Born and raised locally, Pedraza has carved a place for himself and his messages of equality, unity and freedom with his pro-peace approach. He began tooling with music at the formative age of six when he started playing piano. As a teen, he traded the ivory and ebony for the wood and strings of the acoustic guitar. And later, while studying music theory at Mesa Community College, he was really given the chance to

Pedraza's time at USC empowered him, he says. But hidden behind his gentle nature and welcoming, slightly crooked smile, a fire burned. This passionate blaze of motivation and purpose drives him and embodies music. Leaving USC, he returned to Arizona on a mission and co-founded his record label, Independent Freedom Tribe, from his home.

A Web site for the 7th Annual Local to Global Justice Teach-in really puts Pedraza and his music in perspective.

"Marc Pedraza is just one man with a guitar, but his music will make you feel like you're part of something much bigger than yourself," the site says. To Pedraza, that something bigger is a community. Openly gay, he has performed at Pride festivals in Phoenix, San Diego, Palm Springs, and other towns around the Southwest. He admits his favorite event he has performed at was Humboldt Pride. He has also performed at GLBT charity events for GLSEN, ASU, Food Not Bombs, and most recently Sway's Summer Chill Event at the Wrigley to help raise money for Phoenix Pride.

Pedraza brings his strong sense of community to his record label. Recently, the Independent Freedom Tribe produced and release three albums that can be found on on the label's Web site, or in stores locally. The artists include Angie Evans, Matthew Reveles and the Americana-style duet of Dakota and the Black River Bandit. While not all three artists are local, they do all portray his message of peace and acceptance. Not to mention they all have played with or for Pedraza at local venues.

Pedraza's growing popularity and success in the current unstable music industry is in no part affected by being openly gay. In fact, it is probably propelled because of it. Not in the way that his support comes entirely from the gay community, but more because of his acceptance and belief in himself. It's the confidence that allows his music to speak out so honestly and be accepted so willingly.