album Star Trails
Star Trails
Star Trails is a 2004 album by Canadian band Spirit of the West. It was their first album of new material since Weights and Measures in 1997, and their first for independent label MapleMusic Recordings....
. On July 24, Lopez appeared on stage with Spirit of the West at the Calgary Folk Music Festival
Calgary Folk Music Festival
The Calgary Folk Music Festival is held in late July each year at Prince's Island Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. While known for attracting both established and up-and-coming folk music, the festival features a wide variety of artists including hip-hop, alternative, blues, and world acts...
to perform the song.
In 1997 Lopez began playing with James Keelaghan in a group known as The Compadres. In 1998, he co-produced the album, "Volcán: Tributo a José José
Volcán: Tributo a José José
Volcán: Tributo a José José is a 1998 tribute album to Mexican singer José José.Paying homage to José José for his influence on Latin pop music, the album was recorded by several popular Latin artists such as Molotov, Cafe Tacuba, Julieta Venegas, Moenia, Beto Cuevas, and Aleks Syntek.The main...
", a tribute album dedicated to the iconic Mexican singer Jose Jose
José José
José Rómulo Sosa Ortiz , known by his artistic name José José, is a Mexican singer.Referred in the entertainment world as "El Príncipe de la Canción" , José José is best known for his romantic ballads and renowned for his vocals...
. They recorded a self-titled album that year and toured Australia in 2005. In 2007 they recorded another album, ¿Buddy Where You Been? and toured various venues including Hugh's Room in Toronto where they appeared on October 16.
Discography
- Hola (1989)
- Sueños (1991)
- Dancing on the Moon Contigo (1994)
- Heat (1997)
- Compadres (1997, with James KeelaghanJames KeelaghanJames Keelaghan is a Juno award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter. Born in Calgary, Alberta and now based in Winnipeg, many of his songs, such as "Kiri's Piano", about the internment of Japanese Canadians, and "October 70", about the FLQ crisis, are inspired by events and figures in Canadian...
) - Seduction (1998)
- Armando's Fire (2000)
- Flashback (2002)
- My Destiny (2003)
- ¿Buddy Where You Been? - Compadres (2007)
Compilation appearances
- Narada Smooth JazzNarada Smooth JazzNarada Smooth Jazz is a 1997 compilation release by Narada. It peaked at #25 on Billboard's Top Contemporary Jazz Albums in the same year.-Track listing:*1.01 "Redwood/Nocturne" – Spencer Brewer – 4:20...
- Stories (Narada Artist Collection)Stories (Narada Artist Collection)Stories is a 1998 compilation release by Narada."Extraordinary performers reveal their artistic inspirations in deeply personal instrumental memoirs".-Track listing:#"Bahama" – Artie Traum – 4:26...
- The Next Generation - Narada SamplerThe Next Generation - Narada SamplerThe Next Generation - Explore Our World is a 1997 Narada sampler introducing their "Next Generation" of artists.-Track listing:#Jesse Cook Introduction – 0:52#"Mario Takes A Walk" – Jesse Cook – 3:47...
- Narada Film and Television Music SamplerNarada Film and Television Music SamplerNarada Films and Television Music Sampler is a 2003 U.S. EMI Film & TV Music publishing 2CD sampler that represents an overview of the Narada catalog, demonstrating the breadth and diversity of the Narada roster.-Disc One:...
- TrifectaTrifectaIn horse racing terminology, a trifecta is a parimutuel bet in which the bettor must predict which horses will finish first, second, and third in exact order. The word comes from the related betting term, "perfecta". A trifecta is known as a tiercé in France and Hong Kong and as a tris in Italy.It...
- Gypsy Passion