Draft:Crystal Torres

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  • Comment: I am seeing most reliable sources surrounding her performance with Beyonce which would not be a claim to notability. CNMall41 (talk) 17:36, 1 August 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: For now. Some of the sources are not reliable (All About Jazz! bio, Doscogs) and many are primary (interviews/based on what she says, press releases, etc.). Most of the others are just brief mentions. S0091 (talk) 20:07, 9 September 2024 (UTC)

Crystal "Røvél" Torres, aka Crystal the Indigo is an American singer, songwriter, and trumpeter of Puerto Rican and Italian heritage. She has played the trumpet as part of Beyoncé's all-female live performance band Suga Mamas since 2007.[1]

Biography

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Torres was born on October 30th, 1982 in Philadelphia.[2] She grew up in Levittown.[3] She initially wanted to pursue a medical career, before turning to music.

She married Michael Law Thomas, an audio engineer, on August 8, 2008.[4] Torres was pregnant while touring as a trumpeter with Beyoncé in 2023 for the Renaissance World Tour. She gave birth to her daughter a few weeks after the end of the tour, on November 3rd, 2023.[5]

Career

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Torres initially wanted to learn how to play the violin, but she started playing the trumpet in fourth grade.[6] She was part of the marching band at Truman High School in Levittown, Pennsylvania.

She started her career playing jazz.[7] She performed at the White House in 2004 as a vocalist for the band Jazz and the New Generation II in celebration of Black Music Month[8][9]. She graduated from the William Paterson University's jazz program in 2005[10], where she met Clark Terry, who included her in his big band Clark Terry and the Young Titans of Jazz.[11][12] Later, she worked at the William Paterson Summer Jazz Workshop as a counselor.[13] She also played the trumpet on Roy Hargrove's tour RH Factor in 2006.

In 2007, Torres joined Beyoncé's all female band The Suga Mamas for the Beyoncé Experience Tour. She has been on all her tours since and has played the trumpet on 3 of her studio albums. She performed at the White House for the second time as a trumpeter with Beyoncé for President Obama. She was pregnant while performing 35 of the 36 shows of the Renaissance World Tour.[5][14]

Torres has also written and recorded her own music under the name Crystal the Indigo. Her stage name Røvél (stylized "RØVÉL") stands for "ray of violet eternal light”.[15]

Discography

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  • 2004: Buscando la Paz
  • 2011: Life Lessons, Vol.1
  • 2013: One Love[16]
  • 2016: L - O - V - E
  • 2016: This Feeling
  • 2021: Sundays on Repeat
  • 2024: Carry You

Live performances

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She has also performed with Shawn Mendes and Jennifer Lopez.

Appears on

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Documentaries

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References

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  1. ^ "What's It Like to Be in Beyoncé's All-Female Band?". ELLE. 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  2. ^ "Exclusive: Trumpeter Crystal Torres opens up about touring with Beyoncé — while proudly pregnant". TODAY.com. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  3. ^ Shrestha, Kamana (2010-07-23). "Jazz workshop sounds nostalgic notes". The Record.
  4. ^ "Meet Crystal "the Indigo" Torres: Artist, Musical Creator, Wellness Advocate – SHOUTOUT LA". shoutoutla.com. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  5. ^ a b c "Who is Beyoncé's pregnant trumpet player?". Los Angeles Times. 2023-09-05. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  6. ^ Crystal Torres (2010-09-07). Crystal Torres on CBS Philadelphia Interview. Retrieved 2025-08-01 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Barnhart, Scotty (2005). World Of Jazz Trumpet: A Comprehensive History and Practical Philosophy. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 55. ISBN 9780634095276.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ "The White House salutes NEA Jazz Masters: concert celebrates Black Music Month in June". Jazz Education Journal. 37 (1–3). University of Michigan: 16. 2004 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Lusane, Clarence (2011). The Black History of the White House. City Lights Publishers. p. 31. ISBN 978-0872865327.
  10. ^ Donald, Maria (2011-08-17). "Crystal Torres '05 Performing with Beyonce in New York City". Targeted News Service.
  11. ^ Terry, Clark; Terry, Gwen (2015). Clark: the autobiography of Clark Terry. Berkeley, Calif. Los Angelse, Calif. London: University of California Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-520-26846-3.
  12. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (August 7, 2007). "Beyonce; The superstar's mostly female 'Experience' tour is a paean to empowering women". The Philadelphia Daily News.
  13. ^ Micallef, Ken (2018). "Paterson Jazz Workshop Celebrates" (PDF). DeadBeat. p. 74. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  14. ^ Correspondent, Eddino Abdul HadiMusic (2023-12-22). "The Life List: 3 highlights from Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2024-09-09. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  15. ^ "Harry S. Truman grads a dynamic musical duo". Bucks County Courier Times. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  16. ^ "Crystal the Indigo". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  17. ^ Wilcop, Mary (2009). "Camptime opportunities" (PDF). DownBeat (published March 2009). p. 63. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 October 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
  18. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (2007-08-07). "Beyonce; The superstar's mostly female 'Experience' tour is a paean to empowering women". The Philadelphia Daily News.
  19. ^ Mirkin, Steven (2009-07-14). "Beyonce; An undeniably charismatic, commanding singer and a dancer of staggering energy". Daily Variety.
  20. ^ "Bucks girl trumpeting Beyoncé". Philadelphia Daily News. 2009-06-25.
  21. ^ "Crystal Torres '05 Performing with Beyonce in New York City". Targeted News Service. 2011-08-17.[dead link]
  22. ^ a b "Harry S. Truman grads a dynamic musical duo". 2023-10-23. Archived from the original on 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  23. ^ "Ale Sanz: Gira 'Sirope' 2016 - 3 de Marzo Estadio Geba : mirá Telefe …". archive.ph. 2015-08-03. Archived from the original on 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  24. ^ Español, 100% Pop (2015-07-30). "Arranca la gira "Sirope" de Alejandro Sanz". 100% Pop Español (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Madden, Sidney (2019-05-28). "Lucky Daye: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  26. ^ O'Neill, Abbey (December 8, 2020). "Chloe x Halle: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert". NPR. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  27. ^ "Alejandro Sanz se reencuentra con Sevilla tras la pandemia". ELMUNDO (in Spanish). 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  28. ^ Sayre, Anamaria Artemisa (May 15, 2023). "Karol G: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  29. ^ "Beyoncé opens U.S. leg of Renaissance Tour in Philly showcasing local talent". New York Daily News. 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  30. ^ "Crystal Torres Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & M..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  31. ^ Smith-Strickland, Stephanie (2019-02-24). "Lupe Fiasco Gives Rare Performance of 'Food & Liquor' Debut Album in L.A." Billboard. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  32. ^ Saponara, Michael (2018-09-21). "Lupe Fiasco Releases 'Drogas Wave' Album One Week Early: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  33. ^ "Lupe Fiasco and Kaelin Ellis Release 'HOUSE' EP Featuring Virgil Abloh". Hypebeast. 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  34. ^ III, William E. Ketchum (2020-08-04). "Lupe Fiasco vs. Everybody (Even Himself)". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  35. ^ Gee, Andre (2024-07-05). "Lupe Fiasco Walks Us Through His Amy Winehouse-Inspired Battle-Rap Album 'Samurai'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  36. ^ Pollock, David (2017-07-07). "Secrets of the 'sideman' - according to David Bowie's former guitarist". The i Paper. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  37. ^ Ferguson, Euan (2017-07-09). "The week in TV: Broken; The Betrayed Girls, The Windsors and more". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  38. ^ "'Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé' Review: Peak Performance (Published 2023)". 2023-12-02. Archived from the original on 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
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