Brought up in Sacramento, CA., Vinnie V. began learning Saxophone in the 8th grade. Vinnie played alto sax through high school graduating with a scholarship from "The Sacramento Jazz Society" and "The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award" Vinnie V. also received the award for "Most Outstanding Mexican-American" in his graduating class.
In 1983 Vinnie V. studied under, Dr. Jack Wheaton (Professor at Dick Grove School of Music), and Boyd Phelps (Lead Alto Saxophonist for Stan Kenton Band), and has rubbed elbows with musicians or groups such as; Count Basie, Grover Washington Jr. , Bill Withers, Collage, Con Funk Shun, Robert Brookins and The Tubes.
Vinnie V. has performed alongside or with The Whispers, Al Hurt, Richie Cole, , Kenny G., Jessica Williams ,Kool & The Gang, Mahogany Dream, Derick D.O.A. Allen (Bassist for Janet Jackson), DMAN (Keyboardist for Bobby Brown), Dennis Austin(Musical Director for Bobby Brown), Bobby G. (Guitarist for Earth Wind & Fire) , Alex Lopez (Guitarist for Julio Iglesias), Michael Samuels (Drummer for Sly & The Family Stone) Wild Hair, Spectrum, Bob Clements, Tom Peron, Interplay, many others...
In 2002 Vinnie V. graduated from S.C.C. with an Associate of Arts in Music Performance and a Minor in Computer Information Science. Vinnie V. is a member of BMI, and released his debut Album in 1992 entitled "Not Lately" he has continued to compose, record, arrange, and perform his love "Music" forward to this day!
Vinnie V. is by classification an “Indie Artist”. Vinnie performs locally with his group "Vinnie V. & The Groove"
Musical Influences
People
Grover Washington Jr., Jeff Lorber, Stanley Turrentine, John Klemmer, Bob James, Stan Getz, Stevie Ray Vaughan, James Brown, Dexter Gordon, John Philip Sousa, John Williams, Boyd Phelps, David Repace, and musician/inventor Bob Moog,(for his key role in helping introduce the synthesizer in to "Music”), Nick Angiulo.
Groups
Spyro Gyra, The Crusaders, S.O.S. Band, Maynard Ferguson’s Big Band, Tower Of Power, Parliament Funkadelic, The Reddings, John F. Kennedy Marching Band, Go West, Cameo, The Doobie Brothers, Earth Wind and Fire, Hall and Oates and Weather Report