Leonard “Bonez” Martinez Jr. grew up in central California, but after his parents got sick, and then both died, he says everything changed. After spending time on the streets of Reno and walking away from gangs and drugs, he found a new direction playing the guitar. Recently though he says his dog died after being stabbed and then a friend starved to death. As best he can, despite these recent tragedies, he’s preparing for another cold winter, while finetuning his musical skills, playing the sorrows and still existing beauties of life.
“I was born in Fresno, California. I was raised in Madera. The lifestyle I lived was common for city kids, you know, a very rough life. I went to prison very early in life, did some time for petty crime.
About seven, eight years ago before I moved over here I was about at my worst, gang banging and selling drugs…