In March of 2018 San Antonio independent record label VDiscos released Roger Velasquez and The Latin Legendz Tex Mex Funk.  In September 2018 Roger Velasquez and The Latin Legendz Tex Mex Funk is recognized by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and nominated for the 19th Annual Latin Grammy for Best Tejano Album. On November 15, 2018 Roger Velasquez & The Latin Legendz Tex Mex Funk receives the highest honor on THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN LATIN MUSIC by winning the Latin GRAMMY for Best Tejano Album at the Mandalay Bay Event Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. During his acceptance speech, front man Roger Velasquez talked about his time in the industry, “We have been in Tejano Music for many years; this is a dream come true for me.” Roger and the Latin Legendz were honored at 9am the morning of December 13, 2018 in San Antonio City Council Chambers. And later that evening, in Austin, TX the Latin Grammy Winners were special guests of honor at the Recording Academy Texas Chapter Annual Celebration at the Gibson Showroom 3601 S. Congress. 

History

     Compelled to compose for theater and cinema, Roger was commissioned to write a highly emotional work Mal Hombre for Hollywood Pictures/Walt Disney Production ound by Honor/Blood in Blood OutB, for Oscar Winning Director Taylor Hackford (Ray, An Officer and a Gentleman and La Bamba).  As musical director for the Group Jesse Borrego y Los Muertos Roger appeared on Grammy Award Winner Franco de Vita’s Bailando con Franco and MTV’s Street Party with Daisy Fuentes.

A versatile musician, Roger’s talents were refined gigging with such greats as the late Rodney J of the world-famous Marcel’s as well as recording with Capitol/EMI Latino’s The Latin Breed as lead vocalist on the albums Born to Play, Reunion, and Original Masters. 

     In the 1990’s Roger shared the stage with Selena Quintanilla y Los Dino’s at the Longhorn Saloon, Fort Worth TX. He also performed for the Stay in School Youth Rallies with Selena and Jesse Borrego. 

From 2000-2005 Roger attends the University of Texas in San Antonio in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree of Business Administration.  

In August 2005, Roger performed In Las Vegas for the Tejano Music National Convention Revue at the Rio Hotel and Casino Convention Center alongside Bob Gallarza. Roger was a featured performer for the 2005 National Hispanic Contractor’s Convention in Fort Worth, TX.  

     In 2006, Roger appeared as featured vocalist on the Grammy nominated album Bob Gallarza Live in Session.  Roger has also worked with arranger/producer Jim Waller of the famed Los Blues (United Artists Records) on a collection of original compositions.  The Tejano Academy of Musicians and Artists nominated Roger Velasquez and The Latin Legendz, for Best Band 2006.  In August 2007 Roger returned to Las Vegas in August 2007 to perform at The Las Vegas Hilton.

     In 2008 Roger was nominated for four Tejano Academy Awards including the categories of Best Album, Best Songwriter, Best Overall Group and Best Guitar Player. Roger was the 2008 Orchestra Leader for the Tejano Academy of Musicians & Artist Awards Orchestra.     In March 2008 Roger headlined the first annual Luminaria Arts Night in San Antonio and shared the main stage with Grammy Winners Flaco Jimenez and Max Baca. In Spring 2008, Roger released a solo album Quiero Besarte, Roger performed with the Latin Legendz for the San Antonio Public Library’s Chicano Renaissance exhibit. 

     In August 2009 Roger and his band were featured artists at the Milwaukee Mexican Fiesta and the Tejano National Music Convention in Dallas, TX.  Roger performed at a major Hispanic show at the Casino Del Sol’s AVA Amphitheater in June 2009 in Tucson, AZ. Roger is featured for On the Edge Productions 2009 release On Common Ground. In September 2009, Roger performed at Cesar Chavez Park in Sacramento, CA at the Tejano Conjunto Festival. In October 2009 Roger Velasquez and the Latin Legendz were the featured performers for famed Chicano artist Jesse Trevino’s “Mi Vida” opening at the Smithsonian’s Museo Alameda.  That year Roger was nominated for a Tejano Music Award in the Best New Artist Category.

    Roger Velasquez and the Latin Legendz ushered in 2010 performing for the Tejano Legends Black and White Ball at the El Paso County Coliseum in EL Paso, TX.  In February 2010 Roger and the band performed for the Hispanic Heritage Committee in Kansas City, KS. In the spring of 2010 Roger Velasquez released his second solo album Toma Mi Corazon for VDiscos.  Roger displays his musical knowledge in the arrangements of all ten pieces, but not without help from Grammy Award Winning Producer Gilbert Velasquez. In the Summer of 2010 Roger performed in the opening number for the Tejano Music Awards in a tribute to the Latin Breed. In the fall of 2010 Roger released the YouTube video “Mariposa Traicionera” directed by Brandon Olmos featuring actor Jesse Borrego and Hispanic model Claudia G. Roger appeared on the groundbreaking video and Cd “Somos Hermanos” for AARP and Latin Pointe, alongside other Tejano recording artists. 

     In the summer of 2012, Roger performed for the Tejano Music National Conventionat Bally’s Las Vegas, Nevada as a headline performer sharing the stage with A.B. Quintanilla and Siggno. Roger also performed his original song Mal Hombrefrom Hollywood pictures Blood in Blood Out con Mariachi with Jesse Borrego for the Tejano Music Awards held at the San Antonio Alamo Dome. In the fall of 2012 VDiscos released Loteria Roger’s third solo CD. Roger teamed up with executive Producer Kurt Wipfli (Pulsar Record, Wiptrax Studios), Joe Trevino (Blue Cat Recording Studios) and Claudio Cuenti (Candy House Studio Los Angeles, CA). Featured artists on Loteria include Jesse Borrego (Mal Hombre), and latino rap sensation Big Gemini (La Sirena). November 2012 Roger premieres his music video project “Mal Hombre” produced by Jesse Borrego and directed by James Borrego. In late 2012,  Roger sang and played guitar in the independent  film Tepeyac, The Guadalupe Experience. Roger and his band are featured in the live music video, “La Calle Guadalupe” (Loteria; 2012 VDISCOS) filmed at Una Noche En La Gloria 2013 directed by film maker Ricardo Mendoza and produced by Gabriel Velasquez for The Contemporary Art and Literature Organization ( C.A.L.O.).   Roger headlined at the Racine  Mexican Fiesta (Racine, WI) in August 2014. 

     In 2015, Roger appeared on Univision’s tv show El Gordo y La Flaca,as a presenter for the Tejano Music Awards. In the Spring of 2016 Roger toured with Emilio Navaira and Raulito Navaira y Grupo Rio performing in many Texas cities prior to the untimely death of “El Rey del Rodeo”, Emilio Navaira. In 2016, Roger appeared on Telemundo’s Acceso Total, for Una Noche En La Gloria. In November 2016 Roger released the single El Gallo de Palenque, featuring the “King of the Brown Sound”, Little Joe Hernandez followed by the subsequent release of Roger’s fourth solo CD Roger Velasquez Una Noche.

     In June 2017 Roger joined Little Joe Hernandez, Joe Posada and Ruco Villarreal in a line of great Chicano Artists as the 2017 recipient of the C.E.C.L.E.F. Si Se Puede Spirit Award for Artists. Roger’s Gallo de Palenquereceived a nomination for Song of The Year for the 37th Annual TTMA Music Awards. Roger’s label, VDiscos, released the Mas Que Tu Amigo music video in the fall of 2017, filmed live at Una Noche En La Gloria in San Antonio, TX. 

In November In March of 2018 Roger’s label VDiscos released Roger Velasquez and The Latin Legendz Tex Mex Funk featuring Grammy Award Winning Grupo Fantasma horns (Feel Like Lovin’ You) and star of stage and screen Jesse Borrego (La Bandera de Tejas).

      In September 2018 Roger Velasquez and The Latin Legendz Tex Mex Funk is recognized by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and nominated for the 19thAnnual Latin Grammy in the category for Best Tejano Album and awarded the Latin Grammy in November 2018 at the Latin Grammy Premier at the Mandalay Bay Event Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

     Roger performed National Anthem for the special Announcement for Julian Castro for the Future Presidential Announcement in January 2019. In March 2019 Roger was honored with the GANAS Award for his contributions in art, culture and music in Washington D.C. by the Latino Coalition during the 2019 Legislative Summit alongside music icon and Lifetime Achievement recipient Vicente Fernandez. Roger and the Latin Legendz were honored by the Mayor of San Antonio in City Council Chambers and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.  In November 2019 VDiscos released the music video “Somos Ganadores.” to celebrate life and triumph. 

     In March 2020 Roger Velasquez & The Latin Legendz release Roger Velasquez & The Latin Legendz Visión 20/20.   Visión 20/20 is Velasquez’s perspective of life as an American of Mexican descent in the 21st century.  The focus of Visión 20/20 is on the current issues that affect Latinos in the world today.  

     In May 2021 Roger V and the LLZ's released an all english album Roger V and the LLZ's Showtime!    This Brown-Eyed Soul R&B Album was twelve years in the making. It includes cuts from the 2018 Latin Grammy Award winning album Roger Velasquez and the Latin Legendz Tex-Mex Funk featuring the Grammy winning Grupo Fantasma horns on "Feel Like Lovin' You." Also featured is a studio version of the James Taylor classic "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) produced by the late great Bob Gallarza. The album also includes a Tex-Mex version of the Young Rascals hit "Groovin'." Artist/Producer Roger Velasquez original compositions continue to showcase the incredible talent of the LLZ's. The record is jam packed with powerful horns and their award winning Tex-Mex Funk vibe.   Roger V and the LLz's premiered their latest video "Amor Del Otro  Lado" directed by Jesse Borrego December 17, 2021.  Roger was inducted int the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame in January 2022.  Velasquez was awarded with a Tejano Music Award for Best Video for Amor Del Otro Lado. His latest album  Roger Velásquez & The Latin Legendz ¡Buena Vibra!  was released  March 24,  2023.

    As a published artist, Roger is registered with BMI and a voting member of the Grammy’s (Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) and the Latin Grammy’s (Latin Recording Academy of Arts & Sciences). As a songwriter Rger has composed over 100 original music compositions.  Roger’s music is distributed by CD Baby and available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon,  Tidal, Deezer, Bandcamp, Google Play,  YouTube Music all major digital music platforms  in  63 countries.  Roger Velasquez & The Latin Legendz official music videos can be viewed on YouTube VDiscos channel.