Tico Zamora
Encyclopedia
Torcuato Zamora better known as Tico Zamora, is a Rock music
musician, songwriter and record producer.
guitarist from Almeria
, Spain
. After five years of apprenticeship with his father, at age 13, the young Zamora bought his first electric guitar, a Fender Stratocaster
. Zamora was greatly influenced by his older sister's record collection, which included bands such as Led Zeppelin
, Jimi Hendrix
, The Beatles
and Aerosmith
. Through countless hours of playing along with and emulating what he heard on those seminal records, he discovered his passion for the electric guitar
. Too young to play in nightclubs, his first performance was at a Battle of the Bands
in a local Washington, D.C. area game room where he won the competition. Shortly thereafter, he was asked to join H.R.
("Human Rights"), fronted by Paul Hudson, lead singer of the influential hardcore punk band Bad Brains
. This was 16-year-old Zamora's introduction to the world of Punk Rock
.
After touring and recording in the studio with H.R.
for two years, H.R.'s former band, Bad Brains
, went back into the studio with its original band members and released a new album, I Against I
. In 1987, Zamora moved to Athens, Georgia
to start a new band, Gypsy Cab Company, and immerse himself in the thriving Alternative Rock
and New Wave music
scene. Two years later, Maureen Tucker
, drummer for The Velvet Underground
, asked Zamora to play guitar with her in the opening act for Lou Reed
on his New York (album)
tour across the U.S. and Canada. In 1990, Zamora played guitar in Mo Tucker's band and toured throughout many cities in Europe, including Berlin, Germany, where Zamora lived from 1991 to 2009.
In Berlin, Zamora set up a recording studio and played with and produced many bands, some of which were part of the exploding electro-pop/electroclash
music scene occurring in Berlin in the early 2000s.
and Maureen Tucker
. He has produced and played guitar and other instruments with various Berlin-based bands including Jingo de Lunch
, Jan Josef Liefers
, Jasmin Tabatabai
, Mignon
and Electrocute
.
His songs have been featured in movies such as HBO's Iron Jawed Angels
, and Blood and Chocolate
. Zamora has composed theme music
for German television news and talk shows including Arabella Kiesbauer
, Liebe Sünde, Nicole, Taff, and Bizz.
Zamora was married to Actress/Singer Jasmin Tabatabai
from 2002 to 2008.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician, songwriter and record producer.
History
Tico Zamora began playing guitar at an early age. Starting at the age of eight, he received daily guitar lessons from his father, Torcuato Zamora, Sr., an accomplished flamencoFlamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
guitarist from Almeria
Almería
Almería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. After five years of apprenticeship with his father, at age 13, the young Zamora bought his first electric guitar, a Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
. Zamora was greatly influenced by his older sister's record collection, which included bands such as Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. Through countless hours of playing along with and emulating what he heard on those seminal records, he discovered his passion for the electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
. Too young to play in nightclubs, his first performance was at a Battle of the Bands
Battle of the Bands
Battle of Bands is a contest in which two or more bands compete for the title of "best band". The winner is determined by a panel of judges, the general response of the audience, or a combination. The winning band usually receives a prize in addition to bragging rights. Traditionally, battles of...
in a local Washington, D.C. area game room where he won the competition. Shortly thereafter, he was asked to join H.R.
H.R.
H.R. is the stage name of Paul D. Hudson, the lead singer of the hardcore punk band Bad Brains. His vocals can be quite diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes...
("Human Rights"), fronted by Paul Hudson, lead singer of the influential hardcore punk band Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
. This was 16-year-old Zamora's introduction to the world of Punk Rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
.
After touring and recording in the studio with H.R.
H.R.
H.R. is the stage name of Paul D. Hudson, the lead singer of the hardcore punk band Bad Brains. His vocals can be quite diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes...
for two years, H.R.'s former band, Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, went back into the studio with its original band members and released a new album, I Against I
I Against I
I Against I is the third official full-length studio album by Bad Brains, released in 1986 as SST Records number 65. The best-selling album in the band's catalog, I Against I is a critically acclaimed album of American hardcore punk mixed with funk, soul, reggae and heavy metal. It is also...
. In 1987, Zamora moved to Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
to start a new band, Gypsy Cab Company, and immerse himself in the thriving Alternative Rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and New Wave music
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
scene. Two years later, Maureen Tucker
Maureen Tucker
Maureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...
, drummer for The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, asked Zamora to play guitar with her in the opening act for Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
on his New York (album)
New York (album)
New York is the fifteenth solo album by Lou Reed. It was received very warmly as a return to the style of The Velvet Underground - founded by Reed in the 1960s...
tour across the U.S. and Canada. In 1990, Zamora played guitar in Mo Tucker's band and toured throughout many cities in Europe, including Berlin, Germany, where Zamora lived from 1991 to 2009.
In Berlin, Zamora set up a recording studio and played with and produced many bands, some of which were part of the exploding electro-pop/electroclash
Electroclash
Electroclash is a style of music that fuses New Wave and electronic dance music. It emerged in New York and Detroit in the later 1990s, pioneered by acts including I-F and those associated with Gerald Donald, and is associated with acts including Peaches, Adult, and Fischerspooner...
music scene occurring in Berlin in the early 2000s.
Credits
Tico Zamora has played guitar with, H.R.H.R.
H.R. is the stage name of Paul D. Hudson, the lead singer of the hardcore punk band Bad Brains. His vocals can be quite diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes...
and Maureen Tucker
Maureen Tucker
Maureen Ann "Moe" Tucker is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground.- The Velvet Underground :...
. He has produced and played guitar and other instruments with various Berlin-based bands including Jingo de Lunch
Jingo de Lunch
Jingo de Lunch is a German punk band from Kreuzberg, Berlin. Most members had already a solid musical background, for instance Sepp Ehrensberger had played in the Berliner cult punk rock band called Vorkriegsjugend , and also in Zerstörte Jugend with Tom Schwoll. Yvonne Ducksworth had previously...
, Jan Josef Liefers
Jan Josef Liefers
Jan Josef Liefers, is a German actor and musician. He was born on August 8, 1964 in Dresden.-Life:Liefers is the son of director Karlheinz Liefers and actress Brigitte Liefers-Wähner. After his apprenticeship he studied at the Hochschule für Schauspielkunst Ernst Busch in Berlin...
, Jasmin Tabatabai
Jasmin Tabatabai
Jasmin Tabatabai is a German-Iranian singer, songwriter and actress.- Life and work :...
, Mignon
Mignon (musician)
Mignon Baer is a punk-rock and electronica musician. She is notable for her high energy stage shows and the use of provocative horror imagery.- Music and Performance :...
and Electrocute
Electrocute (band)
Electrocute is a Los Angeles-based electro rock band. Nicole Morier, from Albuquerque New Mexico, USA, founded the band with former member "Mia Dime" in Berlin, Germany in 2002...
.
His songs have been featured in movies such as HBO's Iron Jawed Angels
Iron Jawed Angels
Iron Jawed Angels is a 2004 American drama film. It was directed by Katja von Garnier and starred Hilary Swank, Frances O'Connor, Julia Ormond, and Anjelica Huston. It focuses on the American women's suffrage movement during the 1910s. The film received acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival...
, and Blood and Chocolate
Blood and Chocolate (film)
Blood & Chocolate is a 2007 film directed by Katja von Garnier, produced by Lakeshore Entertainment and distributed by MGM. It is very loosely based on the young-adult novel of the same name by Annette Curtis Klause, which was adapted into a screenplay by Ehren Kruger. The movie was released on DVD...
. Zamora has composed theme music
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
for German television news and talk shows including Arabella Kiesbauer
Arabella Kiesbauer
Cosima Arabella-Asereba Kiesbauer is a TV presenter, writer and actress. She grew up in Vienna with her grandmother after her mother Hannelore and her father Sammy Ammissah separated.While she studied journalism and dramaturgy she started to work as presenter with the Austrian public service...
, Liebe Sünde, Nicole, Taff, and Bizz.
Zamora was married to Actress/Singer Jasmin Tabatabai
Jasmin Tabatabai
Jasmin Tabatabai is a German-Iranian singer, songwriter and actress.- Life and work :...
from 2002 to 2008.
Albums
- H.R. (Keep out of Reach) (1986)
- Trash Boom Bang (12") Rubber And Fur Trans Solar 2003
- Into The Future (7") Trans Solar 2006
- I Ran (CD, Album) Tomorrow I'll Be Gone,... Chet Records 2007
- What Is It All About? (Album) ◄ (2 versions) Little Teddy Recordings 1994
- Sitting On Snaps (Album) ◄ (2 versions) Matador 1995
- Time's A Great Healer (CD, Single) Wea 1995
- Voyage Voyage (12") Journal International 1995
- A Tribute To Your Taste (CD, EP) Kleiner Dicker Junge (... Emperor Norton 2003
- Trost (CD) I See Cathedrals FM 4.5.1 2004
- Das Mandolinenorchester" (CD, Album, Dig) Mund Auf Augen Zu (Ste... Monika Enterprise 2005
- I Ran (CD, Album)