Biography
Bobby Manriquez grew up in Washington, D.C., where his talents as a guitarist and singer-songwriter eventually carried him far beyond neighborhood clubs onto national and international stages. He also moves comfortably behind a drum kit. Early in the 1970s he shared lead-guitar responsibilities in a leading D.C. group whose work reached A&M Records with the 1976 single “Daddy’s Girl.” Around the same time Capitol Records chose him as lead guitarist for the road band supporting Kathi McDonald, whose background vocals had appeared with the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner and whose album Insane Asylum featured guitar contributions from Neil Schon of Journey and Ronnie Montrose. That ensemble appeared alongside Rufus, KISS, and Earth, Wind & Fire for audiences across the United States. Anticipating McDonald’s next Capitol release, Manriquez began sessions with producer David Briggs, known for his work with Neil Young, Alice Cooper, and Nils Lofgren. By the late 1970s he had formed a close and fruitful partnership with Lofgren that resulted in extensive touring throughout the U.S. and Europe. The association brought continued favorable coverage in Rolling Stone, Billboard, and major metropolitan newspapers. Over the years Manriquez has shared bills with Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Fleetwood Mac, and Rick Derringer, among other prominent artists. A London BBC performance on the program Old Grey Whistle Test was later issued by Lofgren on a 1993 CD of the same name. What followed was more than ten years Manriquez has described as “a self-induced change of life,” during which he stepped away from performing to escape patterns that claimed many musicians in the 1970s and 1980s. He returned in the mid-1990s as lead guitarist for soul legend Wilson Pickett. Reinvigorated, he expanded his musical range with assured performances in both domestic and overseas venues. His first solo album, another shade of blue(s), appeared in 2000.
Albums
