Eddie "Shekere" Jimenez

Born in Southern California in the town of Monrovia, Eddie began hearing the latin sounds of Perez Prado, Benny More', Senora Poncena, and other latin styles of cumbia, rancheros, and polkas, at the age of 3 years. Eddie tapped on his first conga that was owned by his ho Jose, and hearing the esoteric sounds emitting from the family back yard parties, Eddie remembers as a young kid also being introduced to the sounds of Motown and rock n roll by his sisters, music and dance started early in Eddie's youth, when Eddie moved to San Jose, California in the 3rd grade he met a couple of peers that introduced Eddie to the drums. In junior high school and the beginning of high school Eddie began singing in choir in high school band. Eddie got his first set of congas as a birthday gift from his sister Emma, it was soon after seeing Santana playing live at the Cow Palace in San Francisco and seeing Raul Rekow in 1976 that a spark started a fire, to start practicing with serious intentions, from there Eddie began playing in high school garage parties, playing different styles, latin rock, rock, reggae, soul, funk, latin jazz, and contemporary jazz. At 16 yrs old his cousin Jose Luis Lopez introduced him to his first experience auditioning for a latin soul band named The 19th Street Band.

Although Eddie was too young to play in night clubs, Eddie's style of playing was well liked by the band members and band manager. The encouragement and experience gave Eddie great aspirations to continue his desire to learn more, living just 20 minutes from San Francisco Eddie ventured to Aquatic Park on summer days jamming with other conga players from the bay area and grasping the different latin rhythms gave him his foundation for his style of playing. After college Eddie took a break from playing, raising a family and being self employed, but the music kept calling him back. In church Eddie began playing in ministry bands, where he met Tony Menjivar current conga player for Malo and Pablo Tellez (Bass) formerly of Santana whom soon after Pablo, joined the ministry band of brothers and ministered for several years throughout the bay area. Eddie joined the Usual Suspects a classic rock n roll band in 1996 and after a short period. Eddie took a hiatus and left the bay area. In 1997 Eddie moved to Kauai where he played with Shilo Pa and Kalalea and also rocked Amelia's Blues Club in Kauai with Carl Palmer former drummer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Eddie moved back to the mainland in late1998 and moved to Carlsbad Ca. where he played in some local Hawaiian restaurants with the local Hawaiian musicians, laying down the Hawaiian Island rhythms. In 2000 Eddie moved back to San Jose and returned to the Usual Suspects (classic rock n roll) whom he still occasionally plays with, during the summer festivals in Morgan Hill, Ca. and bay area.

Eddie met Guitar Player Jeff Rippin who has his own Rock group called by his name the Rippin Band. Eddie has had the pleasure of loaning his percussion stylings to many live performances of Rippin and the Usual Suspects throughout the past 11 years. Eddie has also played the San Jose Jazz Festival the last three years and recorded with the Poblano Project Band. Until recently, Eddie has been playing with San Jose recording artists the Kool Katz Band, a latin soul band since July of 2008. It was at ZEBOP!'s performance at the Avalon Club for 98.5 KFOX radio station's Last Band Standing Contest this past year 2010, that Eddie heard ZEBOP! at which point, ZEBOP! was looking for a permanent conga player. Eddie auditioned in November and was then asked to play with ZEBOP! for a live performance on the radio station, KKUP. Later that evening Eddie got a call from Antonio and was asked to join ZEBOP! Soon thereafter Eddie was performing at The Avalon Club with ZEBOP! Eddie is excited to be part of ZEBOP! and to play the music from legendary Santana band.
Que Viva la Musica....