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BIOGRAPHY: ROBERTO JOSE GRIEGO

From a youngster raised in a community where there were more rabbits than people, to a nationally known recording artist, Roberto Jose Griego still considers himself as “just an ordinary guy.”

Born in San Francisco, NM, Roberto was raised by his father, grandparents, and an aunt in the small ranching community of Bosque, NM. “My grandfather worked from dawn until after dark to provide a roof over our heads and food on the table, and we were still on welfare.” Griego goes on to say that “although we were considered the working poor, my grandparents were probably considered illiterate, but we were rich in love.”

Roberto lost his mother to cancer when he was 2 ½ and just recently lost his father at the age of 91. “We were very close” states Griego. “As a teenager I practiced playing the guitar for seven to eight hours a day. My grandmother would tell me to go find a job, so I would pretend to look all day and then I would come back and play my guitar again.”

Griego began playing and singing with other bands, subsequently recording his first two songs in an Albuquerque studio owned by John Wagner. “I walked in and asked if I could record a couple of songs and John asked me where my band was. I told him, “I am the band!” It cost me $45 to record my first two songs which today would cost about $170 an hour.”

Of his first recording in 1971, “Un Pobre No Más” Griego said, “I played rhythm and sang on the first track. I then played lead melody on the second track.” Griego then remarked, “it all began as me, myself, and I and my guitar producing my first 45 RPM record” which today still remains as his biggest hit.

Griego said that his first recording label was his own independent label which he called “Bravo Records” because it sounded like a cool name to him. He eventually had to change the label to RJG Records “because someone else already had the name Bravo.”

He has maintained the same record label for the past 37 years. With 8 full length CD’s and 2 singles on the label, he continues to perform, promote, and distribute his music throughout the Southwest. His music may be found at all the Hasting’s Music stores and several independent record stores.

Roberto’s accomplishments include his latest full length CD, “Canciónes De Amor,” which was awarded “CD of the Year”, “Original Song of the year”, and “Mariachi Song of the Year” for “Payaso” by the New Mexico Hispano Entertainers Association. The awards were presented at the New Mexico Hispano Entertainers Association Awards Show held at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. November 10, 2007.

Roberto, nominated for seven awards in multiple categories by the New Mexico Hispano Music Association (NMHMA), 18th Annual NMHMA Awards Show held at the Ohkay Casino Conference Center on January 17, 2009 and won four of the seven categories. He received the award for “Mariachi Song of the Year” for “Por Favor No Me Engañes,” written and recorded by Griego. He received a second award for “Male Vocalist of the Year” and a third award for “Song of the Year” for “Un Viejito Cruzó Mi Camino,” music and lyrics by Griego. He received the final award for “CD of the Year” for “Canciónes De Amor con Roberto Griego.”