You might know Texas-born Adrian Quesada from any of his 150+ music producer credits or as co-founder and guitarist for the high-energy funk rock group, Grupo Fantasma, who were 2011’s Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album Grammy winners. Or perhaps as the 2025 Oscar winner for Best Original Song for co-writing and singing “Like a Bird” for the prison drama Sing Sing. Maybe as guitarist/producer and one half of psychedelic-retro-funk powerhouse Black Pumas. Then there are his collaborations with Prince and los Lobos. No biggie. YES BIGGIE, PEOPLE!

Adrian Quesada is an American treasure who's been making music since he picked up a guitar at 13, ten minutes across the border from his grandmother’s house in Mexico. Flamenco and classical etudes were replaced with rock, funk and soul once he got to high school, preparing Adrian for his decades-long, storied musical journey. But his guilty pleasure after all this time? Romantic 1960s and ‘70s Latin ballads, where the songs are served with heartache and longing, passion and flare, the occasional wah-wah pedal and cavernous reverb. Dramatic. BIG. This is over the top, hurts-so-good music. Bring tissues, people.

- Chantal Vitalis