Carlos Cavazo is a Mexican-born American guitarist best known as the guitarist for Quiet Riot during their commercial peak. Born July 8, 1957, Cavazo is originally from Mexico City where his first band—of which his brother, Antonio Cavazo, was also a member—was called Speed of Light. He and his brother, along with drummer Stephen Quadros and singer Doug Ellison, went on to create the Los Angeles band SNOW, which performed regularly at the Whisky A Go Go and the Starwood Club, as well as the Santa Monica Civic and the Pasadena Civic auditoriums. In 1980, Snow released a 10" record that received airplay on Southern California radio stations KROQ and KLOS.

His father, Roberto, originally from Mexico City, married a belle from the South and owned an energy plant. Cavazo went on to record instructional DVDs, and in recent years, has joined the Hollywood Allstarz alongside former Rainbow and Dio bassist Jimmy Bain, as well as Black Sabbath and Dio drummer Vinny Appice. He has also played with 3 Legged Dogg, and is currently with Ratt.