Swamp pop and R&B headline the Oct. 7 Music & Market

    Music & Market in Opelousas welcomes the blues, R&B and swamp pop sounds of Gregg Martinez and The Delta Kings from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Farmer’s Market in Le Vieux Village, just off I-49 at exit 19B. Music begins at 6 p.m. 

Gregg Martinez

    Martinez describes his music as “bayou blues and Creole soul.” He was born and raised and still lives in the Cajun country of south Louisiana where he began singing in church at the age of eight. 

    Ten years later, he was singing professionally. His powerhouse voice, which has been compared to Sam Cooke and Luther Vandross, took him from the bars and nightclubs of the bayou country to some of the finest resorts, casinos and clubs throughout the nation. He had an exclusive performing contract with Donald and Ivana Trump and a seven-figure recording contract. 

    By 1986, Martinez was on the brink of stardom in the music industry, yet like many great artists, somehow slipped through the cracks of the star maker machinery. The late Ed Bradley of TV’s 60 Minutes—upon seeing him perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2005—called Martinez one of America’s greatest hidden treasures. 

    He has performed throughout the U.S. and has toured South Africa, England, Wales, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Gregg has released nine recordings, Wonders Never Cease (1991), Love Has A Voice (1993), They That Wait (1997), For The Ages (1999), All The Days (2001), Christmas (2002), Bring Down The Thunder (2004), Big Bad Daddy (2006), and the brand new South Of The Parish Line (2011). 

    Martinez’s music is played on radio stations in the U.S. and abroad. Gregg has shared the stage with many notable artists including Stevie Wonder, Foreigner, BTO, Dobie Gray, Shirley Caesar, Percy Sledge, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Patti Labelle, and Bobby “Blue” Bland. He is also the former lead singer of the Boogie Kings, for which, as a member of that legendary group, he was selected into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010. He wrote and recorded the title song for their final album, Never Go Away in 2007. 

    Concert-goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs for seating. Because beverages sales for the concert series go towards covering the cost of bands and event expenses, ice chests will not be allowed. The event is held at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion located at 828 East Landry Street on the grounds of the Opelousas Tourist Center. The featured vegetable for the event is cabbage. 

    The fall series is made possible with the support of Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, CLECO, Walmart Supercenter, American Bank, St. Landry Homestead Bank, Centerpoint Energy, Tony Chachere’s Creole Foods, Quik Quarter, Delta Media Network, St. Landry Parish Government. For more information or to find out about vendor opportunities, contact City of Opelousas Tourism Office at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com.