Reno Perez

CORPUS CHRISTI — When Corpus Christi native Reno Perez started picking songs for his latest album, "This Hell," he had no intention of making the album so dark and sullen. It just happened.

"It's kind of dark," Perez said. "It gets into some dark places."

The album was released in May and "This Hell," also is the album's title track. Perez will be performing at 10 p.m. Friday at Dr. Rockit's Blues Bar.

"I had no idea that it was actually going the way it was as far as being a dark album," Perez said. "There was a time that I went through in my life when the blues really kicked in. That's what playing blues is all about. I was happy with the songs and the order. I didn't really set out for it to be that dark, it just kind of happened."

Perez has spent a lot of time throughout his life on the local music scene, and has straddled many genres of music including rhythm and blues, country, jazz, Latin and mariachi. His father, Juan Perez, a player on the Tejano scene, also had an influence on his music.

"(Juan) was a guitar player and a songwriter," Perez said." I definitely grew up listening to that."

Growing up, Perez, a Moody High School graduate, said he had an eclectic blend of performances. One day he would be performing a mariachi concert and the next day he would be doing a country set. He's also been on the stage with some iconic music personalities including Johnny Rodriguez, known for his single, "Ridin' My Thumb to Mexico," among other charting hits. He's also opened or toured with other greats such as Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Pinetop Perkins, who passed away in March 2011.

Among his other achievements in music, Perez also has charted three top-five singles, "Tejanita," "Mil Años," and a Spanish cover of Van Morrison's 1967 hit "Brown Eyed Girl." Perez also has written and performed his music in a few beverage advertising campaigns including one for Miller Lite as well as a Pepsi gig with Puerto Rican pop sensation, Ricky Martin.

Among his other talents, Perez also is a Muay Thai kickboxer. As for his current plans, Perez is working his way through South Texas and then moving outward in an effort to promote "This Hell," across the U. S. He also has plans to do some gigs in Canada and Europe. As for the future, Perez is already working toward a possible album that would fuse his vibe into a rhythm and blues and mariachi combination.

"I'm really trying to get this album out there and I want to establish a good blues album," Perez said. "I'm really looking forward to doing a lot of touring." - Corpus Christi Caller Times