User:Wikibubbles/Ernesto Villalobos

Ernesto Villalobos (born June 1981, in Xalapa, Mexico) is a virtuoso violinist, composer, arranger, and singer-songwriter. Villalobos has performed and recorded with Villalobos Brothers since 2005 and has also accompanied, collaborated and recorded with other artists, including, , , , , , , The Chieftains and Ry Cooder. As a solo artist, he has performed with his band at Carnegie Hall,, Joe's Pub and other historic venues.

Early years
Villalobos was born in Xalapa, but was raised in Tlalnelhuayocan. He is the grandson of Cristina Vázquez, one of Mexico's leading folk singers and grew up listening to her play guitar and accordion.

Villalobos was raised in a musical family and started playing music when he was three years old. He later recalled, "" As a youth, he studied violin and classical music at the Universidad Veracruzana's CIMI and at age 9 he was admitted to the music conservatory, where he studied under Carlos Marrufo, a student of Henry Szeryng