Gregg Martinez’s soulful voice has brought him from Carencro to Malaysia and more than a dozen countries in between. He still has Ivana Trump’s handwritten note of praise he received during his four years of performing exclusively at Trump casinos in the 1980s in Atlantic City.
Martinez hung out with superstar singer Teddy Pendergrass and songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, architects of the “Philly Soul” sound who churned out 75 gold and platinum records in the 1970s and ‘80s.
Record executives were ready to make Martinez the next star. But the casino fast life and his south Louisiana roots just weren’t in the groove.
“I squandered the whole thing,” said Martinez, who’s now a retired school bus driver living in Opelousas. “I was too busy partying and didn’t take it seriously enough.
“I didn’t connect with the music so much. I was so Southern, and they were more of the Philadelphia sound. I was 28, but I was a young 28. I was a late bloomer.”
Martinez has bloomed into a seasoned performer, hosting his “50th Anniversary Career Celebration” at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl in downtown Lafayette. He shows off his self-described “powerhouse Louisiana soul” singing style, with flavors of R&B, blues and swamp pop.
“It doesn’t feel like 50 years,” Martinez, 69, said. “I don’t know how that even happened. Everything just flew by. I’m not retiring. This is not a retirement party.”
The 50th anniversary also has Martinez reminiscing about his post-casino journey as a Christian singer with three albums. He became a noted speaker in an anti-drug program that brought him to churches and schools throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.
By 2006, Martinez was back in Louisiana, ready to sing the R&B and swamp pop he left behind. His “Big Bad Daddy” CD kicked off a stream of a dozen albums and times as lead singer of the legendary Boogie Kings.
The praise continued when Ed Bradley of “60 Minutes” fame grabbed Martinez backstage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival to say, “You are one of the best-kept secrets in this country.” Martinez sang at the funeral of soul great Percy Sledge.
Martinez remains a festival performer and continues to record songs, along with video performances. A cover of Donny Hathaway’s “A Song for You” was released Aug. 1 on YouTube.
Nola Blue Records has put out his original song and video, “Streets of New Orleans,” which marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Martinez’s hopes and dreams are now far removed from Atlantic City.
“I have a strong faith,” he says. “I spend every morning with my prayer time. I don’t pray for the same things anymore. I just pray for God to create opportunities to sing that I never dreamed of — and just see what happens.”
Herman Fuselier is a writer, broadcaster and tourism director living in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” radio show airs at noon Central time Saturdays on KRVS 8.7 FM and online at KRVS Public Media.
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