Carlos Sosa (musician)
{{Short description|American musician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Carlos Sosa
| image = Carlos Sosa Grooveline Saxophone.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Carlos Sosa performing October 2010.
| birth_date =
| birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
| genre = {{Flatlist|
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
- Musician
- Producer
- Arranger
- Composer
- Music Director
- Recording Engineer
- Audio Mixing}}
| instrument = Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Flute
| years_active = 1996–present
| associated_acts = {{Flatlist|
}}
Carlos Sosa is an American musician, producer, composer, music director, and arranger. Heavily influenced by the R&B and funk sounds of the 1970s, Sosa founded Grooveline Horns in 1996, and is best known for touring and recording with Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz,{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2010-01-15/938273/|title=Off the Record}}{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2010-01-22/940883/|title=Off the Record}} Zac Brown Band, Hanson, Natalia Lafourcade, Wynonna Judd, Mike Posner, Skrillex, Missy Elliott, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dumpstaphunk, Warren Haynes, Ozomatli, Intergalactix, and Mexican artists Jesse and Joy.
He has also performed with Marcus King, Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews, Big Freedia, Cimafunk, and Gary Clark, Jr., among others.
In 2024, Sosa and the Grooveline Horns joined the house band for Kill Tony, the No. 1 live podcast in the world.
Early influences and career
Sosa started playing saxophone around the age of 10. When he was 15, he joined a funk band and started playing clubs in Texas. Heavily influenced by Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, he knew his musical preferences leaned heavily towards funk, R&B, soul and pop music.
He attended Texas State University, getting a degree in Audio Engineering. While in college, he formed Grooveline Horns and they played with various cover bands on 6th Street, honing their versatility. Within a short time, they began playing with Austin musician Bob Schneider. This led to bigger acts using the group including Don Henley, Suicidal Tendencies,{{cite web|url=http://weeklywire.com/ww/07-08-97/austin_music_liveshots.html|title=Music: Live Shots (Austin Chronicle . 07–08–97)|first=wil gerken, nathan hendler, doug floyd, amy burnham, zak|last=woodruff|website=weeklywire.com}}{{cite web|url=http://diversearts.org/content/v3n6-august-1997|title=V3N6: August 1997 – DiverseArts Culture Works|website=diversearts.org}} and Kelly Clarkson.{{cite web|url=https://badgerherald.com/blogs/thebeatgoeson/2009/05/03/talking-with-carlos/|title=Talking with Carlos Sosa, saxophonist for Jason Mraz}}
Children's Music
Sosa has written, performed, and produced two children’s records with Coy Bowles (guitarist for Zac Brown Band): 2020's "Music for Tiny Humans" and 2023's "Up and Up.".
The video for “[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9narGB5-5z8 The Clean Up Song]” garnered 1.4 million views in its first five months on YouTube.
Awards
{{awards table}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2009
| We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., Jason Mraz
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2005
| Best Groupera Album, La Mafia
| Latin Grammy Awards{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/grooveline-horns/grooveline-show-are-you-ready/123290027007/|title=Grooveline Show! Are you ready?|website=facebook.com}}{{Primary source inline|date=July 2018}}
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2004
| Spanish Album of the Year, Con Poder, Salvador[http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=2004 GMA Dove Awards] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020022920/http://www.doveawards.com/history/browse.cfm?year=2004 |date=October 20, 2006 }}
|{{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1997
| Best Horns: Grooveline Horns, The Scabs
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1998
| Best Horns: Grooveline Horns
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 1999
| Best Horns: Grooveline Horns
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2000
| Best Horns: Grooveline Horns, The Scabs
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2001
| Best Horns: Grooveline Horns
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2003
| Best Horns: Grooveline Horns
| {{Won}}
|-
| style="text-align:center;" | 2006
| Best Horns: Grooveline Horns
| {{Won}}
|-
{{end table}}
Discography
{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/carlos-sosa-mn0000177692/credits|title=Carlos Sosa – Credits|publisher=AllMusic}}{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/690328-Carlos-Sosa-2|title=Carlos Sosa (2)|publisher=discogs}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Album ! Artist ! class="unsortable" | Credits |
|---|
| 2023
|Saxophone |
| 2023
|From The Road, Vol 1: Covers |Saxophone, Horn Arranger |
| 2023
|Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride |Saxophone, Flute, Horn Arranger, Engineer |
| 2023
|Up and Up |Coy Bowles & Carlos Sosa |Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, Vocals |
| 2023
|Saxophone, Flute, Horn Arranger, Engineer |
| 2022
|Flute, Saxophone |
| 2022
|Saxophone, Horn Arranger, Engineer |
| 2021
|Lucky[2021] |Saxophone |
| 2020
|Jamz |Musician |
| 2020
|Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, Vocals |
| 2020
|Saxophone, Horn Arranger |
| 2020
|Producer, Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2020
|Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2019
|Samsara |Los Coast |Saxophone |
| 2019
|Saxophone, Trumpet |
| 2018
|Know |Horn Arrangements, Saxophone |
| 2018
|Future Vintage Soul |Composer |
| 2017
| Hanson | Engineer, Horn Arrangements, Saxophone |
| 2017
|Sir Rosevelt |Saxophone, arranger |
| 2017
| Jesse & Joy | Saxophone |
| 2017
| Lay It on Down | Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band / Kenny Wayne Shepherd | Saxophone |
| 2017
| Until My Voice Goes Out | Producer, engineer, Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2016
| Spark | Saxophone |
| 2015
| Composer |
| 2015
| Saxophone |
| 2015
| Buika | Saxophone |
| 2014
| 8 | Arranger, engineer, Horn Arrangements, Horn Engineer, Mixing, Saxophone |
| 2014
| Dear You | Meiko | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements, Horn Engineer |
| 2014
| Defected Presents Glitterbox Ibiza | 2014 | Composer |
| 2014
| Engelbert Calling | Saxophone, Primary Artist, Horn, Horn Arrangements, Horn Engineer |
| 2014
| Junto | Composer |
| 2014
| Viaje | Saxophone, producer |
| 2013
|All People (Deluxe) |Saxophone, arranger, Horn Section |
| 2013
| Baby Let's Dance | Saxophone |
| 2013
| Guest Artist, Primary Artist |
| 2013
| Saxophone, Horn Engineer, Primary Artist |
| 2013
| Composer |
| 2013
| Red Room | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements, Primary Artist |
| 2013
| Saxophone |
| 2013
| Whut It Dew: The Album | Rapid Ric | Saxophone |
| 2012
| Saxophone |
| 2012
|[https://www.discogs.com/Warren-Haynes-Band-Live-At-The-Moody-Theater/release/3566974 Live at the Moody Theater] | Warren Haynes / Warren Haynes Band | Saxophone, Guest Artist |
| 2012
| ¿Con Quién Se Queda el Perro? | Arranger, Saxophone |
| 2012
| Watergate X | Watergate Records | Composer, producer |
| 2011
| Cocoon Heroes | Adam Beyer / Dorian Paic | Composer, producer |
| 2011
| When You Gonna Learn | Saxophone |
| 2011
| Everybody Want Sum | Saxophone |
| 2011
| Horns |
| 2011
|[https://www.allmusic.com/album/everything-everytime-everywhere-mw0002189789 Everything Everytime Everywhere] | Saxophone, Horn Engineer |
| 2011
| Saxophone |
| 2011
| Fabric 56 | Composer |
| 2010
| The Future Ain't What It Used to Be | Bleu Edmondson | Saxophone |
| 2010
| Top Ten | Salvador | Producer |
| 2009
| Back in the Box | DJ Sneak | Producer, Mixing, composer |
| 2009
| Del Castillo | Saxophone |
| 2009
| Catwalk Megahits 2009 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2009
| Chilled, Vol. 2: 1991–2009 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2009
| How Far Is Heaven: The Best of Salvador | Salvador | Producer |
| 2009
| La Terrazza Atmospherical Fun Club | Composer, producer |
| 2008
| Composer |
| 2008
| Bacardi B-Live, Vol. 9 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2008
| Saxophone, Horn Arrangement |
| 2009
| When I Let Go | Paul Wesley | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2008
| Thicker Than Water | Vallejo | Saxophone, composer |
| 2008
| We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. | Arranger, engineer, Flute, Saxophone (Tenor), Saxophone (Baritone) |
| 2008
| Saxophone, composer |
| 2007
| Feel the Boombox | Boombox ATX | Producer, Saxophone, Founder, Group Member |
| 2007
| Future Clouds & Radar | Saxophone |
| 2007
| Noble Creatures | Saxophone |
| 2007
| Listen Hear | Saxophone |
| 2007
| Get Down | Todd Terry / Todd Terry All Stars | Composer |
| 2007
| Penthouse: La Nuit Luxure | Composer |
| 2007
| Strictly Todd Terry | Composer |
| 2007
| Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2007
| The Grand DJ Mix 2007: Non Stop House Traxx | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2007
| Vocal House Sensation, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2007
| Young Style Grooves, Vol. 3 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006
| 24/7 Intimate Praise | Joyce Pierce | Saxophone |
| 2006
| From There to Here and Now | Rolando | Producer, engineer, Mixing, composer |
| 2006
| Get It Goin' | Stereokitsch | Saxophone |
| 2006
| Hot House 2006 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006
| Composer |
| 2006
| No. 1 Euphoric Dance Album (Box Set) | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006
| Real House Classics | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 2006
| Sensation White 2006 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006
| Sessions 4 | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2006
| Summer Essentials | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2005
| Editing, Saxophone, Horn Overdubs |
| 2005
| Byzantine | Jud Newcomb | Saxophone |
| 2005
| Chica | Chica | Saxophone |
| 2005
| Distancias | Jason McGuire | Engineer |
| 2005
| Family Duels | Inland Knights | Composer |
| 2005
| House of Om | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2005
| Parables & Primes | Engineer, Assistant |
| 2005
| Playboy: The Mansion Soundtrack | Producer, composer |
| 2005
| Qué Tan Lejos Está El Cielo | Salvador | Producer, arranger, Vocals, Saxophone, Recording, composer |
| 2005
| Renaissance Presents Frontiers | Yousef | Composer |
| 2005
| Switch, Vol. 3 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2005
| Technics in the Mix 50: 2005 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004
| Album, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004
| Amor Sagrado, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004
| Chillout Sessions, Vol. 5 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004
| Club Classics – The Greatest Old Skool | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 2004
| Housekeepin' | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2004
| Dancemania, Vol. 21: Non-Stop Mixed by X-Treme | X-Treme | Composer |
| 2004
| La Mafia | Guest Artist, Saxophone |
| 2004
| Screen Cuts | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004
| Salvador | Composer |
| 2004
| The Trax Records: The Next Generation | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004
| The Trax Records: Queer Trax | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004
| Tribal Gathering Presents 10 Years of Sankey's Soap | Krysko / Greg Vickers | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2003
| Alfresco Soiree, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| Best of House, Vol. 3 | Various Artist | Composer |
| 2003
| Chinese Vacation | Saxophone |
| 2003
| Salvador | Producer, arranger, Saxophone, Recording, composer |
| 2003
| Conciones de la Familia de la Vega | Leti Delavega | Tenor Saxophone |
| 2003
| Credence Club Hits | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| Composer |
| 2003
| Dance Nation 2003 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| Composer |
| 2003
| Earthbeat, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| Good for Nuthin | Honeybrowne | Producer, engineer, Mixing, Percussion, Vocal Harmony, Group Member |
| 2003
| House Classics: The Greatest House Anthems of All Time | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 2003
| Living in a Big Pink Edsel | Hulley Gulleys | Saxophone |
| 2003
| Lucky | Jean Synodinos | Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Group Member |
| 2003
| Now Dance 2003, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| Pensando en Ti | Various Artists | Producer |
| 2003
| Steamboat Live '97 | Vallejo | Primary Artist |
| 2003
| Chinese Vacation | Horn Arrangements |
| 2003
| Pure Dance Party, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| Siempre en Forma, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| The Best Dance Album in the World...Ever! 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003
| The Challenge: A Call to Action | Promise Keepers | Horn Overdubs |
| 2003
| Underwater, Episode 2 | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2003
| Worship Live | Salvador | Arranger |
| 2002
| Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002
| Bate Que Bate | Mayonesa | Vocals |
| 2002
| Decks and the City, Vol. 1: New York | Marcus & Dominique | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2002
| Fencing Under Fire | Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor) |
| 2002
| Got Dance? | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002
| Salvador | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements, Overdub Engineer |
| 2002
| Kiss Presents: Hit List 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002
| Mastercuts: Discothèque | Various Artists | Producer |
| 2002
| Miss Moneypenny's Gold | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002
| My Favorite Record | Additional Personnel, Sax (Baritone) |
| 2002
| Nouvelle Discothèque | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002
| Platinum Ibiza | Various Artists | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2002
| Trust the DJ: SJ01 | Producer, Mixing, composer |
| 2002
| Wild, Vol. 15 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001
| Absolute 2001 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001
| Ataca | Tribu | Producer, engineer, Editing, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor) |
| 2001
| Creamfields 2001 | Seb Fontaine / Yousef | Producer, composer |
| 2001
| Composer |
| 2001
| Composer |
| 2001
| DjMixed.Com: DJ Feelgood | DJ Feelgood | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2001
| Global Underground: Singapore | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2001
| Saxophone |
| 2001
| Mayonesa | Vocals |
| 2001
| Miami 2001 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001
| Miss Moneypenny's: Going Global | Jim "Shaft" Ryan | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2002
| Now Dance 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001
| Now That's What I Call Music! 50 [UK] | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001
| Pepsi Chart 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001
| Queen Club Paris: DJ Set, Vol. 1–2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001
| Sneak's Ju Ju Beats | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2000
| Bombtracks | The Scabs | Saxophone |
| 2000
| Destroyer | The Scabs | Saxophone |
| 2000
| Sub Club Presents Subversion | Various Artists | Producer, arranger, Mixing |
| 1999
| Classic Classic | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 1999
| Club Series, Vol. 2 | DJ Irene | Composer |
| 1999
| Denver Live | DJ Vitamin D | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 1999
| Groove Radio International Presents: Global House | Swedish Egil | Composer |
| 1999
| Hits | Composer |
| 1999
| Little Brother | Beaver Nelson | Saxophone |
| 1999
| Ministry of Sound, Vol. 9 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 1999
| More Than a Feeling | Horn Arrangements |
| 1998
| Absolute Dance Mix, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 1998
| Boom Boom Baby | Horn Arrangements |
| 1998
| Boomtown Flood | Cadillac Voodoo Choir | Sax (Tenor), Sax (Baritone) |
| 1998
| Freebird | Horn Arrangements |
| 1997
| Vallejo | Vallejo | Assistant Engineer |
= Singles =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Single ! Artist ! class="unsortable" | Credits |
|---|
| 2015
| [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEbcEYbxmqQ The Wild Life] | Composer |
Music community and advocacy
File:Carlos Sosa Grooveline Horns Musician Rights.jpg
Sosa has been an active member of the Texas Chapter Board of Governors for the Recording Academy (also known as the GRAMMYs), having held office as both President and Vice President.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/austin-creative-class-its-own|title=Austin Is in a Creative Class of Its Own|date=March 15, 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.com/license/117061507|title=Texas Chapter President Carlos Sosa speaks to attendees at the...|date=June 20, 2011 }}
He is a former board member and chair of the [https://simsfoundation.org/ SIMS Foundation],{{cite web|url=https://simsfoundation.org/our-story/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors SIMS Foundation|website=simsfoundation.org}} where he advocated with local politicians regarding the epidemic of opioid abuse.{{cite web|url=https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/healthcare/2018/06/27/austin-music-community-looks-for-help-in-struggle-to-end-opioid-abuse/|title=Austin music community looks for help in struggle to end opioid abuse – Community Impact Newspaper|date=June 27, 2018}}
Sosa is also a founding Advisory Board Member{{cite web|url=http://blackfret.org/carlos-sosa/|title=Carlos Sosa – Black Fret Advisory Board Member – Producer|website=blackfret.org}} of [https://sonicguild.org/ Sonic Guild] (formerly Black Fret), a non-profit organization that provides grants and mentorship to musicians.{{cite web|url=http://blackfret.org/about-black-fret/#what-we-do|title=About Black Fret – A Patrons of Local Music Organization|website=blackfret.org}}
He has advocated for passing laws for royalty payments for musicians in the US, providing parity with the rest of the world.
After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting while playing with Josh Abbott Band,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/band-member-describes-vegas-massacre-chaos-1202578727/|title=A Band Member Describes Backstage Vegas Chaos: 'Just Hearing the Screaming Was Nightmarish'|first=Chris|last=Willman|date=October 3, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Witnesses-Describe-Gunman-Shooting-Las-Vegas-449035873.html|title=Las Vegas Shooting Witnesses Describe the Terrifying Moments|date=October 2, 2017 }} he urged fans to continue going to shows.{{cite web|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-musician-performing-at-vegas-concert-hopes-people-keep-coming-to-shows_20180312074801877/1031431564|title=Austin musician at Vegas shooting urges fans to continue coming to shows|first=Alicia|last=Inns|date=October 3, 2017}}
External links
- [https://www.facebook.com/groovelinesosa Facebook]
- [https://www.instagram.com/groovelinesosa/ Instagram]
- [https://twitter.com/groovelinesosa Twitter]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlos Sosa}}
Category:American horn players
Category:Musicians from San Antonio