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ERICK VILLAMONTE BERNAL BIOGRAPHY

Latin American musician, composer, and performer born May 23, 1971, in Panama City, Panama, Central America. Erick Villamonte is a Panamanian guitarist, bandleader, and vocalist, formerly of the well-known Panamanian cover band WOODSTOCK, and an accomplished songwriter, arranger, and producer.

Influenced by Blues, Soul, Jazz & Rock and Roll genres and artist such as Otis Redding, Freddy King, The Allman Brothers, Cream, Susan Tedeschi, and David Bowie.

Erick was innately gifted with his musical talents and acknowledged them at the tender age of nine when his passion for learning and creating music overwhelmed him. Through grade school, he stayed after school practice on the school piano. By the time he was thirteen, his abilities took form into the guitar. As a teenager, he fully immersed himself in structured music. He joined the church choir and attended musical studies at the musical branch of The University of Panama. There he learned about composition, singing, and music theory while playing music on the weekends with his bandmates.

Erick Villamonte started playing at age 17 in local venues, winning a local contest where first prize was a recording production in the local television studio “TVN studios”.

.He later joined the American/Panamanian Band called “Woodstock”, and performed over 2,100 shows with over 400 songs setlist, playing mostly with musicians 20 years older. There he was able to develop, master, and dominate the art of the “Bar Band.” Leading bands like “Erik & The Others”, “Strange Daze”, “ Der Kaiser Band”, “The Great Blues Wagon”, “The Rollers”, and others.

Today, Erick and his band are ONE of the most renowned cover bands in the capital of Panama. As an independent professional, he has played over 3,000 concerts, has written over 100 original songs. Though he has built a career and an undying audience, his love, and passion for creating music is luring him into production, rather than to become a famed recording artist. Building upon his legacy, He is continuing his works to influence the future of music, through which, his contribution lives on.