Nelson Marquez & The Moderators perform at the Santa Monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, August 4, 2011.

Nelson Garcia Marquez appeared on three Grammy award-winning recording projects and has performed at such legendary places as the Hollywood Bowl (Playboy Jazz festival), supporting one of his musical mentors Israel Lopez "Cachao". He has produced for Virgin recording artist Crystal Sierra and has licensed many of his own original compositions to numerous film and television projects. He has performed through out the world, appeared on many television broadcasts including "The Late Show", and "Fiesta Broadway" for the Telemundo network. For many years, Nelson was bandleader of the Venice Beach-based latin/soul/funk band, "Mango Bang" and released their projects on his own label. For years, he also did acting on the side, and achieved credits in many films. However it was his appearance with his Godfather,Andy Garcia, in the film "The Lost City" which allows the hyphenate "musician/actor."

Starpool performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 28, 2011.

Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 21, 2011.

Guitarist and songwriter Kim Churchill, 20, performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 21, 2011.

Australian indie-rock import Andy Clockwise performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 21, 2011.

The Bangles perform at the Santa Monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 14, 2011.

Caracol performs at the Santa monica Pier during the 27th annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, July 14, 2011.

Malcolm John "Mac" Rebennack, 69, better known by the stage name Dr. John, performs at the Santa Monica Pier during the closing night of the 26th Annual Twilight Dance Series on Thursday, September 2, 2010. An icon of American music born in New Orleans, Dr. John is indelibly linked to the traditions and singularity of the city’s musical and cultural heritage. Mac Rebennack burst onto the rock & roll scene in the late 60s as Dr. John, the Night Tripper, merging the Rhythm and Blues, voodoo rhythms and chants of his native New Orleans to create a persona perfect for the psychedelic era. Over the years he’s thrown Jazz, Classic American Songbook, Zydeco, Boogie Woogie and Rock into the musical mix.