Biography
One of Los Angeles' favorite sons, Luis Cardenas' story definitely mirrors the infamous headline, "Local Boy Makes Good."
His father wanted Luis to be a musician because of the discipline and "stick to it" nature of the pursuit. So Luis Cardenas became a drummer at the age of four. He has never looked back. The kid who made a name for himself as the heartbeat behind the multi-million selling rockers Renegade, is back and ready to roll.
He might have been a saxophonist, but when his godfather gave him a snare drum at the tender age of two, his destiny seems to have been predetermined. With weekly instruction from "Mr. Daniels," Luis learned his lessons well. Banging out the infamous rudiments and learning to read music was just a part of the process. Every lesson was an opportunity for Cardenas to learn the latest hit song. When he got his first drum kit - the Toys 'R Us variety -- young Luis noticed it was missing an integral part of any professional drummer's set. So with plunger in hand, Cardenas began to fashion his own version of a High Hat cymbal. It was a precursor of things to come because before long, Cardenas' impressive technique and his enormous drum set would be internationally famous.
Upon entering the third grade, his family moved from East LA to a Whittier home with an enormous bay window in front. That window proved to be Cardenas' very first spotlight, because every day upon returning home, when Luis would lay down his flams and five stroke rolls, all the kids from school would witness his artistry. When some of the older kids sought Luis out for their band, his father was understandably apprehensive and sternly instructed his son not to mingle with "that crowd." But Luis had his future in mind and snuck away to play with the "Big Kids."
Cardenas joined his first "official" band in sixth grade. After a few incarnations, that band evolved and became Renegade. With their moniker set, it was time to start working. High School gigs turned into four track recording sessions in their high school gym. With the help of Allied Artists Records, the band set out to tackle the infamous Sunset Strip. Initially, the band ran into a few bumps in the road, due mostly to their Latin heritage. Ultimately, Bill Gazzarri of "Gazzarri's on the Strip" took a chance with the band. Soon thereafter, The Troubadour, The Whisky and the Starwood all played host to the Renegade wave. Renegade was taking off, and so was Luis' percussive technique.
The release of Renegade's debut album "Rock 'n' Roll Crazy" took the band to another level, and Luis Cardenas was ready for the ride. Paiste Cymbals and Pro-Mark sticks soon followed and as Renegade continued their rise, so did Cardenas' reputation as a talented percussionist.
As record sales and crowds grew with the release of "Renegade II - On the Run," "Nuns on Wheels" and "Renegade Live," Cardenas' drum set followed suit. A solo CD, "Animal Instinct" spawned the hit singles, "Runaway" and "Hungry For Your Love," the former picking up a Grammy nomination and becoming the most added video in history. Clearly, success comes in many forms for this vocalist/percussionist.
With such diverse career highlights as performing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Iron Butterfly, multi-million albums sold and a Guinness Book World Record, these days Cardenas is looking forward to the reformation of Renegade on the resurgent Allied Artists Records. He notes,"There's much excitement and anxiety." Along with original band members Tony De La Rosa and Kenny Marquez, Cardenas looks forward to a new lean, mean Renegade.
