TREMOLOCO:
Tony Zamora – vocal, basses, guitarron, guitars, vihuela, piano
Bob Robles – guitars (acoustic/electric), requinto romantico, pedal steel, vocal
Cougar Estrada – piano, melodica, acoustic guitar, drums, percussion
Mike Tovar – guitars, tres, cuatro, jarana
Jason Lozano – drums, percussion, vocal
Juan Chacon – acoustic guitar, requinto romantico, percussion, vocal
John “Vatos” Hernandez – drums, percussion

The others:
Rick Shea, David Raven, Brantley Kearns, David Jackson, Roberto Rodriguez, Aubrey Richmond, John “Groover” McDuffie, Billy Watts, Raul Rangel. Boo Bernstein, Josh Baca, Max Baca, James Cruce

********************************************************************************************************************

Tony Zamora

Los Angeles, California

Tony Zamora was born to a large musical family in Los Angeles.
Instruments, bands, young musicians and rehearsals were always present.
His older siblings were part of the East L.A. music scene.
The same era that fostered Cannibal and the Headhunters and Little Willie G. and Thee Midniters among others. These were hometown heroes that found national acclaim and were among the first Chicano rockers to find success.
This environment provided an early exposure to music starting with piano lessons at 5 yrs old then later playing in the youth orchestra for the Salesian High School Music program in East L.A. developed by renowned teacher Prof. William Taggert.
An insistence on versatility from the older brothers turned out to be very influential.
This sometimes took the form of a bribe paying the young musician all of twenty dollars to play gigs and learn various songs and styles including Mexican music. He now admits at the time he felt some of this music was for old people. This early training proved invaluable for later more eclectic tastes.

With an ever-increasing interest in roots, regional folk or ethnic music (especially West Coast music) and a renewed appreciation of Mexican folk music came a period of journeyman sideman work.

Artists currently working with include:
Tremoloco, The Lounge Trio w/ Cougar Estrada, Los Fabulocos, The Twilight Lords, Rick Shea, The Big Manny Band, The Close

Others:
Tremoloco – Salsipuedes 2012

Fur Dixon and Steve Werner- played live and on 2010 release “Songs of The Open Road” Volume I

Rick Shea – played in live band and on 2009 release “Shelter Valley Blues”

Tremoloco – Dulcinea 2008

Cougar Estrada – Firefly 2007 played and co-wrote title track

Los Lobos
Played bass on tours in Mexico, New York, Colorado, Texas and California.
October 2008 McCabes Guitars 50th Anniversary Concert, Royce Hall UCLA and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco, Ca. 2007

Shark from The Wild Colonials – played live and on various film soundtracks including: The Wild Colonials album “Reel Life”

Clare Muldaur – Composer, singer songwriter, played in live band and appeared on “Sweetheart” album

Twilight Lords – Irish folk band that toured throughout the West and Southwest including tours in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Recorded four albums, was co-writer producer/arranger musician on “Women of Ireland” played with artists including Jerry Donahue, Flogging Molly, Gaelic Storm, Mary Black, Paul Brady, Johnny Cunningham, Dillon O’Brian, Eric Rigler and The Mullligans

Shannon McNally Singer/songwriter – performed live at various Irish clubs in L.A. area

Delaney Bramlett – Singer/Songwriter performed live and played guitarron on original songs

The Prairie Dogs – country band with Paul Marshall (I See Hawks In L.A.) and Bob Robles. Paul co/wrote song “Drinking For Two” on the Tremoloco release “Dulcinea” (2008) and remains a songwriting partner co-writing 2 songs (Broken Wheel, Mision San Fernando) on the current Tremoloco release “Salsipuedes” 2012

Vicki Hill – singer/songwriter
Member of live band, played guitarron and sang duet/harmonies on her upcoming release which also includes Van Dyke Parks, Tony Gilkyson, Mike Stinson, Kip Boardman, (Greg Leisz, Steve Mugalian, and Greg Boaz from Dave Alvin’s band)

The King Cotton Band – Texas soul singer who released various recordings and singles with Dusty Wakeman (producer of A Town South of Bakersfield) and Danny Holloway (Island Records).

Walter Egan – Played bass with this artist that had several hits in the late 1970’s-80′s including “Magnet and Steel”, he also contributed songs to the Gram Parsons recording “Grievous Angel”.

The Close – a folk rock band that toured extensively throughout the Southwest and West Coast and released two albums. Tony was co-writer and producer. They secured a residency at the club Largo in L.A. played with: Jon Brion – renowned film composer, producer, member of The Greys and Til Tuesday, The Wild Colonials, Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles and many more…

In 2005 started side project playing a mixture of folk, country and Mexican music with old friends from L.A., a group of like-minded sidemen musicians from Los Angeles. Playing traditional songs and covering people like Valerio Longoria, Texas Tornados, Lydia Mendoza, Trio Los Panchos, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Merle, Gram Parsons, Burrito Bros and others. A labor of love to say the least.

Started performing at various city festivals. concert and club dates including regulars spots at the Cinco De Mayo festival at Olvera Street in Los Angeles. Recorded one EP (now out of print) of songs done live in the studio which was used to procure more work. Reaction to this music was so strong and positive decided to start writing material for a new release.

In 2008 Tremoloco releases debut album of all original material.

***************************************************************************************************************

Cougar Estrada

Camarillo, California

Becoming a professional musician at the age of 13 playing drums in his father and uncle’s band “The Estrada Brothers” Cougar has been a musician ever since now writing, producing and recording for others as well as releasing several CD’s of his own music which can be found @ www.CougarRecords.com

As a journeyman musician with the experience and knowledge gained from years in the family business Cougar became well known primarily as a drummer/percussionist with a long list of credits including tours, television appearances and recordings with some of the most respected artists in the business. This includes a decade long stint as touring and recording drummer for Los Lobos 2002-2012 playing live and on all their studio albums, live albums, DVD’s, radio and television appearances (Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Letterman, etc…) a period which culminated in a performance at The White House for President Barack Obama.

Having grown up around music and the ever present piano his latest project finds him emerging as pianist and band leader with his own group “The Lounge Trio”.

Credits as a pianist:
Conga Punk’s “Music’s Genre Defiance”, Spencer The Gardener’s releases “Lulu” and “Fiesta”, Los Lobos “Los Lobos Goes Disney”, Latin Playboys live shows, Rick Shea “Shelter Valley Blues”, Camarillo Social Club ”Let’s”, Tremoloco’s releases “Dulcinea” (which he also produced) and their latest “Salsipuedes” in September 2012

Venues The Lounge Trio have performed:
Hartford Family Winery, Forestville Ca., Cafe 322 Sierra Madre, Ca., The Maxwell House Pasadena, Ca. The Hip Kitty Claremont, Ca., Tequilapalooza, Garagiste Healdsburg and Mateos in Healdsburg, Ca., The Poor House Bistro San Jose, Ca. Fogfest @ Pacifica Beach San Francisco, Ca. among others
***************************************************************************************************************

Bob Robles

Los Angeles, California

Bob has a strong musical lineage. His father was well known 50’s singer/songwriter Lalo Robles. As a Warner Brothers contract artist he appeared on many TV Shows and movies of the era including: Rio Bravo w/John Wayne, East of Eden w/James Dean,
Pillow Talk w/Rock Hudson and Doris Day and numerous TV shows.

Though Bob was either not born or too young to remember all of Lalo’s early heydays his talent and love of music was passed on. These attributes had served his father well and helped him raise his family. Bob plays some of the same instruments his father left to this day.

True to form and very much in the family business Bob’s first professional job featured him as a very young boy playing guitar on the song “Rubber Necking” with Elvis Presley in his last movie “Change of Habit” w/ Mary Tyler Moore.

After years of study and practice Bob became well versed in many styles including jazz. He was renown as a very young guitarist for adapting Charlie Parker and John Coltrane solos to guitar. These included pieces such as Coltrane’s Giant Steps. This was something that amazed the older musicians he was already working with.
He remains a sought after player in the L.A. area and works on a diverse number of projects including his position as long time member of Tremoloco
Other credits:
Airto and Flora Purim’s album “Touching You Touching Me” with George Duke, Alphonso Johnson and Herb Alpert (Grammy nomination),
Americana artist Walking Wounded w/Jerry Giddens
(2 albums featuring guest Dave Alvin),
K.J. Jesudas (India’s #1 Pop Star) recorded “Ahimsa”,
Thee Midnighters (longtime guitarist), Clare Muldaur, Vicki Hill, The Prairie Dogs with Tony Zamora and Paul Marshall (I See Hawks In LA)
Session work includes:
Alex Acuna, Alphonso Johnson, Jackie Deshannon, Steve Smith/ Ross Valory (Journey), Jerry Salas (El Chicano), Thee Midnighters, Tremoloco, Clare Muldaur
Live peformances include:
Greg Allman, Ry Cooder, Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Jack Bruce, Natalie Cole and The Jordanaires

***************************************************************************************************************

Rick Shea

San Bernardino, California

60 miles east of Los Angeles where the urban sprawl starts to thin out and the desert starts to take over sits the old railroad town of San Bernardino. In 1978 when Rick Shea was growing up there, dozens of honky-tonks and truck stop bars still lined the outskirts, tough places where the remnants of California’s golden age of country music still drifted through like the hot winds.

“I started playing folk and coffeehouse gigs after high school and sort of fell into the country music scene…as a sideman and a singer I worked 6 – 7 nights a week. It was rough sometimes but a good education, that’s where I first heard a lot of those old songs – Merle Haggard, Lefty Frizzell and Buck Owens – every night.”

As a sideman, Shea has worked with everyone from roots rock kingpin Dave Alvin to folk chanteuse Katy Moffatt to indie rock legends R.E.M. As a member of Dave Alvin’s band, “The Guilty Men”, Rick toured the U.S. and Europe for 6 years as an opener and multi-instrumental sideman, playing everywhere from Hollywood to Austin to Madison Square Garden and played on most of Dave’s albums during that time including the Grammy winning Public Domain.

***************************************************************************************************************

Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez

Los Angeles, California

Started playing drums in middle school. First band was called the “Adventures” all “Ventures” music. Through High School played everything, Dance Band, and Jazz were favorites. Friday morning Pep Bands, chamber orchestra, school plays.

Started early road career at seven-teen with the USO. By nineteen could read music, played in big bands, (LACC Studio Jazz band, Si Zetner Big Band) and pit orchestras.

Played with the “Helen Reddy Band”, Frankie Avalon, Petula Clark, Keith Carradine. While playing with as guest host Helen did the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. Played with the Doc Severinson Band while Ed Shaunessey looked on saying, “Yea kid, alright kid” it was a real highlight!

With Steve Bartek hired to play on bizarre film called the “The Forbidden Zone”, Danny Elfman’s first film.
Asked to join “The Mystic Nights of the Oingo Boingo”. The early band was a full multi media extravaganza, complete with costume changes, Gamelan music, West African balaphone music and bizarre film interludes. After two years of that we dropped all the props and became “Oingo Boingo”.

While in Boingo I had a side project called “Food For Feet” around ’83 or ’84. A power house rock trio with Mike Tovar and John Avila. Like three tornados in the room at once!

Started working with Tito Larriva of “The Plugz”, asked to work on the “Culture Clash TV Show”. 1995 joined “Tito and Tarantula”. The band was featured in Quenton Tarentino’s “From Dusk till Dawn” Re

Worked with composers, Jason Johnson (TV Commercials) Steve Bartek (Movies / Relative) Bear McCreary (Battlestar Galatica), “The Closet Surfers” (Surf) The Esquires (30’s & 40’s swing)
Tremoloco (Tex-Mex), CID (blues, funk, & rock), Doug and the Mystics.
Crrently working for the “Drum Channel”, Battlestar Galatica” concert group. The BSG plans to travel through 2010.
***************************************************************************************************************