Bobby Manriquez, a native of Washington, D.C., is a gifted guitarist and singer/songwriter who has repeatedly broken through what for most is a barrier rarely penetrated, having risen from local venues to perform on national and international stages. He is also very familiar around a drum kit. In the early '70s, he could be found sharing lead guitar duties in a prominent D.C.-based band climaxing on the A&M Records release of "Daddy's Girl" in 1976. During that same period, he was selected to be the lead guitarist for the touring band of Capitol Records artist Kathi McDonald. McDonald was a parts vocalist for the likes of the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner. Her most recent release, "Insane Asylum," had guest spots by guitar greats Neil Schon, of Journey, and Ronnie Montrose. The new group shared the stage with Rufus, KISS, and Earth,Wind & Fire while entertaining stateside audiences. Work with the late, great producer David Briggs, who worked with Neil Young, Alice Cooper, and Nils Lofgren, began for Manriquez as Capitol Records anticipated the release of a second album for McDonald. The late '70s brought Manriquez a very successful affiliation with gifted guitarist/songwriter Lofgren, leading to extensive U.S. and European touring. This period proved to be a high point in Manriquez's career, as it marked a continuation and increase in very positive press from Rolling Stone Magazine, Billboard Magazine, and several other large city papers. Some acts Manriquez has shared the stage with are Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Fleetwood Mac, Rick Derringer, and other notable greats. The unforgettable TV appearance on the London BBC recording of the Old Grey Whistle Test was later released by Lofgren on a 1993 CD that went by the same title. What followed was a period of more than a decade which Manriquez endearingly calls "a self-induced change of life," where full attention was devoted to improving on the kind of lifestyle that so many fell victim to in the '70s and '80s: He simply stopped playing. Manriquez came back on the scene in the mid-'90s as the lead guitarist for soul legend Wilson Pickett. Obviously revitalized, Manriquez further broadened the spectrum of his musical portfolio with an authentic sureness while playing shows in the States and abroad. Manriquez' debut solo CD, another shade of blue(s), was ready for promotion and sales in 2000. ~ Larry Belanger