Ozzie Melendez


Osvaldo Melendez Jr, known professionally as Ozzie Melendez, was born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents from Orocovis, Puerto Rico and Rio Grande. His mother Olga was a working woman, his father, Osvaldo Melendez, an electrician. Melendez's parents named him after his father. Ozzie grew up in Lindenhurst, Long Island, and is the youngest of two.
Melendez began playing the trombone at the age of 9 at the E.W. Bower Elementary School, excelling at his craft and receiving many accolades, one of them being 'The Louis Armstrong Award', then became a member of the "All State Band" and soon after was chosen to become part of the McDonald's Tri-State Jazz Ensemble. He then went to study at the Berklee College Of Music.

Career

He has been a highly regarded session player since the mid-1980s. Ozzie began touring internationally with Emmanuel and Willie Colon through the 1980s. He still tours with Willie Colon. Melendez has performed all over the world as a vocalist, trombonist, composer and music director as well as playing on Broadway shows, movie sound tracks, commercials, and TV shows. All of his work has put him on the top of the “must work with list that has garnered him studio time with some of the biggest hit makers of today. He has worked on Gold and platinum records that belong to Mariah Carey, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Joel and Marc Anthony. On top of working on top-selling albums, he has toured with Celia Cruz, Willie Colon, Diana Ross and Marc Anthony.

Most recent activities

Melendez has toured with Marc Anthony since 2002 and Willie Colon since 1990, while filling in dates with Blood Sweat & Tears and Diana Ross since 2017, he also found time to release his own musical adventures. His album released in May 2017. He states that the style of music in this album should be considered an alchemy of music and its recipe was his life's work of musical experiences. The title is The Fusion & The Alchemy Of Music.

Album credits

Produced and mixed by @coastcityvibes Coast City Vibes
Lyric Video by @solerpower007 Adriana Soler
Drums/Percussion @jessie.caraballo Jessie Caraballo
Guitar @guinimusic Mario Guini
Bk Vocals @jeanmusica Jean Rodriguez
Trumpets Vinnie Cinquemani
Trombone @Ozbone Ozzie Melendez
Mastered by Chris Gehringer Sterling Sound NYC

Album credits

2015 Los Duo, Vol. 2 | Juan Gabriel | Coros, Trombone
2013 3.0 | Marc Anthony | Trombone
2013 Eclipse | Elements of Life | Horn Arrangements, Soloist, Trombone
2013 The Complete Album Collection | Paul Simon | Trombone
2012 Love This Giant | David Byrne / St. Vincent | Trombone
2011 Mad Styles & Crazy Visions 2 | "Little" Louie Vega | Trombone
2011 Original | José Alberto "El Canario" | Trombone
2010 Asalto: Reloaded | Eddy-K | Trombone
2010 Historias de Amor | Angel Lopez | Trombone
2009 718 Sessions | Danny Krivit | Trombone
2009 Ananésworld | Anané | Horn Arrangements, Trombone
2009 Down the Wire | Spyro Gyra | Trombone
2009 The Last | Aventura | Trombone
2009 The Real Thing | Vanessa Williams | Trombone, Contractor
2008 Everybody Get Down | http://www.funkfilharmonik.com [Funk Filharmonik | Writer, Arranger, Producer, Engineer, Trombone, BK Vocals
2008 Asalto Navideño: En Vivo Puerto Rico 1993 | Willie Colón | Trombone
2008 El Malo, Vol. 2: Prisioneros del Mambo | Willie Colón | Producer, Musical Director, Arranger, Bass, Coro, Drums, Strings, Synthesizer, Trombone
2008 Gravity at Last | Ayọ | Trombone
2007 All That I Am | Sandy Zio | Trombone
2007 Blame It on the City | Eren Cannata | Trombone, Horn Arrangements
2007 Decades, Vol. 1: Love Songs of the 70's | Donny Osmond | Main Personnel, Trombone
2007 El Cantante | Marc Anthony | Trombone
2007 Juega Billar | 8 y Mas | Trombone
2007 Lust: A Personal Collection by Louie Vega | "Little" Louie Vega | Guitar, Soloist
2007 Percussion Maddness Revisited | Luisito Quintero | Trombone, Soloist
2007 Ten Songs About Love | Eran James | Trombone
2006 A Public Affair | Jessica Simpson | Trombone
2006 Hey Man, Merry Christmas | John Signorello | Trombone
2006 Ketukuba | Africando | Trombone
2006 La Nueva Combinacion | Transito | Trombone
2006 Percussion Madness | Luisito Quintero | Main Personnel, Trombone
2006 Playin' Favorites | Peter White | Trombone
2006 Sigo Siendo Yo: Grandes Exitos | Marc Anthony | Trombone
2006 Soy | India | Trombone
2006 The Underdog/El Subestimado | Tego Calderón | Trombone
2005 Atrevete Olvidarme | Brenda K. Starr | Trombone
2005 Connected: Mixed by Jay-J | Horn
2005 Defected in the House: Eivissa 05 | Simon Dunmore | Horn
2005 Defected in the House: International Edition, Vol. 2 | Horn
2005 From Law Suite to Love Songs | Len Leeds | Trombone
2005 My Lives | Billy Joel | Trombone
2005 Nightlife | Paul Taylor | Trombone
2005 On Your Level: The Ultimate Quality Soulful And Funky House Selection | Horn
2004 Common Ground | Barry Danielian | Main Personnel, Trombone
2004 Little Things | Toby Lightman | Trombone
2004 On the 6/J.Lo | Jennifer Lopez | Horn, Trombone
2004 Rasin Kreyol | Emeline Michel Main Personnel, Trombone
2004 Solohits: Salsa and Dance Latin Hits Remix | Trombone
2003 Confesiones | Obie Bermúdez | Trombone
2003 Don't Get It Twisted | Son Callejero | Trombone
2003 Latin Grammy Nominees 2003: Latin Pop and Tropical | Trombone
2003 Look Again | Nelson Rangell | Trombone
2003 Martina | Africando | Trombone
2003 Music for My Peoples | Huey Dunbar | Trombone
2003 Siguiendo la Tradicion | Los Soneros del Barrio | Trombone
2002 2002 Latin Grammy Nominees | Trombone
2002 Billboard Hot Latin Tracks: Best of Tropical 2001 | Trombone
2002 Caraluna | Bacilos | Trombone
2002 SB4 | Son by 4 | Trombone
2002 Thalia |Thalía | Trombone
2002 The Shadow of the Cat | Gato Barbieri | Trombone
2002 The Time Is Right | 3-2 Get Funky | Trombone
2002 Transparente | Luis Enrique | Trombone
2002 Un Gran Dia en el Barrio | Spanish Harlem Orchestra | Trombone
2001 En Otra Onda | Tito Nieves | Trombone
2001 Intenso | Gilberto Santa Rosa | Trombone
2001 J.Lo | Jennifer Lopez | Trombone, Horn
2001 La Negra Tiene Tumbao | Celia Cruz | Trombone
2001 Libre | Marc Anthony | Trombone
2001 Plays Swing, Sweet and Sentimental | The Ben Grisafi Big Band | Trombone
2001 Por Tu Placer | Frankie Negron | Trombone
2001 Say You'll Always Remember | The Ben Grisafi Big Band | Trombone
2001 Songs from the Black House | John Carlin | Trombone
2001 Un Chico Malo |Charlie Cruz | Trombone
2001 Yo Si Me Enamore | Huey Dunbar | Trombone
2000 Asi Soy | Charlie Cruz | Trombone
2000 Best Kept Secret | Ralph Irizarry / Timbalaye | Trombone
2000 Calle Nueva | New Street | Trombone
2000 En Vivo Desde el Carnegie Hall | Lucecita Benitez | Trombone
2000 Galeria Caribe | Ricardo Arjona | Trombone
2000 Mandali | Africando | Trombone
2000 Mi Gran Sueno | Dominic | Trombone
2000 Pru | Pru | Horn
2000 Son by Four | Son by 4 | Trombone
2000 The Groovesmith | Omar Hakim | Trombone
1999 Dejame Entrar | Ley Alejandro | Trombone
1999 En Vivo Desde El Carnegie Hall | Danny Rivera | Trombone
1999 Gotcha DLG | Trombone
1999 Imagínate | Charlie Cruz | Trombone
1999 Inconfundible | Víctor Manuelle | Trombone
1999 Lo Que Llevo Por Dentro | Frankie Negron | Trombone
1999 Un Poco Mas | Corrine | Trombone
1998 1998 Latin Grammy Nominees | Trombone
1998 Dale Cara a la Vida | Tito Nieves | Vocals
1998 Demasiado Corazon | Willie Colón | Trombone
1998 Let's Go Do What Happens | Francis Dunnery | Trombone
1998 Mi Propia Aventura | Charlie Cardona | Trombone
1998 No Me Compares | Frankie Negron | Trombone
1998 San Bonan | Bakithi Kumalo | Trombone
1998 Sir George Collection | Trombone
1998 These Are Special Times | Céline Dion | Trombone
1998 Tjader-ized: A Cal Tjader Tribute | Dave Samuels | Trombone
1998 Un Estilo Propio | Johnny Rivera | Trombone
1998 Vincent Laguardia Gambini Sings Just for You | Joe Pesci | Trombone
1997 Extrano Sentimiento | Patricia Loaiza | Trombone
1997 I Like It Like That | Tito Nieves | Vocals
1997 Mi Confidente | Corrine | Trombone
1997 Mi Encuentro | Yolandita Monge | Trombone
1997 Reconfirmando | Andreu Johnny Almendra | Trombone
1997 Regreso Al Futuro | Jomar | Trombone, Primary Artist
1997 Sobre el Fuego | India | Trombone
1997 Songs from The Capeman | Paul Simon | Trombone
1997 Swing On | DLG | Trombone
1997 Tempo | Pedro Abrunhosa / Pedro Abrunhosa & Os Bandemónio | Trombone, Soloist
1996 Celebremos Navidad | Yomo Toro | Trombone
1996 Dark Latin Groove | DLG | Trombone
1996 Electric Lady | Nora Nora | Trombone
1996 Tempo | Pedro Abrunhosa / Pedro Abrunhosa & Os Bandemónio | Trombone, Crowd Noise
1996 Tony White | Tony White | Trombone
1995 Arrebatame | Roy Tavare | Vocals
1995 Souled Out | Tower of Power | Composer, Horn Arrangements
1995 Think With Your Heart | Debbie Gibson | Trombone
Adverse Times | Carl Fischer / Organic Groove Ensemble | Trombone
Deluxe Edition | Richie Cannata | Composer, Horn Arrangements, Trombone
Richie Cannata | Richie Cannata | Composer
Te Voy a Enamorar | Rik Indio | Trombone