Podcast Episodes

Episode 46: Frank Rodriguez

by Rachel Caldwell

I am excited to introduce you to Frank Rodriguez, an experienced musician and guitar teacher as well as the developer of Villela Guitars. Frank and I talk about how he first got into playing guitar encouraged by the Priest at his church. He then went on to study music and guitar at the High School of the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas.

He shares about his experiences playing at local clubs and shows, and eventually moving to Los Angeles. There, he worked and toured as a guitarist for various artists and musicians and even worked as a musical director. He has worked with some of the best musicians in the country and performed in prestigious venues from The Greek Theatre to Madison Square Garden.

Frank eventually returned to his hometown of Houston and began teaching at his alma mater, HSPVA. He also has teaching experience at San Jacinto College as well as an international high school in his community. In 2012, he began teaching a guitar class for an inpatient drug rehab program for Memorial Hermann.

Currently, Frank works on making and marketing his own line of instruments called Villela guitars. Throughout our conversation, we get a chance to talk about his personal journey, including the highlights and challenges of working in the music industry in L.A. We also talk about his heart for teaching and for working in his community.

One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing how Frank ‘n’ Strings and Villela Guitars got started, and how interest in the guitars has picked up because of the pandemic. For more info, you can visit his website: https://www.franknstrings.com/

You can listen to the show HERE, and you can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app (ie. Apple Podcasts, Spotify).  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

About Frank:

Frank Rodriguez has been playing music since childhood. He was 9 years old when he received his first tip playing guitar at a neighborhood barbershop in Houston, TX. In high school, he began the more serious pursuit of his passion by studying music and guitar at HSPVA (High School of Performing and Visual Arts).

After completing his education and gaining experience playing at local clubs and shows, Frank knew it was time to expand his horizons by moving to L.A. There, he worked and toured as a guitarist for various artists and musicians and even worked as a musical director. His time spent touring gave him invaluable experience working with some of the best musicians in the country and performing in prestigious venues from The Greek Theatre to Madison Square Garden.

With plenty of experience under his belt and a growing family, Frank decided to return to his hometown to pursue a new direction for his musical career. In 1994, he began teaching at his alma mater, HSPVA. In 2004 he became adjunct faculty at San Jacinto College and in 2007 he began teaching Charango and Guitar at an international high school in his community. In 2012, he began teaching a guitar class for an inpatient drug rehab program for Hermann Memorial.

Currently, Frank works on making and marketing his own line of instruments called Villela guitars. 

For more info, you can visit his website: https://www.franknstrings.com/

Links from the Show:

Connect with Frank:

Frank ‘n’ Strings on Facebook

www.franknstrings.com