Julio Martinez  is an arts journalist and critic, feature writer, radio host, guitarist, monologuist and sometimes he goes dancing.  Born in Spanish Harlem, he moved to Los Angeles at a young age, studied music and cultural history at LA City College, Univ. of Michigan and UC Berkeley. After serving in the US Army (teaching music theory at the Army Band School), Martinez launched into a music career during the 60s, performing with singer Al Jarreau (7 years), Irene Kral, Kay Dennis and more.  During this time, he also worked in live theater with the San Francisco Mime Troupe, The Committee Workshop and The Public Players Company.  Since the mid-80s, Martinez has worked as a journalist and radio host, including an 18-year stint as theater critic for Daily Variety and his current 25-year association with KPFK Radio.

Martinez pens the weekly LA Stage INSIDER Column for LA Stage Times, as well as the weekly TeleVision featurettes for Latin Heat Magazine. He is a recurring features contibutor for the Written By - magazine of the Writers Guild of America (WGA).  His articles have appeared in Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage West, Drama-Logue and Westways Magazine, among others.

Martinez is a published storyteller whose work can be read in The Story Salon Big Book of Stories, A Place Called the Bla Bla Café and Verge of L.A., and heard on the Story Salon CD, The Mario Sessions. He performs regularly at venues throughout the Los Angeles area.

As an accompanist and soloist, Martinez has performed in venues throughout the world, including the International Song Festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He continues to participate in recording sessions when time allows, including the annual fund-raising recordings of the Esquires Reunion Swing Band.