Ernestos .Pg.

When the opportunity came he traded his trumpet and purchased his first set of LP timbales and began to listen to all theLatin and Santana music and began to practice after school every day. At his last year of high school he hooked up with other musicians and started a Latin cover band. It ranged from Azteca, Malo, Sapo, El Chicano, and Dakila. But still wanting to play Santana he waited for a chance to find musicians that had the feel for the music. He's been a fan since the early 70's. In the late 70's after returning from over seas, he met an outstanding guitarist, Antonio Marquez, and became part of Libre, a Latin rock band, performing Santana songs. At that time it was for the fun of it and with short travels.

Born in Mexico City raised in San Jose Ca. He's a self taught percussionist inspired by music at an early age. He began to listen to a variety of music at the age of 11, and was amazed at the sounds and rhythms of Latin Rock. At the age of 15, An opportunity found him, an opening in a Westside band ( Lumbre ) wanting to start a horn section. While attending William C. Overfelt High,
He took up trumpet classes for awhile but could not persuade him self to continue. He waited for the chance be behind el Timbal.

After a 22 year break he still continues to perform with Antonio and does what he's waited for and it has paid off. Now he does what he does best with passion to the music. He's now pleased to say, The dedication and inspiration of Santana's music has kept him going and continues to share the stage with such dedicated musicians as the one's that have become part of the Zebop experience.

Ernesto's equipment:

Lp Tito Puente Commemorative Bronze timbales 14" & 15" ( 14" uses a Remo power stroke 3 drum head, and a 15" Remo Ambassador coated drum head)
Lp Generation II wood bongos (Standard Lp heads)
Lp Patato Congas, Conga & Tumba (with Remo NuSkin heads)
Gon Bop timbale cowbell
Lp Black Beauty cowbell
Lp Aspire rock cowbell
Lp High & Medium Jam Blocks
17" Zildjian crash & 16' Sabian crash
Chimes from Tree Works
Timbales mounted on a Gibraltar curved pipe drum rack
Bongos mounted on a Gibraltar Basic V rack with accessories
Congas mounted on an Lp Double conga stand
Ernesto uses Shure mics, (4 - SM57 & 1 Shure Beta, & 3 Audix mics) 1 Sure mic for cowbells, 1 Sure mic for timbales, with an On Stage clamp mic stands to capture sound from below and for Cascara, 3 Audix for congas, 1 Sure mic for vocals, and 1 ShureBeta Condenser mic for bongos.