Artist page

Tino Contreras (April 3, 1924 – September 9, 2021) was a Mexican musician and composer born in Chihuahua, Mexico. Coming from a family of musicians, he began playing drums at the age of eight, and by 15, he was the drummer for the Los Cadetes del Swing orchestra, which he formed with his older brother Efrén. At 17, he moved to Ciudad Juarez, where he established his own band, the Youth Orchestra, and made his debut as a director and soloist on the XEJ radio station. In the late 1940s, Contreras moved to Mexico City and joined the famous Caravans, touring with popular artists of the time. In the early 1950s, he became the star drummer of the Orquesta de Luis Arcaraz and also played in Juan García Esquivel's orchestra. He had a significant role in the national cinema as both a drummer and composer of musical backgrounds, while also participating in radio programs and international tours. During his time in the Dominican Republic, he embraced the rhythm of Merengue and formed the first orchestra dedicated to that genre in Mexico, earning the title of El Rey del Merengue. He recorded his first acetate in 1953, introducing Tropical Jazz or Latin Jazz with his own compositions. Tino Contreras is remembered for his contributions to music until his passing in 2021.

For any edit requests, please reach out to info@rovr.live