# Carlos Sosa (musician)

Carlos Sosa is an American musician, producer, composer, music director, and arranger. Heavily influenced by the R&B and funk sounds of the 1970s, Sosa founded Grooveline Horns in 1996, and is best known for touring and recording with Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, Zac Brown Band, Hanson, Natalia Lafourcade, Wynonna Judd, Mike Posner, Skrillex, Missy Elliott, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Dumpstaphunk, Warren Haynes, Ozomatli, Intergalactix, and Mexican artists Jesse and Joy.
He has also performed with Marcus King, Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews, Big Freedia, Cimafunk, and Gary Clark, Jr., among others.
In 2024, Sosa and the Grooveline Horns joined the house band for Kill Tony, the No. 1 live podcast in the world.

## Early influences and career

Sosa started playing saxophone around the age of 10. When he was 15, he joined a funk band and started playing clubs in Texas. Heavily influenced by Earth, Wind & Fire, James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic, he knew his musical preferences leaned heavily towards funk, R&B, soul and pop music.
He attended Texas State University, getting a degree in Audio Engineering. While in college, he formed Grooveline Horns and they played with various cover bands on 6th Street, honing their versatility. Within a short time, they began playing with Austin musician Bob Schneider. This led to bigger acts using the group including Don Henley, Suicidal Tendencies, and Kelly Clarkson.

## Children's Music

Sosa has written, performed, and produced two children’s records with Coy Bowles (guitarist for Zac Brown Band): 2020's "Music for Tiny Humans" and 2023's "Up and Up.".
The video for the “The Clean Up Song” garnered 1.4 million views in its first five months on YouTube.

## Awards

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
| 2009 | We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., Jason Mraz | 2009 Teen Choice Awards | Won |
| 2005 | Best Groupera Album, La Mafia | Latin Grammy Awards | Won |
| 2004 | Spanish Album of the Year, Con Poder, Salvador | 35th GMA Dove Awards | Won |
| 1997 | Best Horns: Grooveline Horns, The Scabs | Austin Music Awards | Won |
| 1998 | Best Horns: Grooveline Horns | Austin Music Awards | Won |
| 1999 | Best Horns: Grooveline Horns | Austin Music Awards | Won |
| 2000 | Best Horns: Grooveline Horns, The Scabs | Austin Music Awards | Won |
| 2001 | Best Horns: Grooveline Horns | Austin Music Awards | Won |
| 2003 | Best Horns: Grooveline Horns | Austin Music Awards | Won |
| 2006 | Best Horns: Grooveline Horns | Austin Music Awards | Won |

## Discography

| Year | Album | Artist | Credits |
| 2023 | Ratata | Skrillex, Missy Elliot | Saxophone |
| 2023 | From The Road, Vol 1: Covers | Zac Brown Band | Saxophone, Horn Arranger |
| 2023 | Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride | Jason Mraz | Saxophone, Flute, Horn Arranger, Engineer |
| 2023 | Up and Up | Coy Bowles & Carlos Sosa | Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, Vocals |
| 2023 | I Feel Like Dancing | Jason Mraz | Saxophone, Flute, Horn Arranger, Engineer |
| 2022 | Best Of Me | Joanna Connor | Flute, Saxophone |
| 2022 | Red Green Blue | Hanson | Saxophone, Horn Arranger, Engineer |
| 2021 | Lucky[2021] | Jason Mraz | Saxophone |
| 2020 | Jamz | Outasight | Musician |
| 2020 | Music For Tiny Humans | Coy Bowles | Producer, Songwriter, Engineer, Vocals |
| 2020 | You Do You | Jason Mraz | Saxophone, Horn Arranger |
| 2020 | Music Played By Humans | Gary Barlow | Producer, Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2020 | Look For The Good | Jason Mraz | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2019 | Samsara | Los Coast | Saxophone |
| 2019 | Heavy Is The Head | Stormzy | Saxophone, Trumpet |
| 2018 | Know | Jason Mraz | Horn Arrangements, Saxophone |
| 2018 | Future Vintage Soul | Outasight | Composer |
| 2017 | Finally It's Christmas | Hanson | Engineer, Horn Arrangements, Saxophone |
| 2017 | Sir Rosevelt | Sir Rosevelt | Saxophone, arranger |
| 2017 | Jesse & Joy | Jesse & Joy | Saxophone |
| 2017 | Lay It on Down | Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band / Kenny Wayne Shepherd | Saxophone |
| 2017 | Until My Voice Goes Out | Josh Abbott Band | Producer, engineer, Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2016 | Spark | Drake White | Saxophone |
| 2015 | Big Trouble | Outasight | Composer |
| 2015 | Un Besito Mas | Jesse & Joy | Saxophone |
| 2015 | Vivir Sin Miedo | Buika | Saxophone |
| 2014 | 8 | Luis Fonsi | Arranger, engineer, Horn Arrangements, Horn Engineer, Mixing, Saxophone |
| 2014 | Dear You | Meiko | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements, Horn Engineer |
| 2014 | Defected Presents Glitterbox Ibiza | 2014 | Composer |
| 2014 | Engelbert Calling | Engelbert Humperdinck | Saxophone, Primary Artist, Horn, Horn Arrangements, Horn Engineer |
| 2014 | Junto | Basement Jaxx | Composer |
| 2014 | Viaje | Ricardo Arjona | Saxophone, producer |
| 2013 | All People (Deluxe) | Michael Franti | Saxophone, arranger, Horn Section |
| 2013 | Baby Let's Dance | Shane Filan | Saxophone |
| 2013 | Dirty Word | Dumpstaphunk | Guest Artist, Primary Artist |
| 2013 | In a World Like This | Backstreet Boys | Saxophone, Horn Engineer, Primary Artist |
| 2013 | PTX, Vol. 2 | Pentatonix | Composer |
| 2013 | Red Room | The Shadowboxers | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements, Primary Artist |
| 2013 | Everything to Me | Shane Filan | Saxophone |
| 2013 | Whut It Dew: The Album | Rapid Ric | Saxophone |
| 2012 | Love Is a Four Letter Word | Jason Mraz | Saxophone |
| 2012 | Live at the Moody Theater | Warren Haynes / Warren Haynes Band | Saxophone, Guest Artist |
| 2012 | ¿Con Quién Se Queda el Perro? | Jesse & Joy | Arranger, Saxophone |
| 2012 | Watergate X | Watergate Records | Composer, producer |
| 2011 | Cocoon Heroes | Adam Beyer / Dorian Paic | Composer, producer |
| 2011 | When You Gonna Learn | Beverly Knight | Saxophone |
| 2011 | Everybody Want Sum | Dumpstaphunk | Saxophone |
| 2011 | Soul UK | Beverly Knight | Horns |
| 2011 | Everything Everytime Everywhere | Trevor Hall | Saxophone, Horn Engineer |
| 2011 | Man in Motion | Warren Haynes | Saxophone |
| 2011 | Fabric 56 | Derrick Carter | Composer |
| 2010 | The Future Ain't What It Used to Be | Bleu Edmondson | Saxophone |
| 2010 | Top Ten | Salvador | Producer |
| 2009 | Back in the Box | DJ Sneak | Producer, Mixing, composer |
| 2009 | Del Castillo | Del Castillo | Saxophone |
| 2009 | Catwalk Megahits 2009 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2009 | Chilled, Vol. 2: 1991–2009 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2009 | How Far Is Heaven: The Best of Salvador | Salvador | Producer |
| 2009 | La Terrazza Atmospherical Fun Club | Valentino Kanzyani | Composer, producer |
| 2008 | 10,000 Nights (2 Tracks) | Alphabeat | Composer |
| 2008 | Bacardi B-Live, Vol. 9 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2008 | The Glass Passenger | Jack's Mannequin | Saxophone, Horn Arrangement |
| 2009 | When I Let Go | Paul Wesley | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2008 | Thicker Than Water | Vallejo | Saxophone, composer |
| 2008 | We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. | Jason Mraz | Arranger, engineer, Flute, Saxophone (Tenor), Saxophone (Baritone) |
| 2008 | The New World | Bruce Robison | Saxophone, composer |
| 2007 | Feel the Boombox | Boombox ATX | Producer, Saxophone, Founder, Group Member |
| 2007 | Future Clouds & Radar | Future Clouds & Radar | Saxophone |
| 2007 | Noble Creatures | The Gourds | Saxophone |
| 2007 | Listen Hear | Dumpstaphunk | Saxophone |
| 2007 | Get Down | Todd Terry / Todd Terry All Stars | Composer |
| 2007 | Penthouse: La Nuit Luxure | Todd Terry | Composer |
| 2007 | Strictly Todd Terry | Todd Terry | Composer |
| 2007 | The Birth of Cornelius | Corneille | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements |
| 2007 | The Grand DJ Mix 2007: Non Stop House Traxx | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2007 | Vocal House Sensation, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2007 | Young Style Grooves, Vol. 3 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006 | 24/7 Intimate Praise | Joyce Pierce | Saxophone |
| 2006 | From There to Here and Now | Rolando | Producer, engineer, Mixing, composer |
| 2006 | Get It Goin' | Stereokitsch | Saxophone |
| 2006 | Hot House 2006 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006 | Musique, Vol. 1 | Daft Punk | Composer |
| 2006 | No. 1 Euphoric Dance Album (Box Set) | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006 | Real House Classics | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 2006 | Sensation White 2006 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2006 | Sessions 4 | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2006 | Summer Essentials | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2005 | ¡Bastardos! | Blues Traveler | Editing, Saxophone, Horn Overdubs |
| 2005 | Byzantine | Jud Newcomb | Saxophone |
| 2005 | Chica | Chica | Saxophone |
| 2005 | Distancias | Jason McGuire | Engineer |
| 2005 | Family Duels | Inland Knights | Composer |
| 2005 | House of Om | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2005 | Parables & Primes | Danny Schmidt | Engineer, Assistant |
| 2005 | Playboy: The Mansion Soundtrack | Felix da Housecat | Producer, composer |
| 2005 | Qué Tan Lejos Está El Cielo | Salvador | Producer, arranger, Vocals, Saxophone, Recording, composer |
| 2005 | Renaissance Presents Frontiers | Yousef | Composer |
| 2005 | Switch, Vol. 3 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2005 | Technics in the Mix 50: 2005 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004 | Album, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004 | Amor Sagrado, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004 | Chillout Sessions, Vol. 5 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004 | Club Classics – The Greatest Old Skool | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 2004 | Housekeepin' | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2004 | Dancemania, Vol. 21: Non-Stop Mixed by X-Treme | X-Treme | Composer |
| 2004 | Para el Pueblo | La Mafia | Guest Artist, Saxophone |
| 2004 | Screen Cuts | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004 | So Natural | Salvador | Composer |
| 2004 | The Trax Records: The Next Generation | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004 | The Trax Records: Queer Trax | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2004 | Tribal Gathering Presents 10 Years of Sankey's Soap | Krysko / Greg Vickers | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2003 | Alfresco Soiree, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | Best of House, Vol. 3 | Various Artist | Composer |
| 2003 | Chinese Vacation | Steve Poltz | Saxophone |
| 2003 | Con Poder | Salvador | Producer, arranger, Saxophone, Recording, composer |
| 2003 | Conciones de la Familia de la Vega | Leti Delavega | Tenor Saxophone |
| 2003 | Credence Club Hits | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | Daft Club | Daft Punk | Composer |
| 2003 | Dance Nation 2003 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | Homework/Discovery | Daft Punk | Composer |
| 2003 | Earthbeat, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | Good for Nuthin | Honeybrowne | Producer, engineer, Mixing, Percussion, Vocal Harmony, Group Member |
| 2003 | House Classics: The Greatest House Anthems of All Time | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 2003 | Living in a Big Pink Edsel | Hulley Gulleys | Saxophone |
| 2003 | Lucky | Jean Synodinos | Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Group Member |
| 2003 | Now Dance 2003, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | Pensando en Ti | Various Artists | Producer |
| 2003 | Steamboat Live '97 | Vallejo | Primary Artist |
| 2003 | Chinese Vacation | Steve Poltz | Horn Arrangements |
| 2003 | Pure Dance Party, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | Siempre en Forma, Vol. 1 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | The Best Dance Album in the World...Ever! 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2003 | The Challenge: A Call to Action | Promise Keepers | Horn Overdubs |
| 2003 | Underwater, Episode 2 | Darren Emerson | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2003 | Worship Live | Salvador | Arranger |
| 2002 | 2002 Brit Awards Hits | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002 | Bate Que Bate | Mayonesa | Vocals |
| 2002 | Decks and the City, Vol. 1: New York | Marcus & Dominique | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2002 | Fencing Under Fire | Patrice Pike | Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor) |
| 2002 | Got Dance? | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002 | Into Motion | Salvador | Saxophone, Horn Arrangements, Overdub Engineer |
| 2002 | Kiss Presents: Hit List 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002 | Mastercuts: Discothèque | Various Artists | Producer |
| 2002 | Miss Moneypenny's Gold | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002 | My Favorite Record | Asylum Street Spankers | Additional Personnel, Sax (Baritone) |
| 2002 | Nouvelle Discothèque | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2002 | Platinum Ibiza | Various Artists | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2002 | Trust the DJ: SJ01 | Smokin Jo | Producer, Mixing, composer |
| 2002 | Wild, Vol. 15 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001 | Absolute 2001 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001 | Ataca | Tribu | Producer, engineer, Editing, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor) |
| 2001 | Creamfields 2001 | Seb Fontaine / Yousef | Producer, composer |
| 2001 | Digital Love | Daft Punk | Composer |
| 2001 | Discovery | Daft Punk | Composer |
| 2001 | DjMixed.Com: DJ Feelgood | DJ Feelgood | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2001 | Global Underground: Singapore | Darren Emerson | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2001 | Lonelyland | Bob Schneider | Saxophone |
| 2001 | Mayonesa | Chocolate | Vocals |
| 2001 | Miami 2001 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001 | Miss Moneypenny's: Going Global | Jim "Shaft" Ryan | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 2002 | Now Dance 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001 | Now That's What I Call Music! 50 [UK] | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001 | Pepsi Chart 2002 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001 | Queen Club Paris: DJ Set, Vol. 1–2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 2001 | Sneak's Ju Ju Beats | DJ Sneak | Composer |
| 2000 | Bombtracks | The Scabs | Saxophone |
| 2000 | Destroyer | The Scabs | Saxophone |
| 2000 | Sub Club Presents Subversion | Various Artists | Producer, arranger, Mixing |
| 1999 | Classic Classic | Various Artists | Producer, composer |
| 1999 | Club Series, Vol. 2 | DJ Irene | Composer |
| 1999 | Denver Live | DJ Vitamin D | Producer, arranger, Mixing, composer |
| 1999 | Groove Radio International Presents: Global House | Swedish Egil | Composer |
| 1999 | Hits | Jocelyn Brown | Composer |
| 1999 | Little Brother | Beaver Nelson | Saxophone |
| 1999 | Ministry of Sound, Vol. 9 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 1999 | More Than a Feeling | The Scabs | Horn Arrangements |
| 1998 | Absolute Dance Mix, Vol. 2 | Various Artists | Composer |
| 1998 | Boom Boom Baby | The Ugly Americans | Horn Arrangements |
| 1998 | Boomtown Flood | Cadillac Voodoo Choir | Sax (Tenor), Sax (Baritone) |
| 1998 | Freebird | The Scabs | Horn Arrangements |
| 1997 | Vallejo | Vallejo | Assistant Engineer |

### Singles

| Year | Single | Artist | Credits |
| 2015 | The Wild Life | Outasight | Composer |

## Music community and advocacy

Sosa has been an active member of the Texas Chapter Board of Governors for the Recording Academy (also known as the GRAMMYs), having held office as both President and Vice President.
He is a former board member and chair of the SIMS Foundation, where he advocated with local politicians regarding the epidemic of opioid abuse.
Sosa is also a founding Advisory Board Member of Sonic Guild (formerly Black Fret), a non-profit organization that provides grants and mentorship to musicians.
He has advocated for passing laws for royalty payments for musicians in the US, providing parity with the rest of the world.
After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting while playing with Josh Abbott Band, he urged fans to continue going to shows.